Kennedy welcome back, says Campbell

Charles Kennedy will be welcome to rejoin the Liberal Democrat front bench as soon as he is ready, party leader Sir Menzies Campbell said.

At the Brighton conference, Sir Menzies spoke of his affection and admiration for his predecessor.

And in a wide-ranging question and answer session he denied being "posh".

Challenged on the demise of Mr Kennedy who quit the leadership over a drink problem, Sir Menzies said: "Charles had a problem which is now well known."

Those who knew him well had faced "conflicts of affection, and conflicts of loyalty to him and loyalty to the party," he said. "A point came when it was in the best interests of Charles himself and the party that he should step down.

"I've known Charles since he was 20. He is someone for whom I have an enormous amount of affection and admiration. He brought the party to its best result for over 80 years in the last general election.

"Whenever Charles is ready, I shall be delighted to welcome him to the front bench."

As delegates applauded, Sir Menzies said this showed that his affection for Mr Kennedy, who will address the conference on Tuesday, was shared by the party as a whole.

Asked if he was posh or a grandee, Sir Menzies insisted: "I'm not posh." He said both his parents lacked opportunity in their lives and were determined to make sure he got a good education and the opportunities they were denied.

Sir Menzies said he would lead the party into the next general election and his main responsibility as leader was to bring on "this extraordinarily-talented generation in the parliamentary party".