Razzall leaves Lib Dem HQ

Lord Razzall has stepped down from his position as the Liberal Democrat election mastermind.

The peer, chairman of the campaigns and communications committee since 2000, announced he was leaving the post at a meeting of the party's federal executive committee last week.

A party spokesman said Lord Razzall, the man behind the Lib Dems' election strategy for the past two general elections, was standing down because he felt it was "time for a change".

The spokesman said the peer had decided to step down now in order to give his replacement time to settle into the role before a possible snap election.

He said Lord Razzall would continue to advise party leader Sir Menzies Campbell, and nominations for his replacement will close on June 22.

The loss of an experienced campaigner comes at a difficult time for the party, which is losing support in opinion polls to a resurgent Conservative Party.

The spokesman said his departure from the job will not effect preparations for the Blaenau Gwent by-election, where Lord Rennard is in charge of campaigning.

The Lib Dems also face a tougher challenge from a new Labour leader by the next election, with questions over the party's strategy and the effectiveness of Sir Menzies.