***************************CHARLES___ KENNEDY___ RESIGNED**************************

[RTKangaMummy]

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HE HAS JUST ANNOUNCED IT

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Embattled Kennedy quits as leader

Colleagues said Mr Kennedy's position had become untenable
Charles Kennedy has resigned as Liberal Democrat leader.
Mr Kennedy had insisted he would fight for his job but has now announced his decision to quit in a statement at the Lib Dem headquarters in Westminster.

It comes after 25 MPs delivered an ultimatum saying they would refuse to serve on the Lib Dem front bench unless he resigned by Monday.

Mr Kennedy called for a leadership election on Thursday after admitting battling to overcome a drink problem.

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Sad but inevitable I think. Politicians are a load of backstabbing bastards really and if you're after the number one job and something like this comes up then you won't hesitate to put the boot in.

I think he has done the right thing - dealing with a drink problem is hard. Feel a bit sorry for him.

As you can see I am really pro politics

Poor chap, but aragon is right...

Shame really

the guy knew he had a problem, addressed it but these wankers still force his hand to resign

They should be bloody supporting him

I'm quite shocked actually - I didn't think the the lib dems were as bad for this sort of devious politics as the other two parties.

I think their behaviour is most un-liberal and un-democratic actually. I won't vote for them again.

I do wonder if all his colleagues were not fed up of covering for him when he was drunk .....
On an aside I use to work with Vince Cable before his life as an MP.

so why didn't they push him out before he gave it up then? I can see that his position would be "untenable" if he were a drinking alcoholic, but one who hasn't had a drink in 2 months?

I thought that Pupuce after seeing the news last night. I would have thought there's been a lot more going on that we know about at the moment. Good luck to him though, hope he manages to stay dry.

I am not impressed as to how things have evolved either SP but clearly it takes a lot to get rid of him as he wasn't prepared to leave... unlike Michael Howard !

And they now say Campbell to stand.... I always liked him... not that it matters as I can't vote

he was prepared to fight a leadership contest though - he said so on Thursday. like I say, most undemocratic of them.

Think there's loads more going on than we know about. ITN did an interview with him that had to be dropped for "editorial reasons". Assume, reading between the lines, that he came across as pi$$ed.

politicians are good at stabbing each other in the back aren't they? They turn on their own in a blink of an eye - what chance has Joe Public got?

Charles Kennedy is human - fancy that!

Is a LibDem pensioner going to be any better?

I should imgaine he ahs let them down time after time - as much has been said
He sought help 18 mths ago, but has just been able to manage the last 2 mths without drink you cannot say your alcoholism is cured in 2 mths, he should go for the sake of his health and his family
He has been great for the Lib Dems and I'm sure as shit that Simon Hughes is a twunt but will likely get the job
there has been unpleasantness and back stabbing I am sure but all to the right end I think.

agree with Piffle you can't sort alcoholism out in a couple of months he needs to take time out for his own sake and and make a long term recovery.

no, you can't say it's cured. however don't really think "time out" will help (admnitedly I don't know much about alcoholism specifically but i do know about addiction).

I see what you're all saying, but i completely fail to see why now and not 6 months ago, unless the reason is more to do with bandwagon politics than any real problem.

he is an active alcoholic who has sought help for 18 months and never managed to stay dry for a month yet, apparently.

he has been failing to turn up to lib "cabinet" meetings etc etc for months and months - why do you think over half his MPs have signed a letter of no confidence?

he needs to be chucked out as leader in order to hit rock bottom and sort out his drink problem. for the sake of his wife and child.

I predict he will be on a plane to the US to dry out by the end of the week. and best thing for him I must say, I wish him lots of luck.

The reason now and not 6 months ago is that David Cameron becoming Tory leader has brought things to a head, I think.