Fleet Street calls for Kennedy to stand down

Friday's papers delivered a universal call for Charles Kennedy to step down from the Lib Dem leadership, following his admission that he has been treated for alcoholism.

The third party leader, who is fighting to retain the job, would have looked most anxiously at the Guardian and Independent, which are most influential among his membership and support base.

Both papers expressed sympathy for his health problems, but slammed his political judgement.

"The growing sense last night was that Mr Kennedy was frank not because he wanted to be but because he had been cornered and made his appeal to survive on the only grounds left to him," a Guardian editorial said.

"He painted his critics as a cabal, unrepresentative of real opinion in the party when in reality he has lost the feel of his party.

"His only strength is not that his colleagues want him to stay but that they cannot unite behind one person to challenge him. He may remain as leader for now but his party will pay the price while he does so."

Heavyweight commentator Polly Toynbee agreed that while Kennedy is a decent man, his decision to fight on is a "sad mistake".

The Independent also said it is time for Kennedy to step aside from the leadership.

"Normally we would welcome the decision of a prominent figure in public life to talk frankly about coping with a destructive illness like alcoholism," its leading article argued.

"But it would be wrong to describe what Charles Kennedy did yesterday as noble."

Commentator John Rentoul warned Kennedy that "the nuclear option may turn out to be a mirage".

Among the other quality papers, the Times claimed that the party must now have a proper leadership contest.

It said the decision of senior figures such as deputy leader Sir Menzies Campbell not to stand against Kennedy was disappointing.

"Sir Menzies Campbell would have been a serious contender for the job and his decision not to stand is a setback for a party now seemingly unable to run even a leadership contest," its editorial said.

"At least one of the promising MPs from the Orange Book group should stand, if for no other reason than to force the party to define its political character."

And in a verdict that all of Westminster will have paid attention to, veteran political commentator Peter Riddell had no doubt that Kennedy should go.

"Charles Kennedy is finished as Liberal Democrat leader," he wrote. "It is only a question of time. He put himself and his future before the long-term interests of his party."

While no fan of the Lib Dems, the Telegraph did say "Kennedy deserves great sympathy and understanding for his drink problem and credit for having had the courage to seek treatment for it".

"He has, however, exhibited deplorable judgment in choosing to call a leadership contest in an attempt to justify his belief that he should remain in charge of the Liberal Democrats," its editorial added.

Among the tabloids there was universal scorn.

"Kennedy has not only been a boozer," the Sun said. "He's been a fool. He should have confessed to being an alcoholic when he first knew it."

The Express's political editor, Patrick O'Flynn, said Kennedy had "not kicked his greatest vice: an epic capacity for self delusion".

"Senior colleagues are dumbfounded by his behaviour. One told me he had behaved 'appallingly'."

And the Mirror stressed the point that may prove Kennedy's final downfall, that the Lib Dem leader lied.

"Time after time, he was asked if there was a problem and on each occasion he lied," its editorial said.

"Only telling the truth when he was about to be exposed on television.

"Now he insists he will stand in a leadership election. If he cares about his party, he should not."