Kennedy ridicules 'headcase Hague'

Lib Dem leader opens conference with strong defence of constitutional pact with Labour before turning his guns on the Tories

Charles Kennedy yesterday positioned the Liberal Democrats as an independent political force in the run-up to the next General Election although he rejected activists' demands to end co-operation with Labour.

Charles Kennedy yesterday positioned the Liberal Democrats as an independent political force in the run-up to the next General Election although he rejected activists' demands to end co-operation with Labour.

Mr Kennedy said he "instinctively" wanted to be "at the table of the discussion" of the joint constitutional committee, which has been the forum for liaison between the two parties.

The Liberal Democrat leader also launched one of his most personal attacks so far on William Hague, condemning his recent policies as an "increasingly headcase agenda".

Writing in The Independent, he praised Paddy Ashdown for starting closer co-operation with Labour, adding that the committee had met twice in the past year. "We have made a contribution to European reform and made a significant impact on the Government's UN policy. I think it is fair to say that the committee is meeting less often now than it did at first. However, it is also fair to say that the reason for that is very simple, there is less need for it to meet and less to discuss."

He said that many of the constitutional matters, such as devolution in Scotland and Wales, had been dealt with and acted on.

However, during a fringe meeting on the opening day of the party's annual conference in Bournemouth, Mr Kennedy faced fierce calls by delegates to withdraw from the committee.

Siobhan Vitelli, an activist, condemned Labour as "morally bankrupt. Why on earth do we want to continue to meddle with a party which is losing its members in thousands," she said.

Mr Kennedy insisted: "I always prefer, instinctively, to be in the room, at the table in discussion than to choose to be outside. If there's not something to talk about, then we don't bother. [The committee] has been given a sort of mythical status which in my experience is not deserved."

Buoyed by opinion polls that gave the Liberal Democrats its best rating since 1995 with 21 per cent, he added: "There is a disillusion with the Government, self-evidently. If William Hague was in government - God forbid - tomorrow, you can't actually govern the country on the basis of that kind of headcase agenda. I want that message to come out of this conference loud and clear."

Mr Kennedy has already pledged that he would step up efforts to win constituencies from the Tories in the west of England, hoping to repeat its success at the Romsey by-election.

Mr Kennedy, who will give a plan to resolve the fuel crisis this morning, was eager to stress his party's green credentials. He accused the Government of failing to make the environmental case for high fuel taxes, promising that under his policies the electorate would see "honesty on taxation" and would be able to see the pay-back for the taxes they paid. He also denied suggestions that Tony Blair had scrapped plans to introduce Lord Jenkins of Hillhead's proposals on electoral reform. He said : "I do not intend to get bogged down in the theology of the different types of PR, what is more important is to make the case for the principle of PR . To explain why PR is good for everyone and to keep the pressure up for a referendum on voting reform."