- REUTERS
Britain's Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy (left) flanked by his wife, Sarah Gurling, leave their home in Kennington south London yesterday. Kennedy later made a statement at the Liberal Democrats headquarters announcing his resignation after admitting on Thursday that he had received treatment for alcohol abuse and that support had evaporated among his parliamentary colleagues.
LONDON (Reuters):
CHARLES KENNEDY, leader of Britain's third-biggest party, resigned yesterday after support from his colleagues evaporated when he admitted he had had treatment for alcohol abuse.
The Liberal Democrats, the only major party in Britain to oppose the Iraq war, will now face a leadership contest.
Kennedy, 46, decided to step down after days of turmoil following his surprise admission on Thursday. He had previously always denied having a drink problem.
"I am standing down as leader," he told reporters at Liberal Democrat headquarters. "When nominations open (for the leadership) I shall not be putting my name forward."
He said he had received much support from rank-and-file members but recognised that grass roots support alone was not enough: "It has become clear that such support is not reflected strongly enough across the Parliamentary party."
NEAR MUTINY
Kennedy had provoked a near mutiny among Liberal Democrat Members of Parliament when he refused to resign after publicly admitting his alcoholism at a news conference.
The following day, 25 of the 62 Liberal Democrat lawmakers in the 646-seat House of Commons signed a statement saying they would not serve under him as party leader beyond the weekend.
Renewed criticism from colleagues yesterday appears to have forced Kennedy to change his mind.
Kennedy led the party to its best showing in decades in an election last May but had, on several occasions since, prompted concern among his colleagues by appearing listless, unfocused or exhausted.
