Kennedy calls for Leadership Election

In a personal statement made at Liberal Democrat HQ in Cowley Street at 5.50pm today, Charles Kennedy said that over the past eighteen months he had been coming to terms with a drink problem and had received professional help. He stated that he had not had a drink for the last two months, and declared that he didn't intend to in the future.

Mr Kennedy said that he had wanted to deal with the matter privately, but now was relieved to make it public.

He thanked his parliamentary colleagues for their understanding and support. He said he felt capable of leading the party and was in good health.

He said the members of the party had shown tremendous support over the years and overwhelmingly in recent weeks and days.

Mr Kennedy said that the leadership issue should be resolved by the membership of the party, and that he was calling for a leadership election to take place. He did not know if there would be anyone standing against him, but he was politically determined to continue as leader of the party "because the prospects in front of us in this parliament are so great".

Full text of Charles Kennedy's statement:

Speaking today at Liberal Democrat headquarters Mr Kennedy said:

I've called this press briefing to address an issue - directly - one that has been a source of concern to myself and to others for some time.

Over the past eighteen months I have been coming to terms with and seeking to cope with a drink problem. And I've come to learn through that process that any drink problem is a serious problem indeed - for yourself and for those around about you.

I've sought professional help and I believe today that this issue is essentially resolved. People close to me know that this has been a struggle and for extended periods I have consumed no alcohol at all. As a matter of fact I haven't had a drink for the past two months - and I don't intend to in the future.

I've learnt the hard way of the need to face up to this medical problem - one that is dealt with successfully by many others on a daily basis. I have chosen not to acknowledge it publicly in this way before because, if at all possible, I wanted to overcome it privately.

In a sense, this admission today comes as something of a personal relief. I should have been willing to talk about it more openly before. I wish I had.

This issue has - understandably - been of concern to several of my parliamentary colleagues.

They have been both understanding and supportive.

I am extremely grateful to them for that.

It also lies beneath much of the current leadership speculation within the parliamentary party.

Therefore, let me be clear. I consider myself capable and in good health - and I remain politically determined as leader of the party.

This party's members have shown me tremendous support over the years and overwhelmingly in recent weeks and days. It is a privilege to serve as their leader. I want to continue doing so, not least because the prospects in front of us in this parliament are so great.

Given my statement today I believe it is only fair now to give our party members their say over the continuing leadership.

It is open to any colleague who believes that they can better represent the longer-term interests of the party to stand against me in such a leadership election.

I am requesting that the party puts in place the necessary steps to enable this election to take place immediately.

Given the extremely personal nature of this statement I trust that you will understand that I do not propose to make further comments.