British election coming up--educate me please

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by lesrae

As a fairly apolitical (they're all as bad as each other) voter, I have to say that Charles Kennedy's treatment by his colleagues is appaling. He owns up to having a drink problem and is crucified by the rest of the party for it. How many of them drink too much but don't admit it - I know who I'd rather trust.

I would agree with what you have said to an extent. I'm sure that there are other politicians in the Commons who suffer from alchoholism. The problem I think though with Kennedy is this. He had given personal assurances to his colleagues that he was dealing with the problem. He said he was on top of it and that it wouldn't impact on his role as leader of the Liberal Democrats. But since those personal assurances he has been ill of which I can remember a couple of occassions when he was giving speeches whilst sweating profusely and not looking well.

I'm afraid politics is a tough and sometimes very dirty business as exhibited in what is happening on Capital Hill, Wahsington DC at the moment with the Jack Abramoff scandel, Tom Delay's trial, the investigation of Bill Frist, and the "Scooter Libby" trial.