Last night Sir Ming Campbell resigned, forced out by MPs and peers because he lacked charisma. Political Editor Graham Dines explains why the Liberal Democrats have been plunged into turmoil.

By Graham Dines

Last night Sir Ming Campbell resigned, forced out by MPs and peers because he lacked charisma. Political Editor Graham Dines explains why the Liberal Democrats have been plunged into turmoil.

SIR Menzies Campbell looked an audience of East of England Liberal Democrats in the eye on Saturday and declared: “I have the energy, ideas and determination to lead this party into the next General Election and beyond.”

Just 48 hours after delivering this battlecry at Mildenhall in Suffolk, he resigned.

He's been battered and bruised by the Westminster whisperers, a coterie of MPs on the centre right of the party who disagreed with the leadership's taxation plans, especially the pledge to increase the upper rate of income tax, because they were unpopular in traditional Tory areas which Lib Dems had won in the past three elections.

Sir Ming fell from grace after he replaced Charles Kennedy who had been forced out by another whispering campaign over his inability to lead the party because of a serious drink problem.

The irony is that it was Sir Ming's decision to put pressure on Kennedy which tipped the balance against “chat show Charlie” as he was dubbed. Now Sir Ming has himself found himself a victim of intrigue and assassination.

The stark truth is that under his leadership, the Liberal Democrats have been on the path to nowhere. Yes, Mr Kennedy was an alcoholic - he finally admitted he was in his resignation statement in January last year - but he was loved by the Liberal Democrat activists and liked by Lib Dem voters.

When Liberal Democrats were forced to replace him, they went for substance over style. They propelled into the cut and thrust of politics a man in his mid 60s, who had been an Olympic athlete and world record holder.

Such exploits were used to extol his virtues, but it cut no ice with the electorate. He was contrasted with the Conservatives' new leader David Cameron, who has a certain “it” factor which Lib Dems long for in their leader.

Almost from the off, Sir Ming looked out of his depth. He fluffed Prime Minister's Questions over and over again, and became the butt of the parliamentary wags on the Labour and Tory benches while his MPs sat looking distinctly uncomfortable.

But it was this year's local government elections in May which were the beginning of the end. The Tories stormed home to win 900 council seats from Labour and the Lib Dems.

Enter Gordon Brown. When he replaced Tony Blair as Labour leader, he tried to seduce Sir Ming with the offer of a Cabinet seat in a “Government of all the talents”. The approach was leaked to the media and it became clear that while Sir Ming was tempted, his party was not.

Forced into the open, Sir Ming retreated. The party's poll ratings slumped and as the Tories looked set to implode once again, Gordon Brown could do no wrong.

But most commentators agreed that Sir Ming was safe as long as the Conservatives looked doomed and the new Prime Minister cashed in on an early election.

A Tory revival put paid to that. Gordon Brown ignominiously backed down, the Tories surged ahead in popularity, and the Lib Dems slumped to 11%. If that figure was replicated at a General Election, they would lose more than two-thirds of their MPs, including the three seats they hold in the East of England - Colchester, Norfolk North, and Cambridge.

Mr Brown's decision to delay an election until at least 2009 gave the Lib Dem whisperers a renewed lease of life. Even while he was speaking defiantly in Mildenhall, Sir Ming's detractors were gearing up for a putsch.

It worked. Last night Sir Ming resigned. After a number of radio and newspaper interviews from Lib Dem leading lights such as Lord Taverne - who said yesterday the party would “go down the drain” if Sir Ming stayed as leader - and Vince Cable.

As the tears flowed in Lib Dem circles and the recriminations started, Charles Kennedy said: “I am sorry that things have ended up for Ming in this way, but know the gratitude felt towards him within the party.”

East of England Euro MP Andrew Duff, one of Sir Ming's closest supporters, said he was an honourable man who had done the dignified thing and with the interests of the party at heart.

Who knows what would have happened if Gordon Brown had held his election. The probability was that Sir Ming would have carried on until next year's Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth and then stood down, allowing the party to choose a new, younger leader.

But now, for the second time in less than two years, the Lib Dems need a figure head. Naturally, there'll be a scramble for his job from MPs such as Chris Huhne, Nick Clegg, Vince Cable, Ed Davey and perennial loser Simon Hughes. Charisma is not a word associated with any of them.

Just as the Tories discovered in the 15 years from 1992, a divided party loses all hope. The electorate will abandon it and it could take 10 years for the Lib Dems to recover from the debacle.

And as he surveys the wreckage, Sir Ming may have a wry smile on his face. After all, his end was hastened by Mr “no election” Brown, who just four months' ago had offered the Lib Dem leader a post in his Cabinet and a chance to bask in Labour's glory.

Our new Prime Minister has a lot to answer for.