LONDON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Charles Kennedy, the embattled head of Britain's Liberal Democrat Party, resigned Saturday, two days after acknowledging a drinking problem.
Much of the party leadership had threatened to quit if Kennedy remained leader, the Times of London reported. They rejected an attempt at compromise that would have allowed him to run in the upcoming leadership contest while leaving the post temporarily.
Sir Menzies Campbell, Kennedy's deputy leader and the party's shadow foreign secretary, will take over the leadership temporarily. He also plans to run for leader and is a favorite in the contest.
Kennedy, who has been head of the Liberal Democrats since 1999, went public about his alcoholism 18 months after members of his party confronted him and forced him to begin treatment. He had reportedly been threatened with exposure by Liberal Democrats fed up with his backsliding.
All three major parties will have new leaders at the next general election, since the Conservatives have replaced Michael Howard with David Cameron and Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair plans to stand down.
