Kennedy admits drink problem

THE leader of Britain’s third largest party last night confessed to a drink problem as he challenged his critics within the Liberal Democrat party to face him in a leadership battle.

In a dramatic admission, Charles Kennedy claimed to have beaten his secret battle with alcohol.

But he insisted he wanted to keep the job he has held for the past six years and said it was now “only fair” to give Lib Dem members the opportunity to vote him out of office.

After weeks of rumours that Mr Kennedy’s job was on the line because of discontent among fellow MPs, he appeared in front of the cameras to confess he had been wrestling with a drink problem - but claimed he had beaten it.

“Over the past 18 months I’ve been coming to terms with and seeking to cope with a drinking problem, and I’ve come to learn through that process that a drink problem is a serious problem indeed,” he said.

He said he had not had a drink for the past two months and did not intend to do so in future.

Mr Kennedy’s statement was said to have been prompted after ITV News contacted him with detailed allegations about a long-term drink problem.

It was reported that for the second time in weeks a Lib Dem front bench round robin had been circulated - although never sent - pleading with Mr Kennedy to face his dilemma, signed by 11 senior colleagues.

Lib Dem sources had told ITV an emergency meeting was held between Mr Kennedy and other senior party figures in 2004, during which they put pressure on him to seek treatment.

An ITV spokeswoman quoted one source as having said: “One man’s drink problem is destroying a party with a 200-year history.”

Westminster has been rife with rumours of Mr Kennedy’s drinking habits. He missed the 2004 budget in the Commons with a stomach illness and then appeared poorly and sweating during a speech at his party’s spring conference.

Most Westminster observers believe Mr Kennedy’s leadership could now be fatally damaged.