So Charles Kennedy’s leadership is back in question. He has blasted through conference, making four major speeched. It’s like he’s standing for leader - against himself - and losing!

Recess Monkey bumped into newbie MP John “26 mistresses” Hemming in Blackpool the day after he stirred up conference into opposing the leadership’s plans to support the privatisation of the Royal Mail.
Hemming told the monkey, “I can’t tell you the bollocking I just got over that.”
Recess Monkey: “Can you tell me who gave you the bollocking?”
Hemming: “No I can’t tell you that either”.
Recess Monkey: “But why should you get a bollocking? The party conference has endorsed your position - surely the leadership has to support you?”
Hemming: “Erm - I’ll have to consult the party standing orders before I know what I can and can’t say”.
Recess Monkey: “So does this week mean a leadership challenge is more likely?”
Hemming: “Oh certainly, though not in this parliament”.
A little bird suggests that the next LibDem leadership election could be between Nick Clegg and Hemming himself. You heard it here first!





Apparently the smart money is on the next LibDem leadership election being between their ‘Blair and Brown’ aka Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne. I have no idea which is Blair and which is Brown, but as the latter clung onto the Eastleigh seat despite singularly failing to squeeze the third placed Labour vote (even after Iraq, top-up fees etc), he must have some talent!
A Source Close to the Prime Minister said this on September 22nd, 2005 at 3:56 pm
This presumes that ‘Hogwhimperingly Drunk’ Hemming still has a seat in 2009. There are a few Labour activists around Yardley gearing up for a fight and he might find his Labour opponent next time round a little harder to beat.
PoliticalHackUK said this on September 22nd, 2005 at 4:12 pm
John Hemming said this on September 25th, 2005 at 7:07 pm