Colourful Liberal Democrat politician Lembit Opik has recruited the Liverpool office of Bell Pottinger to help him win the contest to be his party’s next president.
Opik is known in some media circles as much for his high profile ‘celebrity’ relationships as for his political track record. However, Richard Clein, the head of BP’s Liverpool arm, is all set to focus on his ability as a serious politician.
Clein sits alongside Opik on the party’s federal executive and will now be spearheading his media campaign.
He told How-Do that Opik, formerly engaged to Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia and ITV weather woman Sain Lloyd, was the perfect candidate to assume the presidency and chair the executive, a body comparable to Labour's national executive committee.
“Lembit is the right man to take on the role, motivate the party and furthermore attract new people to the Liberal Democrats,” said Clein.
Clein
“He has a track record of 15 years on the federal executive and recent successes such as his role as housing spokesman (a position that gave him front bench status).”
Clein said that he had already secured Opik coverage in yesterday’s press with regard to the popularity of his Facebook group, and was now working hard to “position him as a serious candidate for the job” amongst the party electorate prior to the voting cut off date of 6 November.
His role was simple, he relayed to How-Do: “To get Lembit elected.”
When asked if Opik’s character and past media appearances might adversely affect the campaign, Clein dismissed such suggestions out of hand.
“Colour is a good thing,” he stated. “Politics needs more colourful characters.”
A serious candidate
He continued: “Look at the case of Boris Johnson for example. Not long ago he was written off as being a joke and now he’s the major of London and, according to most reports, doing a pretty decent job.
“We’ll be focusing on the positive and serious things Lembit has achieved, but there’s nothing wrong with that ‘colour’ and profile. That can be used to attract new people to the party, which is a very good thing.”
Opik is up against Lady (Ros) Scott, the Lib Dem peer, and Chandila Fernando, a director of Liberal Vision, for the job.
He tried unsuccessfully to secure the presidency four years ago, coming in second to (now) outgoing incumbent Simon Hughes.
The term of the presidency is two years, with holders limited to two terms in the position.
The result of the current contest will be made public in the second week of November.
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