London free-sheet London Lite and other tabloid rags are publishing new rumours surrounding Charles Kennedy.
Charles was apparently due to host the Marketing Week Effectiveness awards last night, but had to be replaced by Jeremy Vine with only an hour to go.
Quoting from London Lite (stripping out the bits that aren’t of direct interest):
He reportedly stumbled over his lines and struggled to read the autocue. One eyewitness said he was slurring his words and “did not look in a good way.”
A source said he arrived about 3pm for a dress rehearsal. “His eyes were half closed and he was slirring his speech. He clearly wasn’t in a fit state to do the dress rehearsal properly.
“The lights went down and the autocue came on – but he just couldn’t read it”, the source told the Sun.
A spokesman for Mr Kennedy said: “I spoke to Charles about the event and I gather some problems with the script occurred but I don’t know about anything else.”
Obviously we can’t know the facts. And we certainly can’t trust the Sun and the Associated Newspapers’ London Lite to report fairly and accurately. Whatever the truth, the party’s still thinking of you and looking out for you, Charlie.
UPDATE: The Times has more today:
A member of Mr Kennedy’s staff confirmed that he had pulled out of the event but would not explain why. She said: “It was a private business arrangement so obviously if something happened between him and the client that is a matter for them. It is not a matter for public comment.”
She told The Times that he had seemed fine after returning home. “I spoke to him at 7.30pm and he was absolutely sober.”
The event’s organisers refused to comment, but a friend of Mr Kennedy said that there had been a dispute beforehand over the script for the event, to which he had made some late changes.
He had complained that he was being asked to say things in the script that he was not prepared to say, the friend said, and the organisers were unhappy that he was being “difficult” over the script.
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7 Comments
Sorry but I don’t think this should have been posted.
If Charles is having relapses that’s a huge tragedy for him on a personal level. It is however a personal issue and not one which people should comment on in public.
And yes I’m now going to comment but only because I’m angry and have a rant to get off my chest:
Just because the Murdoch scum press chooses to insinuate something doesn’t mean we should give it oxygen.
Charles has a medical condition which can have devastating effects on the sufferer and those around them.
My Godfather spent decades battling alcoholism. Over the years he would resort to drinking anything with alcohol content including aftershaves if he couldn’t access the real thing.
Finally he drank 3 litres of liquid de-icer and took 3 days to slowly die as the de-icer ate his insides.
That’s an extreme example but the danger is real and we should be more supportive – even if that means keeping silent.
Perhaps if the hacks who wrote these stories had any experience with the illness they’d know that slurring and looking tired can be symptoms of the enormous effort to stay on the wagon as easily as they can signs of falling off it.
It is regretful that if one earns ones living in Public life then one will always be under public scrutiny. Charles has an unfortunate weakness which he has difficulty in accepting and controlling.
Anyone who aspires to hold high political office can`t afford to have such a serious problem with alcohol and the Party can`t afford to carry someone in this situation, otherwise we lay ourselves open to serious criticism for knowingly supporting someone who will not be able to hold down a proper job.
Alpha1 MANY alcoholics hold down ‘proper jobs’
It scares me how many people have appalling attitudes to problems like Charles’. Alcoholism is alarmingly common in Britain and MOST alcoholics hold down jobs, some of those at very senior levels.
Who knows what the truth of it is with regards whatever happened to Charles at this event, but he needs support and understanding. Alcoholism doesnt get better overnight because the victim wants it to – even IF he did have a relapse he should be helped and supported, not derided and undermined.
Especially not in the manner as alpha1 has done.
That’s assuming the worst. Any slip that the right wing loonies can use against Charles will be grabbed and used – I remember when they ran a piece that he was the most dangerous man in Britain…. For all we know he did have an argument about the script and this is how someone’s people have spun the story….
And Charles isn’t aspiring to hold high political office – he is a constituency MP (in case you missed the events of earlier this year alpha 1).
I agree, it is not the material for here. In fact I think the whole “Rumour mill” thing takes the worst of cix and gives it high profile and credibility.
Whatever Charles’s problems, whatever the reasons for MPs deciding he shouldn’t be our leader any more – he lead us to our greatest successes ever and we owe him our respect and support. I am afraid ending the original post “Whatever the truth, the party’s still thinking of you and looking out for you, Charlie.” does not mitigate republishing this cr@p.
I apologise if I have offended anyone on what I agree is a delicate issue and I hope Charles really does beat his illness. Nevertheless, we have to be realistic about his situation. We can`t afford to have him regularly exposed to the limelight when he is not up to it as this only places additional pressure on him. It also brings discredit on the Party which we can do without. He really should not court publicity for whatever reason until he is back on an even keel.
Alcoholism is an illness of denial; it is also ‘cunning, baffling and powerful’. I have several friends, now recovering alcoholics, who were in public life and they found it immensely difficult to focus on their endeavours to stay sober while at the same time carrying out public duties. Their watersehds came when they threw in the towel, retreated from public life and focused on sobriety. I am also a recovering alcoholic.