Drink battle Kennedy calls leadership poll

• Two candidates refuse to stand against him, third yet to comment

• Statement admired by many, but comes after several recorded denials

Key quote

"He hasn't resigned with dignity; he has decided to carry on with courage and dignity. What he has done, though, is taken the taboo out of the problems of alcoholism." - LEMBIT OPIK, LIBDEM MP

Story in full CHARLES Kennedy put his political life on the line last night, admitting to a serious drink problem and calling an election, in a gamble that could see him sacked as Liberal Democrat leader.

After weeks of damaging speculation about his position, he was forced into an unprecedented public confession after the emergence of hard evidence that he had received medical treatment for alcohol misuse.

The scale of his colleagues' unhappiness with Mr Kennedy also became clear. Some 11 members of his front-bench have signed a letter calling for him to resign, and had planned to present it to him on Monday.

The twin revelations forced the Lib Dem leader into a desperate gamble, when he admitted he had repeatedly lied about his problem.

"Over the past 18 months, I have been coming to terms with, and seeking to cope with, a drink problem," Mr Kennedy said in a statement at his party's London headquarters. "I've sought professional help, and I believe today that this issue is essentially resolved.

"People close to me know that this has been a struggle," he said, insisting he had not had a drink for the past two months.

Within hours, several senior MPs who had been seen as possible challengers praised their leader's bravery and honesty in making his statement and said they would not stand against him.

But for all its dignity, Mr Kennedy's admission exposes him to grave political risk. Until yesterday, he had always denied having a drink problem and disputed suggestions that he'd had to seek medical help as a result. Now, he has admitted lying about his condition and offered opponents several opportunities to attack his character and integrity.

On Wednesday, Mr Kennedy had warned that a leadership election among card-carrying members would be damaging for the Lib Dems. "It would occupy the party almost entirely up until the May local elections, which I think would be the most enormous, self-inflicted distraction," Mr Kennedy said - a day before he called just such an election.

Some party insiders said it remained possible that Mr Kennedy could yet be forced to withdraw his name from the election process that he triggered yesterday.

By calling for an election among the party membership, the Lib Dem leader has effectively admitted he has lost the confidence of his MPs, many of whom feel he missed an opportunity to gain ground on a now-resurgent Conservative Party.

Mr Kennedy's calculation is that none of his would-be replacements will dare to challenge him directly, accepting that he remains popular among grassroots party members and the wider public.

Last night, that gamble appeared to have been at least partly successful.

Mark Oaten, the party's home affairs spokesman, said he would not stand against Mr Kennedy. "Charles's courageous decision to go back to the membership will be a great chance to clear away the bad air of the past weeks and face the future constructively," Mr Oaten said.

Sir Menzies Campbell, Mr Kennedy's deputy and the bookmakers' favourite to become the party's new leader, also said he would not stand against Mr Kennedy.