After Blair's Babes, now it's Campbell's Crackers
Sir Menzies Campbell is to relaunch himself in an attempt to shake off his image as a fusty, pinstriped toff.
Throughout this week's Lib Dem conference in Brighton, party aides have been told to ensure the 65-year-old leader is surrounded by young female supporters. Sir Menzies was greeted at the resort's Grand Hotel by Lynne Featherstone, the glamorous multi-millionaire MP for trendy Crouch End in North London.
Key to the party spin doctors', plan is 32-year-old Sarah Teather, the 4ft 10in MP for Brent East, who turns heads in the Commons with her red suede stilettos.
Sir Ming's entourage will also include Jo Swinson, 26, the salsa-dancing member for East Dunbartonshire, and attractive brunette Julia Goldsworthy, 28, who goes surfing in her Falmouth constituency.
His image makers hope to show that, despite his age, he is in touch with the 'Big Brother generation'.
Sir Menzies, a grandfather who reportedly keeps a trouser press in his bedroom, is sensitive to criticism that he is too old and remote. The leader ,s aides insist he is more youthful in spirit than his age suggests. 'He is working 18 hours a day,' gushed spokeswoman Puja Darbari. 'I had to join a gym as I was struggling to keep up with him.'
Senior Lib Dems also plan to play up his background as an Olympic sprinter - he represented Britain in the 1964 games.
On Sunday he will cheer on the runners in an eight-kilometre all-female fun run in Brighton and discuss the role of sport in his life. Sir Ming has even ditched his beloved but smoky 20-year-old Jaguar XJS.
Instead, he will arrive to address a 'green tax switch', rally on Sunday in a Toyota Prius, the eco-friendly hybrid car favoured by the young and environmentally conscious. He will be driven by its owner, the party's environment spokesman, Chris Huhne.
Sensing potential embarrassment and cruel jokes about crumbling appearances, the party had to switch conference hotels at the last minute to The Grand after they found the ageing Hilton Metropole next door was shrouded in scaffolding.
Meanwhile, senior Lib Dems are trying to downplay the planned comeback by Ming's predecessor, Charles Kennedy, who will make a major speech to the conference on Tuesday.
Writing in the official newsletter, Lib Dem News, the party's leader in the Upper House, Lord McNally, warned that Mr Kennedy's alcoholism was so serious he should not contemplate any early return to the frontbench.
'It can take years rather than months or weeks before one can talk about the problem in any past tense,' writes Lord McNally, who himself conquered an addiction to drink.
