Charles Kennedy admits to having a drink problem...

05-01-2006, 18:24

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4582930.stm

Big deal I say, good on him for admitting it though, but will he survive as leader of the Lib-Dems?

Discuss...

slug · 05-01-2006, 18:27

He will not be leader for much longer.

sir_drinks_alot · 05-01-2006, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by slug

He will not be leader for much longer.

Agreed

BBKing · 05-01-2006, 18:39

Asked to comment, David Cameron replied:

'*snort*'

I'd rather have a ****head in charge than a teetotaller, if George Bush and the President of Iran are anything to go by.

I have a suspicion he'll face a stalking horse, win, but be damaged, resign and one of the Big Three will take over, or possibly Vince Cable as an outsider. It's possible that he could get challenged directly, but Mark Oaten has already said he won't stand.

Either way my vote is up for grabs - outside a slightly left of centre LibDems there isn't a party that I can really support - the Greens are too Eurosceptic, Respect is too Trotskyite, Labour is too right wing, Conservatives are too, well, like Labour.

There's a right-wing cabal in the LDs who aren't wholly opposed to some New Labour ideas. Don't want to see any of them in charge.

05-01-2006, 18:49

the thing is, he was asked about his drinking problem a while back and he denied that he had one, which in my eyes makes him a lier! then again what else can you expect from a politician.

Angua · 05-01-2006, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger444

the thing is, he was asked about his drinking problem a while back and he denied that he had one, which in my eyes makes him a lier! then again what else can you expect from a politician.

Until an Alcoholic admits they have a problem nothing can be done.

Obviously between then and now he has come to admit the problem which for an alcoholic is a quantum step.

However having said all that. It was not until DC got the Tory leadership that there was any great speculation on his ability to lead.

At the moment I see Kennedy as still the best bet for the Lib Dems.

05-01-2006, 19:23

Quote:

I'd rather have a ****head in charge than a teetotaller, if George Bush and the President of Iran are anything to go by.

Hehe, very true.

---------- Post added at 19:23 ---------- Previous post was at 19:17 ----------

And I agree with one of the previous posters, good on him, takes a lot of guts to say that in public

smicer07 · 05-01-2006, 19:24

You'd think having kids would have stopped him drinking.

**Maggy** · 05-01-2006, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by smicer07

You'd think having kids would have stopped him drinking.

Hmmm! You are not a parent, judging by that comment..

**Damien** · 05-01-2006, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by smicer07

You'd think having kids would have stopped him drinking.

Judging by the time scale he mentioned, it appeared it did

BBKing · 05-01-2006, 20:14

Quote:

You are not a parent, judging by that comment..

It does affect your drinking, my missus complains that she can't drink 16 double vodkas like she used to, and that her kidneys ache after a mere eight...

nffc · 05-01-2006, 20:18

And in other lib dem news...

Quote:

A 12-year-boy has made political history and become one of the youngest-ever local party presidents. Oliver Smith joined Amber Valley Lib Dems in Derbyshire when he was eight. He became their president on New Year's Day after being elected in November.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/d...re/4581716.stm

Only in Derbyshire. He was on the local news... what a strange kid.

**Damien** · 05-01-2006, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

And in other lib dem news...

[/size]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/d...re/4581716.stm

Only in Derbyshire. He was on the local news... what a strange kid.

Maybe he should run for the leadership

nffc · 05-01-2006, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

And in other lib dem news...

[/size]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/d...re/4581716.stm

Only in Derbyshire. He was on the local news... what a strange kid.

Maybe he should run for the leadership

Not possible, due to his age, AFAIK.

Seems to me to be yet another example of a clearly bright kid "pushed" out of a childhood by parents... seeing as his mum is a councillor and all that.

**Damien** · 05-01-2006, 23:03

Yep, What a cow. Anyway....

Hate to be the killjoy in the lib dem love in but the truth is that he did lie and he only admitted it after being forced out. He did not have much of a choice, ITV would have run the story.

While I think this was his personal business the same respect would not have been shown to either the Labour or Tory leaders so Kennedy should be subjected to the same critism as them. Lib Dems are not on a higher ground than the other two partys