FOR all their self-congratulation over a decent and thoughtful election campaign, the Liberal Democrats should be concerned that the campaign to elect a new leader failed to ignite much public interest.

On the other hand, after the scandals which enveloped Charles Kennedy, Mark Oaten, and Simon Hughes, there is probably an overriding sense of relief within the party that the election was a rather dull affair.

A safe pair of hands has been chosen in Sir Menzies Campbell, who always had gravitas, experience and decency on his side.

But it is 100 years since the Liberals won a Commons majority and 50 years since Churchill's wartime coalition. It is high time the Lib Dems became more than just a protest party and looked like serious contenders for power.

Although Mr Campbell talked of the need to take risks in his victory speech, it is hard to see him being dynamic enough to modernise the party sufficiently.

We hope we are proved wrong because there is a need for a party that stands up for civil liberties.

With history showing that it is exceedingly rare for a government to win a fourth term, and with the Tories requiring an almighty swing to gain an overall majority, the new leader of Britain's third party has a great deal to play for in what may well be a hung parliament next time.

But Mr Campbell must be as good as his word and be more than just a safe pair of hands holding the fort until the next leader is ready to be crowned.