Campbell, (Walter) Menzies ‘Ming’ (1941– )

British Liberal Democrat politician, party leader 2006–07. An MP from 1987, he was elected party leader in March 2006, having been acting leader since January 2006 when Charles Kennedy resigned. A well respected figure, he had been the party's shadow foreign secretary since 1997 and had led the party's opposition in 2003 to the Iraq War. He failed to make an impact with the public or parliament as party leader and in October 2007 resigned, after Prime Minister Gordon Brown had decided not to call an early general election. He was succeeded by Nick Clegg.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Campbell studied law at Glasgow University and Stanford University, California. While at university, he competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and 1966 Jamaica Commonwealth Games and was captain of the UK athletics team. He held the UK 100 metres record 1967–74. He was called to the Scottish bar in 1968, and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1982. He became chairman of the Scottish Liberals in 1975 and, after three unsuccessful attempts to become an MP 1974–83, won the constituency of North East Fife, in Scotland, in 1987. He was awarded a CBE in 1987, and was knighted in 2004.