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Post by DixonHill on Jan 5, 2006 18:26:55 GMT -5
LONDON (Reuters) - Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said on Thursday that he has been fighting an alcohol problem for the last 18 months and then called a leadership race to face down his critics.
Kennedy's statement followed longstanding speculation about his drinking and weeks of criticism from some party members, partly prompted by a leadership change for the Conservatives.
The Liberal Democrats may now face weeks of turmoil in the run-up to May's local elections which could benefit both the Conservatives and Blair's Labour party.
"Over the past 18 months I've been coming to terms with and seeking to cope with a drinking problem, and I've come to learn through that process that a drink problem is a serious problem indeed," Kennedy told a news conference.
The 46-year-old Kennedy said he had sought professional help and believed the issue was resolved, saying he had not had a drink in the last two months and did not intend to have another.
"I believe it is only fair now to give our party members their say over my continuing leadership," said Kennedy, adding he wanted to continue as leader.
However, it was not immediately clear whether any serious candidate would challenge Kennedy, despite weeks of sniping.
Television news networks reported on Thursday that almost half of Kennedy's senior colleagues had signed a letter saying they had lost confidence in him.
Kennedy, who is Scottish and has led the party since 1999, joins the likes of U.S. President George W. Bush in renouncing alcohol in the pursuit of political ambitions.
The Liberal Democrats won more seats than ever before in last May's parliamentary election. But the Conservatives under new leader David Cameron have posed a serious threat by moving to the political centre ground.
Many Liberal Democrats also regard themselves as centrists and last month Cameron appealed to them to join his party.
Despite the record results last May, some analysts had expected a better performance after Kennedy's opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
A farmer's son from the Scottish Highlands, Kennedy was Britain's youngest member of parliament when he was first elected to the House of Commons in 1983.
(Additional reporting by Kate Holton)
mmmm, wonder what Kate Holton looks like?
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Post by Dominic on Jan 5, 2006 18:38:27 GMT -5
i like him too, seems sound, good luck to him
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2006 13:01:46 GMT -5
i like him too, seems sound, good luck to him i like him too, but for the good of the party he has to go.
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Post by wankinginthebushes on Jan 6, 2006 13:30:40 GMT -5
they need a new leader.
Hes been lying to the press about not having a drink problem all these years. Hes got no hope of getting the party anywhere now! whos gonna believe a self confessed liar.
Should have done what cameron has done over the coke aligations.
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Post by Bizzle on Jan 6, 2006 17:56:28 GMT -5
He should go. There is no way that he can win the general election. He says stuff but he can't back it up. He isn't charasmatic in the slightest and if the Lib Dems want to win a few more seats then he should go and let someone else do the job.
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Post by Dominic on Jan 6, 2006 18:12:19 GMT -5
on him as a person alone, it would make me want to vote for him, if i was over in england, hes human, but human politicians tend not to survive, least hes not a torrie
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Post by Bizzle on Jan 6, 2006 18:14:48 GMT -5
on him as a person alone, it would make me want to vote for him, if i was over in england, hes human, but human politicians tend not to survive, least hes not a torrie
To be honest, if he was the cleanest man in Britain he wouldn't win because he isn't a very likeable leader.
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angelchild
Oasis Roadie
Precious Precious Silver and Gold!!
Posts: 270
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Post by angelchild on Jan 7, 2006 9:22:46 GMT -5
Lembit Opik should go for leader, I quite like Charlie boy though!
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Post by wankinginthebushes on Jan 7, 2006 11:19:14 GMT -5
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Post by nyr401994 on Jan 15, 2006 21:47:38 GMT -5
how ironic, isn't it? the lib dem leader steps down from parliament, which is like congress but with a two-drink minimum ;D
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