Tim Farron took to Parliament to remember fondly how the former Liberal Democrat leader Ming Campbell helped him win his Westmorland commons seat in 2005.
The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale appeared in the House of Commons chamber as tributes were paid to Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, who was Lib Dem leader between 2006 and 2007, following his death on September 26.
Mr Farron spoke of his “friend” alongside the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and the current Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey.
The Cumbrian MP said that from an early point in his political career, Lord Campbell struck him as being a Liberal MP who “could actually run the country”.
Mr Farron continued his tribute by recalling the time when Lord Campbell came to visit his Westmorland constituency to help in the run-up to the 2005 general election.
The MP said: “In 2005, the year I was elected, the late, great Charles Kennedy was meant to be doing the constituency visit to Westmorland but his son was born the night before.
“Ming got drafted in at the last minute and did two visits for me—when you win by 267 votes, every single thing counts, so I have him to thank for that.”
Mr Farron, who himself was also the Lib Dem leader nearly a decade after Campbell, said that in recent years the two men kept in touch when the now Lord Campbell and his wife would holiday in Ullswater.
“They would always make a point of doing a visit in Westmorland—whether we asked them or not,” noted Mr Farron to laughter in the chamber.
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