Charles Kennedy to resign

[Decko]

Terrible shame --- brought the LD's to great heights in a farsical electoral system.

Also a good guy and although he didnt publicise it much a great Celtic fan and of course a good man to go on the piss with

[Pidge]

of course a good man to go on the piss with

Tell me that was a joke...please.

I thought his statement was at 3.00 anyway.

[Harpey]

I frankly don't believe that this is a resigning matter. I mean, Its my belief that more than 20% of the population is alcoholic, both here and in Britain. In reality, he is being shafted at the slightest oppertunity. It is the hight of dishonourable conduct on the behalf of his fellow Liberal MPs. I certainly have more respect for the man in the current climate.

[Pidge]

I frankly don't believe that this is a resigning matter. I mean, Its my belief that more than 20% of the population is alcoholic, both here and in Britain. In reality, he is being shafted at the slightest oppertunity. It is the hight of dishonourable conduct on the behalf of his fellow Liberal MPs. I certainly have more respect for the man in the current climate.

I think the issue is more that he lied repeatedly.

[Catalpa]

I frankly don't believe that this is a resigning matter. I mean, Its my belief that more than 20% of the population is alcoholic, both here and in Britain. In reality, he is being shafted at the slightest oppertunity. It is the hight of dishonourable conduct on the behalf of his fellow Liberal MPs. I certainly have more respect for the man in the current climate.

I seriously doubt 20% of the people are alcoholic but we here and Britain do drink more than is wise!


He had to go-he was drinking to excess and turning up drunk at party meetings. It's a pity his Party colleagues didn't tackle him more forcefully on this four years ago. A move which might have had a better outcome than this sad end to a political career.

[Seánod]

It's amazing how George Best could become an alcoholic hero, and poor Charles Whatever-you-call-him, an alcoholic reject.

As an Irishman with no real right to interfere in British affairs, I would be of the opinion that he should resign. For three reasons: 1. you cant be an effective leader and an alcoholic at the same time. 2. like all those who fall prey to this disease, his lying has damaged his credibility. 3. he needs time off to get to grips with this disease.

There's no reason why he cant continue on as a member of the party, but to be leader? Politics is too tough and too ruthless an environment to permit it, and the public might sympathise with him, but they wont vote for him. This is reality.

[Worldbystorm]

Nothing befitted him so much as his leaving? If so he's done a bad job of it.

In this case it's hard to underestimate the damage he's caused to the LDs in the past three weeks. Months, perhaps years, where colleagues had to cover up for his excessive drinking (it's difficult to know how pronounced the problem was - but clearly it was getting out of hand more recently). His credibility and that of the party has been damaged. This would appear to favour the Conservatives in the short term, but perhaps not.

Subsequent polls, and whoever takes over will be mighty telling.

[Catalpa]

Nothing befitted him so much as his leaving? If so he's done a bad job of it.

In this case it's hard to underestimate the damage he's caused to the LDs in the past three weeks. Months, perhaps years, where colleagues had to cover up for his excessive drinking (it's difficult to know how pronounced the problem was - but clearly it was getting out of hand more recently). His credibility and that of the party has been damaged. This would appear to favour the Conservatives in the short term, but perhaps not.

Subsequent polls, and whoever takes over will be mighty telling.

Thye will take a knock in the short term but the next BGE is far enough away for them to bounce back.

They might want to improve on their ability to pick accident prone leaders!

Anyone remember Jeremy Thorpe?

[Jim84]

you cant be an effective leader and an alcoholic at the same time.

Churchill

[Worldbystorm]

Thye will take a knock in the short term but the next BGE is far enough away for them to bounce back.

They might want to improve on their ability to pick accident prone leaders!

Anyone remember Jeremy Thorpe?

That's quite likely Catalpa, but they have LE's in May do they not? They'll want to do well there in order to strengthen their base for the GE.

I do remember Thorpe, could you be showing your age too?