UK Liberal Leader resigns

The fate of the Liberal Democrat Leader, Charles Kennedy, has been forefront in the media of late.

There had long been rumours about his drinking, to the point that back in 2002 BBC’s Jeremy Paxman actually asked him if he liked to have a tipple or two by himself. This created such a fuss that the BBC was forced to apologise. Somewhat hypocritically politicans demanded this as it was fairly well known he had a problem.

Then a few days ago ITV were about to do a story on his drinking. Their chief political reporter being his former press secretary. Ouch. To stop their exclusive he revealed called a press conference and revealed that he “had” been an alcoholic for 18 months but the problem was “essentially resolved” as he had been dry for the last two months.

Commentators expressed some disbelief that he had only had a drinking problem for 18 months, and that being dry for eight weeks means you are better. As always being less than fully honest comes back and bites you.

After two days of vowing to stay on as Leadewr, even after 25 of his MPs signed a no confidence motion, the inevitable has happened and today he has resigned.