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19/01/2006
Oaten withdraws from Lib Dem leadership race
Mark Oaten has withdrawn from the Liberal Democrat leadership contest.
Mr Oaten, the party's home affairs spokesperson, was the second candidate to announce his intention to stand, following Charles Kennedy's resignation.
It is widely believed that the 41-year-old Winchester MP stood down due to a lack of support among MPs.
It was reported that although Mr Oaten gained the required nominations from seven MPs in order to enable him to stand, only one of them promised they would vote for him.
Mr Oaten was also at the centre of a row over a leaked email, which was published yesterday in the 'The Independent'. The email appeared to suggest that former leader Mr Kennedy had contacted MPs on behalf of Mr Oaten for his campaign. He claimed that the email had been stolen from his office, while Mr Kennedy's chief aide, Anna Werrin, accused Mr Oaten's team of leaking the email, in order to make it appear that he had Mr Kennedy's support.
Commenting on Mr Oaten's withdrawal, his campaign manager Lembit Opik said: "It was Mark's declaration that he was going to stand that ensured there was a contest.
"The others came in after him. It was he that ensured there was a choice for the membership."
Mr Oaten's departure for the contest leaves the party's acting leader, Sir Menzies Campbell - the first candidate to declare his intention to stand - party president Simon Hughes and newly elected MP Chris Huhne in the leadership contest.
Nominations for the party leadership close next Wednesday. Ballot papers will be sent out to the party's 73,000 members on February 6, with the closing date for votes on March 1.
The announcement of the new party leader will be made on March 2.
(KMcA)
Mr Oaten, the party's home affairs spokesperson, was the second candidate to announce his intention to stand, following Charles Kennedy's resignation.
It is widely believed that the 41-year-old Winchester MP stood down due to a lack of support among MPs.
It was reported that although Mr Oaten gained the required nominations from seven MPs in order to enable him to stand, only one of them promised they would vote for him.
Mr Oaten was also at the centre of a row over a leaked email, which was published yesterday in the 'The Independent'. The email appeared to suggest that former leader Mr Kennedy had contacted MPs on behalf of Mr Oaten for his campaign. He claimed that the email had been stolen from his office, while Mr Kennedy's chief aide, Anna Werrin, accused Mr Oaten's team of leaking the email, in order to make it appear that he had Mr Kennedy's support.
Commenting on Mr Oaten's withdrawal, his campaign manager Lembit Opik said: "It was Mark's declaration that he was going to stand that ensured there was a contest.
"The others came in after him. It was he that ensured there was a choice for the membership."
Mr Oaten's departure for the contest leaves the party's acting leader, Sir Menzies Campbell - the first candidate to declare his intention to stand - party president Simon Hughes and newly elected MP Chris Huhne in the leadership contest.
Nominations for the party leadership close next Wednesday. Ballot papers will be sent out to the party's 73,000 members on February 6, with the closing date for votes on March 1.
The announcement of the new party leader will be made on March 2.
(KMcA)
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