Campbell is new Lib Dem leader

Menzies Campbell was today elected the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.

He secured 29,697 of the votes from party members, defeating his nearest rival Chris Huhne, who won 21,628.

Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem president, came third, having been knocked out under the party’s transferable vote ballot system in a first round of voting.

Sir Menzies, the party’s deputy leader, has been standing in for Charles Kennedy since he quit earlier this year after admitting a drink problem.