Lib Dem Leadership Contest

OK let's look at the other party leaders:

Tony Blair : Lies to UK and world about reasons for going to war in Iraq. 100 British soldiers killed. Xthousand Iraqis killed. WMDs found: 0

David Cameron: Will not admit to having taken or not taken Class A drugs. Elected leader by impersonating Blair and delivering fake promises.

Ian Paisley: Impudent right-wing loudmouth who is holding any chance of peaceful resolution to NI conflicts back. Will not be happy until NI is free of Catholic / Republicans - the rightful owners of the province.

George Galloway: All talk and no bollocks leader of opportunist party.

Charles Kennedy: Most successful LibDem leader this side of war. Admits to personal private problem which he has sought treatment for. Being hounded out by right-wingers in his party who want to beat the New Tories at their own game.

Any thoughts?

Charles Kennedy is the only one where his own supporters have turned on him in large enough numbers to make his position untenable. Of course what MP's think and what the Lib Dem voters think are two completely different things as it's the Lib Dems up and down the country that will decide whether he stays or goes. However look at his bumbling performances and no shows because of his alcohol dependancy, none of the others that you have mentioned missed important dates or gave poor performances while under the influence. What if he stays and falls off the wagon again? He's a fantastic politician but the Lib Dems would be foolish to take that risk.

Hmm- I've read this weak argument (generally written by people who don't understand what they're saying but have heard it elsewhere) just once too many times now. Please tell us the reasons why the UK went to war- and please for the love of god don't just say "oil".

It's the ultimate argument of the imbecile.



Hmm- on several occasions:

Interviewer- have you ever taken drugs (regardless of class) as a member of parliament?

DC- no

Quite different from being drunk as leader of the lib dems to the extent that you cannot respond to the budget statement in parliament, and having to be told be colleagues that you are in an unfit condition to speak to an audience in Newcastle.



All your own opinions, which I personally think most right-minded people would agree with. But they were elected by the people and haven't (yet) done anything that prevents them serving the British people to the best of their ability.

However, if (and when) Galloway fails to turn up in parliament next week simply because he is on a self-publicity and money-earning time in the big brother house, I believe he should be punished. I don't see how it can be acceptable for any MP to behave in this way.



But Kennedy has proved himself to be totally incompetant because he's an alcoholic.

His performance at conference was dreadful and he frankly looked hung over. This was one speech he couldn't get out of, but his drinking has led him to miss key commons debates (budget) and speeches (newcastle) along with lib dem shadow cabinet meetings.

His position is totally untenable. The fact he's still in office is amazing- if he were leader of Labour or the Tories he would have been forced out months ago. His fellow MPs have known about his drinking and kept it relatively private while encouraging him to step down- quite remarkable loyalty. But this can't go forever.

He's finished.

I disagree- it was presumably the word of a single source against that of Charles Kennedy. Without proof, any news organisation would be crazy to run with it. I'm fairly confident the same decision would have been taken pre-Hutton too.

That doesn't stop BBC journalists from digging for further sources and confirmations, but if you read the whole blog from the link, you'll see that Nick Robinson believes that until it affected his performance as an MP and leader it wasn't really an issue. I think that's a fair line to draw.

Alexia's argument was seemingly directed at the argument of WMD and the 45 mins argument, but .... the oil supplies of the west are running out, and it makes sense from an american point of view to have an american backed administration in an oil rich country, say iraq?!


But you could however argue that he refused to answer the question very uncomfortably in the same way the Kennedy has done so in the past.

Quite a harsh judgement, if he was incompetant would he have a record number of lib dem mp's elected in the commons?

Would have have mass support from oap's, students and anti war protesters, or perhaps you are indirectly swaying towards the belief that all the people who voted lib dem are stupid?

Personally myself if Kennedy goes (which seems inevitable now, sadly) i dont think i could warm to any of the other faceless idiots that make up the rest of the party, and god help us if the next leader is Simon Hughes - there is something about him i do not trust and do not like.

Well the BBC are being very thorough these days, and understandably so and have won awards for their coverage. But they just don't do the scoops like they used to.

The Lib Dems are basically an ineffectual party and the faceless wonders who potentially will be his successor won't do them any good. Kennedy's problem is that he still has a problem and could get worse at anytime. It affected his ability to do the job and that's why he should give up it's only his ego that's keeping him there and dragging the whole process out. He needs to go because it makes the party look very bad in the eyes of the public.

Well, it now looks clear that Daisy McAndrew has stabbed her former boss in the back, by being the one to reveal the drink details.

God, I detest that woman.

Et tu Daisy? I think when she joined ITV she got 30 pieces of silver as a signing on bonus. Let's be honest though this guy has had a problem for years and amazingly it was an open secret in Westminster. So why did nobody say anything before?

News 24 reporting Charles Kennedy to make statement at 3pm

Safe to say, a resignation speech??

I'd be stunned if it wasn't, but that's what I thought he was going to do when he admitted the drink problem and instead he announced a leadership election.

He has to go, if he doesn't Monday will be one of the most squirm inducing days in Parliaments history.