Saturday, January 07, 2006

Charles Kennedy Resigns

At 3:00pm today, Charles Kennedy announced that he was resigning from his position as Leader and would not be standing as a candidate in the forth-coming election. The full story can be read here.

I think this has to be the correct decision both for him and the party, though I'm sure, and hope, we haven't heard the last of him. I wish him all the best for the future, and that he finds a way to get his life in balance.

Good luck to Menzies Campbell as he leads the party over the next 3 to 4 months. He is certainly a safe pair of hands, and well respected generally. My one wish is that the contest is not fought in the same acrimonious way similar contests happen in the other main parties. Liberal Democrats are different, and even in internal crisis, they must show the world that difference.

Transcript of his resignation statement here.

3 comments:

Jackie said...

I agree Mark. i do hope he takes this chance to sort everything out. It could be the beginning for him now not the end.

jane said...

It's encouraging to hear you speak so warmly about your politicians. I hope someday there will be some sense of trust reinstilled in ours too.

... said...

I like to check out the BBC each morning, and they have a portion devoted to this on the HAVE YOUR SAY section. It's interesting to see people's reaction to Kennedy's withdrawal. In reading the opinions, it almost sounds like it's just as divided there as it is here in America.