London
The head of the Liberal Democratic Party stepped down last week after admitting he had been struggling with alcoholism. Charles Kennedy’s alcoholism was about to be exposed by a TV station when he acknowledged his drinking problem and offered to hold a new election for party leader. But for many Liberal Democratic members of Parliament, the offer wasn’t enough; they demanded and received his resignation. Other politicians found the outcome harsh. “Kennedy confronted his problems and appealed for support,” said Alex Salmond of the Scottish National Party, “but his MPs have responded by knifing him in the front.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
10 things you need to know today: December 4, 2023Daily Briefing A US warship downs drones in the Red Sea, Israel expands ground invasion into southern Gaza, and more
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Dominica's journey to climate resilience
Under the Radar The island nation is hoping to use Cop28 as a unique opportunity for climate assistance
