|
Kennedy 'reflects' after MPs rebel
Charles Kennedy has said he will spend the weekend "reflecting" amid a continuing leadership crisis that has seen 25 MPs urge him to step down.
A statement backed by 25 Liberal Democrat MPs, including 19 frontbenchers, said he should reconsider his insistence on remaining party leader.
They warned that they could not serve under him after this weekend.
Friday's development effectively sets a Monday deadline for Kennedy to announce his intention to quit.
The statement, issued by education spokesman Ed Davey, said Kennedy should take a "couple of days to reflect on his position".
Listing the names of MPs who also intended to resign on Monday, the statement added that it was "absolutely clear that a growing number of MPs agree with us".
A spokesman for Kennedy, who had earlier held talks with rebellion ringleader and Treasury spokesman Vince Cable, said he would not be resigning this weekend.
But that left the door open for further developments on Monday.
Speaking to reporters at his home on Friday evening, Kennedy said: "I think this is a good weekend for reflection.
"I would urge my parliamentary colleagues to reflect carefully on things and I would urge our party members to make their views known, as they are, very loud and clear."
Kennedy said he planned to have "a quiet family weekend".
Pressure
Throughout Friday the Lib Dem leader faced mounting pressure from senior colleagues for him to resign.
If the embattled leader does not leave the post early next week he also faces a motion of no confidence in his leadership.
The first frontbencher to say he would not he would resign was International development spokesman Andrew George.
That was echoed by trade and industry spokesman Norman Lamb, who also said his position was becoming untenable.
And North Devon MP Nick Harvey said he is prepared to table a motion of no confidence in his leader at next Wednesday's meeting of the parliamentary party.
Rebel leader Vince Cable said: "I don't think the leadership is now sustainable."
Challenge
Cable ruled out standing in the leadership election, and was joined in that commitment by environment spokesman Norman Baker.
But Baker told the Press Association that "there must be another candidate in the frame" to give party members an opportunity to back or sack Kennedy.
And Harvey said that Kennedy was in an "untenable" position and that he could not obtain a mandate to continue as leader simply by calling an election in which he was the only candidate.
Dead man walking
Adding to the criticism, Chris Davies, Lib Dem leader in the European parliament, told the BBC that Kennedy was a "dead man walking".
Responding to that comment, deputy leader Sir Menzies Campbell told the press: "Obviously this is a difficult time for the Liberal Democrats and people will respond to that in the way they think is appropriate."
Meanwhile, a Lib Dem peer called on the leader's aides to persuade him to "do the decent thing" and stand down.
Baroness Tonge - who served in Kennedy's frontbench team in the last parliament - said the leader was "in denial" about the extent of his difficulties and said she was "disgusted" by his behaviour.
Overwhelmed
Appearing outside his South London home earlier on Friday, Kennedy had vowed that he would fight on.
The Lib Dem leader said he had been "overwhelmed" by messages of support, claiming that was "a reflection of the mood generally".
Responding to the criticism from his colleagues, Kennedy added: "I think it is only correct that people take the weekend to reflect on their own positions."
Timetable
However Kennedy now faces an uphill challenge if he is to hold on to his position.
Support is continuing to ebb away following his admission of alcoholism.
And with MPs returning to Westminster next week, Kennedy will face a series of crunch meetings.
The party's federal executive meets on Monday to decide on the timetable for the election contest.
On Tuesday the Lib Dem 'shadow cabinet' meets, 19 of whose 24 members have said they have no confidence in their leader.
A day later Kennedy will struggle to convince his MPs that his leadership is now back on track.
Charade
Speaking to the BBC, Harvey claimed the Lib Dem leader had only called the election after securing promises from potential rival candidates that they would not stand.
He said no mandate could be won by a "Soviet Union-style" vote with only one name on the ballot paper, which would be "an absolutely absurd charade".
"He only called this election after extracting commitments from others that they wouldn't stand in the election," he said.
"It's a complete ruse. It is an absolutely absurd charade. It's not possible for Charles to carry on as leader because he doesn't have the confidence of his parliamentary colleagues."
And Harvey said he expected the issue to be raised at the frontbench team's meeting next week.
"If that meeting does not result in Kennedy's resignation, a vote of confidence would be tabled on Wednesday at the first parliamentary party meeting after the Christmas break," he said.
"I'm quite sure that there will be plenty of people, myself included, willing to put down such a resolution."
Untenable
Harvey told the Radio 4: "I think Charles Kennedy is in an untenable position.
"No leader of any party can survive if he doesn't have the confidence of his colleagues at Westminster.
"I don't see how one can just brush that aside. How can they continue to serve in the shadow cabinet?
"My feeling is that MPs more broadly will share their view. How can he continue in these circumstances?
"Thursday's events simply don't make any difference. We had a problem yesterday morning, we have a problem this morning.
"It's a problem of political direction and a question of lack of team leadership skill and nothing has changed as a result of what he did last night."
|
