Skipper

Predictions that the 46 year old leader of the Lib Dems would face a 'drip drip' of steady criticism in the new year, seems to be coming true according to today's Sunday Times. Ed Davey, the education spokesman, complained that 'the need for some sort of change was established before Christmas'. Another MP quoted by David Cracknell in the S. T. produced an observation which somehow seems to sum up his critics' feelings and accord with the impression Kennedy has given over the last six months: 'There is a feeling Charles is merely presiding over the party and not leading it'.

Simon Hughes, popular with the grass roots does not want the job it seems, even though he knows he'd win it. His concern is that he is not that popular with his colleagues in parliament and that holding the party together would be a bed of nails. He also feels that seats might be lost at the next election. Ming Campbell is ready to serve as a caretaker leader for a short period but wants an effortless transition, a little like the 'coronation' accorded to Howard in the Tory Party in autumn 2003. The situation is further complicated by Mark Oaten, the 41 year old home affairs spokesman, who has made it clear he has designs on them leader's chair. Further evidence that Charles's position is crumbling is the 3000 oetition signed by party members, including 386 councillors, asking him to resign.

The only person so far unmoved by the ructions is Kennedy himself who talks blithely of carrying on. He will have to accept that the process is too far gone and that his goose is cooked. It seems unfair but Charlie will maybe be the first scalp which can be attributed to the young David Cameron, whose accession to power has transformed UK politics as surely as Tony Blair's did in 1994.