Booze threatens to topple party leader as Britain battles the bottle

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2006

LONDON (AFP) — The leader of Britain's second opposition party was on the verge of being ditched after an unprecedented admission of alcoholism at a time of fierce public debate over alcohol abuse.

One by one, senior Liberal Democrats called time on leader Charles Kennedy in his hour of crisis, with threats of mass resignations from his core team if he does not stand down.

Nicknamed "Chat-show Charlie" for his television outings which endeared him to the wider public, Kennedy, 46, had repeatedly denied health problems despite some eyebrow-raising public appearances and mounting media speculation.

The affable, flame-haired Scot's dramatic revelation Thursday that he effectively lied about his drink problem came with a pledge that he was up to the job and was...