Kennedy hints at return as Lib Dem leader

Charles Kennedy has hinted that he might return one day to lead the Liberal Democrats again.

The former leader, who resigned in January because of a drink problem, announced that he was now in good health and "it is up to me to keep it that way". Asked directly about whether he saw himself returning to his old job, he answered: "Who knows?"

He said: "The one thing we can be sure about is that it's as well to expect the unexpected." For that reason, he said, he is planning his future "in a positive way".

Mr Kennedy made his comments last night on BBC's Question Time after a member of the studio audience in King's Lynn asked how long it would be before "the mumblings of Ming Campbell are replaced by the strident tones of a teetotal Charles Kennedy?"

But Mr Kennedy defended Sir Menzies Campbell. He said that new leaders frequently needed time to establish themselves, and that the political situation would change drastically when Tony Blair stood down.

"I don't think people should be jumping to conclusions this early in the Parliament," he said.

He also denied that Sir Menzies had been involved in a conspiracy to force him to step down.

Earlier, Mr Kennedy admitted that he regretted not fighting Sir Menzies for the party leadership.

Speaking in Devon, Mr Kennedy said there was a "question mark in the air" over the party leadership.

He told the BBC: "I would have liked to contest the leadership election, because there is now a question mark in the air which members could have decided, had my name been on the ballot paper."

But he acknowledged that he had lost the support of his colleagues when he stood down. He said: "I've been in Parliament long enough to recognise that if you don't feel you carry sufficient confidence with your parliamentary colleagues, then you have to make way for others."

Mr Kennedy defended his decision to call a leadership election and said a coronation without a ballot would have damaged the party.

Sir Menzies has since faced criticism for his lacklustre performances at Prime Minister's Questions. Mr Kennedy said that he was still advising the new leader in private.

He said: "I offer face-to-face advice to Ming. We've known each other for nearly 30 years and we speak as friends and colleagues as we have always done."