SIR Menzies Campbell has warned the new leader of the Liberal Democrats that it will take at least a decade for the party to recover from May's near wipeout at the General Election.
Tim Farron was yesterday confirmed as the leader of his party, which saw its Westminster cohort reduced from 57 to just eight MPs after voters delivered a damning verdict on its role in a coalition with the Conservatives.
Speaking ahead of the verdict being announced Sir Menzies, who led for party for 18 months until 2007, said there would be "no quick fix" in turning around the LibDems fortunes.
He said: "We'll have to be in this for the long term. I think it will take certainly two parliaments, and indeed it may take more than that, to restore us to the position which we occupied before this last general election."
The long-standing former Fife MP, who stepped down at the last general election, backed Mr Lamb for the leadership saying he was the more "considered politician" than Mr Farron.
He added that the party had to rebuild from the "bottom up" to restore trust, starting with local authority elections.
"Politics in this country is very volatile," the 74-year-old said, citing surges in support for the SNP and Ukip. "The sort of approach we've got to adopt is to understand the effect of social media, the fact the public are better informed than they've ever been before, and to ensure in the decisions we take about policy, we understand the strength of public opinion. That's not to say you must slavishly follow public opinion, you've got to make your own judgements and take your own responsibility, but a far greater emphasis on things that we used in the past, but without being stuck in the past."
However, the results, announced on the party's Twitter account, saw Mr Farron win 56 per cent of the vote. The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005 and a former party president is seen to have benefitted from voting against the bedroom tax and, crucially, higher tuition fees in the last parliament.
He sparked controversy earlier this month in an interview with The Herald, in which he described the SNP's attitude to civil liberties as "terrifying".
"They are doing the worst and darkest things that people suspect nationalists to be in favour of anywhere in the world," Mr Farron said. "My take on the SNP is that they are avowedly centre-left and extremely authoritarian."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, who backed Mr Farron, said his party had elected a "dynamic, thoughtful and eloquent leader."
Mr Rennie added: "I backed him because he is best placed to lead the Liberal Democrats back to recovery. And I am delighted he won against such a talented opponent in Norman Lamb.
"A new beginning for the Liberal Democrats means regaining trust, speaking up for liberalism and winning again. With Tim as leader we will make the case for a tolerant, compassionate, outward looking country that rejects isolation and division and works to deliver opportunity for all."
Commenting on the leadership election, Liberal Democrat Party President Sal Brinton said: "Both Tim and Norman ran distinctively liberal, strong campaigns that spoke to party members across the UK. At numerous hustings and meetings with members, they spoke of their liberal values, the direction they think we should go, and how to best rebuild the party over the coming months and years.
"Tim is a fantastic communicator and his energy, enthusiasm and passion will inspire and drive the Liberal Democrats back to winning ways."
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