Ming: I would welcome Kennedy back
Disgraced former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy would be welcome to rejoin the party’s front bench, Menzies Campbell has said.
The current leader told a conference in Edinburgh that he believed Mr Kennedy was right to quit in January, following a loss of confidence in his leadership by Lib Dem MPs and concerns about his drinking problem.
But according to BBC reports, he told the Scottish parliament’s festival of politics that he would welcome a return to frontline politics for Mr Kennedy while he was leader.
“When he is ready then if I am leader of the party, I would be happy to welcome him back because he has a rare quality which not many politicians possess in 2006,” Sir Menzies said.
“He connects directly with the public in a way that many politicians simply cannot hope to do.”
Sir Menzies has had a tough time since being elected Lib Dem leader in March, with commentators across the political spectrum noting his less-than-impressive performances at prime minister’s question time in the Commons.
He has also failed to make any substantial headway in the polls, although an ICM/Guardian survey this week put the Lib Dems five points ahead of last month to reach 22 per cent of support.
The grumbles about Sir Menzies’ leadership have led to speculation that Mr Kennedy might return, and last month there were reports that the former leader was “deadly serious” about making a comeback – and was plotting a way to do it.
Mr Kennedy was quick to refute these reports, however, and Sir Menzies himself merely noted: “The silly season usually starts on August 1st. It seems to have started a little earlier this year.”
The former leader is due to make a speech on the Tuesday of the party conference in Brighton next month.
