Sir Menzies attacks 'idle chatter'

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He used a speech to grassroots supporters to reaffirm his pledge to lead the party into the next General Election after Lib Dem president Simon Hughes warned he must raise his game.

Sir Menzies suffered a fresh blow on Saturday as a poll found half of Liberal Democrat voters in crucial marginal seats believe Gordon Brown or David Cameron would make a better prime minister.

But, addressing the party's eastern region conference, he dismissed suggestions that the Lib Dems were being squeezed out by Mr Cameron's Conservatives.

Sir Menzies acknowledged to party members at the gathering in Mildenhall, Suffolk, that the Lib Dems had picked up "a few critics in the media".

But he went on: "I answer to you and not the media.

"I want to tell you that I have the energy, the ideas and the determination to lead this party into the next General Election and beyond.

"We will campaign on the issues that matter to people - climate change, council tax, tuition fees and free long-term care for the elderly, and Iraq.

"These are things that matter to people - not the idle chatter of the occasional dissident."

His comments follow Mr Hughes' indication on Friday of growing impatience with Sir Menzies' performance. With the prospect of a snap General Election now out of the way, there is a growing sense that now might be an opportune time to replace him with one of the party's younger generation.