At least 5 reasons to vote for Menzies Campbell MP: No.2

Menzies Campbell MP is an instinctive Liberal something that Mark Oaten MP...erm, isn't. In fact, he admits that he "only really got a philosophical belief about three years ago" (he's been in parliament since 1997!). Likewise, Mark Oaten MP was our Shadow Home Secretary when we were "not opposed to control orders in principle". At that time, Mark Oaten said things like:

"Liberty, without which democracy has no meaning, and the rule of law, without which state power cannot be contained, look to Parliament for their protection, but this Parliament, sad to say, is failing the nation badly."

... Nope, actually that was Brian Sedgemore MP (thanks to the Liberal Dissenter for the links). Mark Oaten MP said things like:

"For some time we have argued against a black-and-white approach, suggesting that another tool is needed to deal with the complex issues and that control orders would be useful. There are differences on how they should be introduced, and I should say something about that shortly; but at least there seems to be cross-party consensus that control orders have a role to play"

Mark Oaten MP also led us to have a u-turn on ASBOs that narrowly defined and not at all knee-jerk legislation that has been used sparingly to tackle weighty social problems such as inappropriate dress whilst sunbathing...

... whereas 'Sir Menzies was warning of the dangers of identity cards during the late 1980s'. Likewise, in his 1999 Financial Times article (quoted here but I can't find a link to the original. Gareth Epps posted it on the LDYS forums), Menzies writes that:

'Too many of our most worthy and well-meaning activists are Roundheads, while Liberal Democrats should be the Cavaliers of British politics. The party of John Stuart Mill has become prohibitionist. Transplanted to 1920s Chicago, it might easily pass a conference resolution banning alcohol'

Nearly 7 years later, we are still passing motions banning smoking in public places (LDYS has a far more sensible policy) and banning smacking.

From the same article:

"individual choice whenever possible, collective action only where necessary"

Is an intrinsically liberal sentiment.

[I'd just like to say here that I feel awful critiquing Mark Oaten because everytime I've seen him speaking at party conference fringes he's always looked pleasant and fluffy to the point where I've wanted to rush to the front, wrap him in a warm towel and save him from the excesses of the audience. However, I've met well-meaning people in all walks of political life but it doesn't mean I agree with them politically and I'm making my leadership election decisions on political grounds. In summary - it's not personal]