PM plans key role for Sir Ming

Published on Sunday 21 October 2007 01:03

SIR Menzies Campbell could be given the task of overhauling the UK's constitution by Gordon Brown.

After resigning as Liberal Democrat leader last week he is widely expected to be handed a key role by the Prime Minister.

Gordon Brown is pledging a full-scale review of the country's constitutional arrangements, including the possibility of forming a written constitution, setting out people's rights and the roles of government and parliament. Campbell may be offered the task of taking the plans forward.

Campbell is said to want to focus on foreign affairs in the years ahead, but he would be unlikely to turn down a request from Brown, who is a close personal friend.

The 66-year-old resigned as Lib Dem leader last week, complaining of his "irritation" that the "obsession" about his age was distracting the party from focusing on issues. Sheffield MP Nick Clegg is now the overwhelming favourite to succeed Campbell as party leader.

Friends of Campbell insist he harbours little resentment over quitting as Lib Dem leader, pointing out that the decision was his and his alone.

Meanwhile, friends of Campbell's wife Elspeth say she viewed her husband's departure "philosophically".

Campbell hinted in a TV interview last week that Lady Campbell - who is known to be fiercely loyal to her husband's interests - was unhappy with the way he had been treated.

However, one close friend said: "He has survived cancer. He got through that when they both had a hell of a time. Standing down as leader of the party is nothing in comparison."

The friend added: "Her view is that he has come all this way. She feels lucky to have been married to him. However, it was a shock because when he said he was going - she thought it would be Christmas and in fact it was lunchtime."