Kennedy 'must stem new Tory threat'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Charles Kennedy has been told that he must take quick action to meet the threat to the Liberal Democrats from the new Tory leader, David Cameron, or face "fatal" consequences.
Nick Clegg, the party's foreign affairs spokesman, who is seen as a potential leadership challenger, paid tribute to the professionalism of the new Conservative campaign to win over Liberal Democrat supporters.
The latest Tory propaganda is "nicely worded and well-presented, polite and measured", while the Liberal Democrats are in danger of looking "tired and out of touch" and must do more to "enhance the credibility of the party", he said.
His remarks will be interpreted as another coded message to Mr Kennedy to use the Christmas break to decide whether he wants to quit, or improve his act. Writing in yesterday's Evening Standard, Mr Clegg warned: "Stories of plots, counter-plots, a threatened Charles Kennedy and uppity pretenders make great headlines, but the real challenge for the party is elsewhere. Politics is suddenly changing rapidly, and Lib Dems must understand and respond to those changes quickly. Intellectual leadership is required, and fast. A failure to move with the times will be fatal to the party."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments