Lib-Dem president quits amid fears over coalition

Liberal Democrat president Baroness Scott is to quit as fears mount that the party is being damaged by being in coalition.

Lady Scott announced she will not seek a second two-year term in the key post.

Her announcement just days before the Lib-Dem conference stunned party activists. Lady Scott denied she was stepping aside because of disagreements over the coalition.

She stressed she had completed her aims to reform the party management and that she believes it now needs a figurehead to lead efforts to protect its identity.