There is no interest served by yar boo politics following Kennedy’s resignation. Alcoholism is an evil addiction and no-one should judge Charles on this. Personally I did not like Kennedy’s style and I recognised that his leadership damaged the successes of his party (which made me wish him to stay) but realistically he should have known his time was done on Thursday.
The leadership contest could be interesting… Very.
Also, I would point you to MatGB’s comments about the need for LibDem-Tory cooperation in 2009 or 2010.
January 8th, 2006 at 2:08 am
In my opinion, he could have been much better off had he taken a break from leading the Lib Dems, and openly said “i’ve got problems with alcoholism”, and got ming campbell to take over as caretaker leader. he could then, assuming he recovered, made an honourable return to front-bench politics. As it is, I doubt the lib dems will want him anywhere near the front……. I think Kennedy failed to realise that coming out with the problem early on would have garnered a great deal of sympathy. particularly if he had done it either before or immediately after the geenral election; citing family pressure too (i.e. new baby). hmmm… maybe i’m being too generous/optimistic.
January 8th, 2006 at 3:25 am
Paxman asked him about it all the way back in 2002 though… He definitely should have come out with it earlier, but then rational thought and addiction don’t go together… And could he have scuppered the election campaign?
Oh the trials…
January 8th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
I was one of those who defended Kennedy when all the allegations about drinking were rumbling around. He denied he had a drinking problem and I believed him. I almost thought that is was due to being Scottish that these rumours of a whisky habit came around, you know what the press are like.
Now I know I was wrong and everybody else was right which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. He has become unelectable and I’m pleased he’s finally made way for someone else to take charge. But I wish him well.
January 9th, 2006 at 9:32 am
As usual, what did for him was the cover up as opposed to the actual problem. My concern is more that he blatantly lied about this month after month; I sympathise with his personal problem, but for a politician who has predicated much of his stands on accusing Tony Blair of being a liar, his position was untenable.
As I said, I sympathise with his personal problems, but I wonder how LibDems would have reacted had this been Tony Blair or David Cameron admitting to being an alcoholic.