Just wondered what people thought about his statement this evening ?

I think he is a brave man who is standing up and admiting he has a problem and hope he comes out the other end with a positive result :)

I agree Lucy,Politicians and honesty are not words you often hear in the same sentence,:rolleyes: He has shown he has a human side too.good luck to him

It takes a lot of courage to admit to an addiction. It's also extremely difficult to overcome one, especially when you have a very stressful life. Good luck to him - he's going to need it.

I don't think he much choice in the end than to admit it though.  The rumours about his drink problem have been rumbling for weeks. He's stepped out rather than waiting to be pushed out which would have been inevitable under the circumstances.

It's a pity he has this problem and I hope he is able to resolve it.

Unfortunately, I don't agree about him being brave :( I think that he thought that he could bluff it out - but when he realised that he had no/little support, he had to pre-empt the almost inevitable vote of no-confidence in him. Had he admitted much earlier on that he had a drink problem, then he would have had my sympathy - but like most alcoholics, denial is the first line of defence :(

Daisy

I agree is some of what you say but at least now he has done it in one of the biggest ways anybody could really :)

I do think though that to overcome and fight it he was right to do it initially in private as I can imagine it must have been very difficult for him and also his family as hasn't he a baby now ?

Oh Daisy I must disagree, he is admitting to the worlds press that he has a drink problem. Anyone knowing someone who has had a drink/drug problem will know how much courage it takes to admit the problem to their family........never mind the newspapers........Good on him and well done

I agree that admitting to a drink problem is a big step - but I still feel that he has left it to the last minute and even now (in the manner that he did it) is trying to drum up sympathy to save his political skin :( He has had numerous opportunities to admit it - he was asked outright a few months ago if he had sought help about it and he said 'No' - why should people trust him politically now ?

Daisy

I think probably the alcohol clouded his judgement.  It remains to be seen whether his party feel able to put their trust in him. I didn't see the interview but if he has admitted to being an alcoholic I think that will spell the end of his leadership.

I do hope not as he will be an inspiration for many people if he comes through this unlike poor George Best who ended up a very sad lonely man who died a very horrible painful slow death :( People need to see a good story sometimes to give them hope :)

well I guess few of us can deny we have our weaknesses.......... Polititcians are not exempt, their main prob seems to be honesty and asnwering a direct question:rolleyes:

Trouble is being in such a high profile and stressful job, how will he be able to take the time and gain the privacy to combat his problem longterm.  Alcoholism stays with you.  Someone I know who goes to AA says it is a constant battle and relapse is always a danger.

Yes, at first addicts will deny they have a problem. Once they admit it though (for whatever reason) they're on the road to recovery - if they're supported.

Unfortunately, I know that only too well :(

Daisy

Well it looks as if we may need to register Charles Kennedy as an honest politician,,,,,,,,still good luck to the old chap

Honest ?? Denying he had a problem ?

We'll never know whether it was the drink talking or the politician :(

Daisy

Daisy, Politicians deny most things if it does'nt suit them. Personal problems even more so, I for one would like to cut him a bit of slack and wish him well :) Shall I add your name to the card ;)

Sure - I just wish that he would give his young son a chance of a normal childhood by quitting and getting well - rather than trying to hang on for his political life :(

Of course, as a person, I wish him well :)

Daisy

Cool Daisy.........have added extra big kisses to the card from you ;)

I feel sorry for anyone that has been forced to admit to something, whether it is alcoholism, being gay, or anything. They should be able to get the support they need without the whole world at their ankles. I saw part of the interview and must admit to thinking that he was right in wanting to keep his family out of it. They knew, and were trying to help him. Maybe now that he has informed the press they will stop hounding him, though I doubt it. Let the man get used to not drinking. It is an illness that needs support, not pressure.

Unfortunately, when the alcoholism starts to affect one's work and the work is in the public eye, it becomes only too evident what is going on :( What is actually going on at the moment, with him, is difficult for the public to know. He may be able to function as before, he may still be suffering from the long-lasting affects of the alcoholism and need time off from the pressures to help his recovery. Personally, I would have thought, for his sake and the sake of his family, that he should resign and concentrate on his recovery and regaining his health :)

Daisy

And remember it IS an Illness!! He needs treatment and support from his family the same as anyone else!

just proves that the media got it right  all the speculation and denial .

He probably would have been better to stand down rather than battle it out.

as a person I hope he can learn to live with himself as he will always be an alcoholic.
think personally were all being manipulated once again.

Roni

I think it is courageous to stand up and admit to having a drink problem but it's a shame it had to be forced out of him. I'm afraid that his future political career now looks about as promising as Ariel Sharons though.

Although I have sympathy with anyone trying to overcome an addiction, I don't really have time for M.P.s who tell lies.  It's not the best way to treat people whose votes you rely on to keep you in your job.

>I don't really have time for M.P.s who tell lies

That narrows down the field! ;) :D

What?  To ZERO :rolleyes:

It seems unfair that hes being pushed out of his job due to his alcoholism where as if those of us with "normal" jobs were dismissed through alcoholism we could take our employers to the cleaners.  They are getting rid of him because of an illness, if he had another illness and they had done the same there would be an out cry.

I wish him all the best! :-D

An 'illness' which could prevent him doing his job properly!

Whilst I have every sympathy for CK, most employers would dismiss an employee if they felt he/she was unable to do their job competently thru alcohol or drug addiction.........saying that Boris Yeltsin ran Russia while merrily pickled 24/7 ;)

Dubya's a 'recovering' alcoholic - and he's allowed to be the powerful man in the world!

Excellent point JG

I think it depends how long they have been a recovering alcoholic. CK admits it is only 2 months since he has had a drink - that is not long enough, in my opinion, to have faith that he won't crack under pressure and have another drink. Tony Blair recently said that he had never realised quite how much pressure he would be under as PM -and he is a fit, sober (as far as we know ;) ) man. Could CK take these pressures ?? At every election he is asking people to vote for him to, maybe, be PM - not just a leader of an insignificant party that doesn't care what the leader is like.

Daisy

>I think it depends how long they have been a recovering alcoholic.

They all have to start with one day, and build up from there.

But the longer they have been off the alcohol, the more likely it is that they will stay off :) There are many who stay off for a while, but start again. George Best is a prime example :(

Daisy

Honest opinion? Can't stand him. Think he does absolutely NOWT for the Lib Dems and I certainly wouldn't vote for him even if he had never touched a drop in his life!

Give him break :) ;)

The Lib Dems do nothing even if he hadn't had a drink :)

Well they certainly won't now, unless they ditch him as leader :(

Daisy

Yes but no but yes but no but yes but no :D

Ok got over that :)

He is yesterdays news really as we all have expected but sad still :9

Lucy
xx

Yes, tragic for him and I do really hope that he can stay off the booze for his own sake and, mostly for his wife and son :) What should be most important for him is his family - to hell with the politics :)

I'm afraid that having come from a long line of alcoholics (Scottish ones at that :D ) - I'm only too aware of the problems :(

Daisy

I think we will have another 'Press Conference' next week where he will stand down :(

I bet his wife (was her name Sarah ? :)) must be thinking blimey :)

Poor woman - she's gone through a pregnancy knowing her husband is an alcoholic :( What a start to family life :( He said tonight that he would use the weekend for reflection. (Reflection is, apparently, a political speak for changing one's mind :D )

Daisy

Daisy though give him some slack :)

How do you know what he has been like through her pregnancy :)

He may have been so supportive we don't know :)

I'm sure that he's been fine. But how could she predict then whether he would give up the alcohol. She wouldn't have known whether she would have a husband in a few years time :( Also, nobody knows what affect it has already had on his body - he may still have long-lasting health problems.

Alcoholics are very irritable and argumentative .

Daisy

Good on him for coming clean and facing up to his problems.  I hope he can manage to stay off the booze and become well again.  I have to say that it's not wholly true that an employer would get rid of an employee with a drink problem - a good employer can be supportive and offer assistance to the person in tackling their addiction, with the proviso that the employee has to admit to having the problem in order to be helped :)

I don't think that he should necessarily resign; it would be inspiring for other people struggling with this problem if he can retain his position AND succeed in tackling his alcoholism.

Lesley

It all depends on the job.  Prime Minister of GB is quite a hefty responsibility and there is so much we plebs don't know.  That his shadow cabinet appear to have lost faith in his leadership means he hasn't got the support he needs to continue.

>Prime Minister of GB is quite a hefty responsibility

Yes - and Churchill had a 'drink problem' all the years he was in office.

Watching the news this morning and it makes sense from what they are saying.  The party members should be allowed to decide if they still have confidence in CK rather than the shadow cabinet. Personally I can't see how he can stay if the people working closest to him haven't got confidence in him.  If he continued under those conditions surely you would end up with mavericks and backstabbers (not that there's a shortage of them in Westminster anyway).

I still think there might be a lot of things we don't know.  I imagine those who do support him and want him to stay are very good friends anyway.  Even though he seems to have functioned perfectly well we don't know how much of that has been overly supported behind the scenes.  Let's face it, they have managed to keep his drinking problem pretty well under wraps until recently.  I wonder when those closest to him actually knew

Apparently the term squiffy comes from Asquith :)  Permanently sossled apparently.  I hope Charles gives it a couple of years and comes back after all others forced out by exposure of midsdeamenors have managed as much :)

I can't stand Tony Blair either - should I give him a break? Or only CK - because he has a self inflicted illness? :)

I'm grouchy today - got rain-fatigue :D