A LEADING Kent Liberal Democrat says party leader Charles Kennedy should stay in his job.

Peter Carroll, who took on Michael Howard in the Folkestone and Hythe constituency at the general election, said Mr Kennedy was the best man to lead the party despite admitting to a drink problem.

In a dramatic personal statement on Thursday night, the Liberal Democrat leader owned up to having had a long-standing personal problem with alcohol and triggered a leadership contest.

Mr Carroll said: "He has taken the party forward in leaps and bounds and is probably the most successful leader we have had. I thought his statement was immensely moving and I think there will be a lot of goodwill towards him in the party and the public at large.

"Most people understand that it does not matter who you are or what you do, we are all vulnerable to personal problems. I do not think there is anyone in the party who has the popularity he has."

He said those shadow cabinet members who had signed but not sent a letter expressing no confidence in Mr Kennedy should now understand why the leader appeared to be having difficulties.

"He has now come forward with an explanation as to why he has been having problems and said he is an alcoholic," he said.

Maidstone Council Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Mick Stevens said rivals to Mr Kennedy should "put up or shut up" but accepted that the lack of confidence among some of his parliamentary colleagues was "a serious issue."

"That is clearly a serious issue for him. There are clearly concerns among sections of the parliamentary party and they do see him on a daily basis and the party has to have regard to that."

He added: "It is a boil that needs lancing and if a leadership contest is a way of doing it, then so be it."

He praised Mr Kennedy for owning up to a problem and rejected the notion that he had been forced into it. He added: "One of the effects of having a problem like this is that people deny it. You cannot admit it."