This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/5359076.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kennedy returns to the spotlight | Kennedy returns to the spotlight |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Charles Kennedy is making his comeback to frontline politics with his first big speech since admitting a drink problem and quitting as Lib Dem leader. | |
| Mr Kennedy won a standing ovation as he arrived on stage at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton. | |
| His successor, Sir Menzies Campbell, insists he is not worried about being overshadowed by Mr Kennedy and says he would welcome him back to his top team. | |
| Mr Kennedy was surrounded as he walked to the hall by a large media scrum. | |
| Sir Menzies said he expected Mr Kennedy to make an "extremely accomplished and witty speech", with it likely to be "a highlight of the conference". | |
| Ready to return? | |
| This message was echoed by members of Sir Menzies' front bench team at the party's morning press briefing. | This message was echoed by members of Sir Menzies' front bench team at the party's morning press briefing. |
| Campaigns chief Ed Davey, who according to a recent biography of Mr Kennedy was among the MPs who pressed him to quit, said the whole conference "was looking forward to hearing from Charles". | Campaigns chief Ed Davey, who according to a recent biography of Mr Kennedy was among the MPs who pressed him to quit, said the whole conference "was looking forward to hearing from Charles". |
| "We are all looking forward to Charles coming back to the front bench when he is ready and when he feels its appropriate," he added. | "We are all looking forward to Charles coming back to the front bench when he is ready and when he feels its appropriate," he added. |
| Environment spokesman Chris Huhne said: "People underestimate the achievement of Charles at the last election." | Environment spokesman Chris Huhne said: "People underestimate the achievement of Charles at the last election." |
| He said Mr Kennedy had "reshaped the political battleground" ensuring the party "can win as many seats from Labour as it can from the Conservatives". | He said Mr Kennedy had "reshaped the political battleground" ensuring the party "can win as many seats from Labour as it can from the Conservatives". |
| "It gives us electoral resilience which hasn't always been a feature of this party," he added. | "It gives us electoral resilience which hasn't always been a feature of this party," he added. |
| Tax vote | Tax vote |
| Mr Kennedy looked happy and relaxed when he appeared on stage at the Brighton gathering on Monday - just 24 hours before his address to activists. | Mr Kennedy looked happy and relaxed when he appeared on stage at the Brighton gathering on Monday - just 24 hours before his address to activists. |
| It represents a rapid return to the spotlight after the bruising events of January when he first admitted his battle with alcohol and was forced to step down as leader by colleagues. | It represents a rapid return to the spotlight after the bruising events of January when he first admitted his battle with alcohol and was forced to step down as leader by colleagues. |
| Some people within the party have speculated that he could mount a challenge to regain his leadership. | Some people within the party have speculated that he could mount a challenge to regain his leadership. |
| A recent poll suggested that twice as many voters would prefer to see Mr Kennedy resuming his old role than Sir Menzies. | A recent poll suggested that twice as many voters would prefer to see Mr Kennedy resuming his old role than Sir Menzies. |
| Mr Kennedy is speaking after Sir Menzies won the first real test of his authority with a crunch vote on his plans to ditch the party's commitment to a 50p top tax rate. |