This leadership election is, inevitably, getting a little messy. Why inevitably? Because attempts are being made to create massive policy differences where they simply don’t exist, on matters which are important to activists, but far less so to electors.
In case the advisors to Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne don’t know, the key talking points in my town are the middle classes bemoaning the price of petrol and pensioners and families, rightly, concerned about the rising price of staple foods. I wonder how many members of the two campaign teams are aware that bread has more than doubled in price this year?
In electing a leader, surely the key issue is leadership. And it’s not too late to show some.
My challenge to the two contenders is a simple one. Tell us how you are going to lead the PARTY as well as how you would lead the NATION. Because unless you get the first one right the second will never happen.
Tell us how you will improve our results in the elections in May. Tell us about the practical support you will give to Brian Paddick. Tell us about how you will use our largest parliamentary party in 80 years to go out to constituencies and help them build membership and get more councillors elected. Tell us what tactics and what strategy you will employ to ensure we win more seats in Parliament, as the current strategy seems to need reinvigorating. Tell us about how you value ordinary councillors, members and campaigners and about how you are going to give us better support and more attention in the future.
Tell us how you are going to LEAD us.
* Martin Land is a Cambridgeshire Lib Dem activist.