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Kennedy given ovation on return Kennedy given ovation on return
(30 minutes later)
Charles Kennedy won a standing ovation from Lib Dem activists with his first big speech since admitting a drink problem and quitting as party leader. Charles Kennedy won two standing ovations from Lib Dem activists as he returned to the political frontline at the party's conference in Brighton.
Mr Kennedy marked his return to frontline politics by telling the Lib Dem conference in Brighton "the best is yet to come" for the party. Mr Kennedy looked confident and relaxed as he spoke without notes in his first big speech since admitting a drink problem and quitting as party leader.
He said "the best is yet to come" for the party and insisted it could be a force for change in British politics.
This year had seen the "best of times and the worst of times", he said.This year had seen the "best of times and the worst of times", he said.
Mr Kennedy said he intended to stay in politics and stressed his loyalty to his successor, Sir Menzies Campbell. 'Staying in politics'
Sir Menzies insists he is not worried about being overshadowed by Mr Kennedy and says he would welcome him back to his top team. Mr Kennedy said he had passed up numerous chances to talk to the media about events because he wanted to speak to the Lib Dem conference first.
Earlier, he said he expected Mr Kennedy to make an "extremely accomplished and witty speech", with it likely to be "a highlight of the conference". "Politics is where I want to be and it's our politics I want to stay in," he told delegates.
Ready to return? There have been reports that Mr Kennedy might plan a return to being leader but Sir Menzies Campbell has insisted he was not worried about being overshadowed by his predecessor.
This message was echoed by members of Sir Menzies' front bench team at the party's morning press briefing. Mr Kennedy said he had kept to his promise to stay loyal to the new leader.
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". "Ming Campbell knows that has been the case and you should know that is going to remain the case," he said.
Environment spokesman Chris Huhne said: "People underestimate the achievement of Charles at the last election." But, although Sir Menzies led the standing ovation, there was no handshake for the cameras between the two men.
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". 'Changing politics'
"It gives us electoral resilience which hasn't always been a feature of this party," he added. Mr Kennedy thanked his supporters, saying he felt "personally and politically optimistic".
Tax vote "It's for the good not just of our party but British politics as a whole that we should feel optimistic about our future," he argued.
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 said the Lib Dems had the momentum in British politics - they had gained ground since 1997 while Labour and the Conservatives had lost votes.
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. "We are a force for change in British politics," he said.
Some people within the party have speculated that he could mount a challenge to regain his leadership. "But we can change the circumstances and the context for the better around about us without, in any sense whatsoever, surrendering that we are Liberal Democrats, we are staying Liberal Democrats and my God we are proud to be Liberal Democrats."
The speech 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.
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 was 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.Mr Kennedy was 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.