'I'm feeling fine': Kennedy vows to fight on

Beleaguered British Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy today vowed to fight on in his bid to remain in charge of the party.

A day after admitting that he had struggled with a drink problem, Mr Kennedy was insistent that he would contest a leadership election.

As he left his house in Kennington, south London, he told waiting reporters that he was “feeling fine”.

The Lib Dem leader said he was moved by all the messages of support.

“The levels of calls, messages and support have been quite overwhelming – I am very, very touched by that.”

Mr Kennedy said it was the “sensible and responsible thing to do” to call a leadership election.

He said he would stand for leader again despite Chris Davies, the leader of Lib Dems in the European Parliament, calling him a “dead man walking”.

“I think it is correct that people take the weekend to reflect on their own positions,” he said.

“I have said what I have said very straight forwardly and I feel a lot better for having said it.”

Having called the leadership election, he said: “I think that is the fairest thing I can do by the members of the Liberal Democrat party.”

Insisting he would fight on, he added: “Under these exceptional circumstances, the opportunity is now there for a full scale leadership election.

“I think that is the sensible and responsible thing to do and it is open to all colleagues to contest and I certainly intend to be one of them.”