Kennedy Assassinated Again?
The Christmas sneak attacks on Charles Kennedy smell more like a media manipulated sortee than a co-ordinated coup organised by the Liberal Democrats. But like many things in politics, the vultures begin circling with the smallest flow of blood; and quite soon a rolling pebble can cause a landslide.
The media may have pushed the knife into Charles’s back, but it was already placed their ready for use. Charles has been deserving this for a while- continual rumours of confused drunken wanderings of the House of Parliament in the middle of the day have been shown to have more truth in them than many would wish. Many in the party seem to think that Kennedy has become a care taker rather than a front seat leader, and anyone who watches parliamentary events will see the exodus of MPs when Kennedy stands to speak (for example see the recent EU budget debates).
The timing isn’t bad too for such a change in leadership- the Tories have a sparkling new leader; Labour have been promising to dump theirs for a while (although its probably not for a new model). A new Lib Dem leader would give them something to confront these challenges with. However it is not so clear if they have anyone willing or able to fill Kennedy’s shoes. Recent reports in the Times have suggested that Campbell may take over. He is certainly competent when it comes to policy, but he is not the vibrant, young leader they need to combat the “skip generation fever” currently circulating within the elite. This is an important time for the Lib Dems; they are at a point where they can choose to come out and fight the emerging Tory challenge, or face the inevitable lose of seats at the next election which might again limit the Lib Dem’s ambitions.
January 7th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
At last poor Kennedy has fallen on his sword. His resignation was finally announced on saturday after his recent revelations about his drinking problems. But what does this mean for the Lib Dems?
This is the first time since the Lib Dems were first formed, that we have seen the parliamentary party breakout in political back stabbing. They have always prided themselves on being different from the Tories and Labour. Is this a reflection of things to come? Or just a necessary step to rid themselves of Kennedy?
Who can take over? Now Kennedy has stepped down, we can expect several heavy weights to ocme forward including Campbell, Hughes and others. But are they able to fight the Tory revival?
This is certainly an exciting period in politics. So let us all raise a drink to Charles Kennedy today to remember a man who has served in Biritsh Politics for more than 20 years.