Charles Kennedy out, Menzies In?

Update, Charles Kennedy Has Quit. We're STILL backing Menzies Campbell and Laying Simon Hughes. Sky confirm Menzies will stand as a leadership candidate. Menzies will also assume the role of caretaker leader. Update - Update 15.45 - Menzies confirms his candidacy. Update 09/01/06 - Newsnight suggests that Marc Oaten is going to run. Official announcement not yet made but he invited the media in for breakfast with his family and appears to have set the process in motion. Update 10/01/06 10.04 - SkyNews confirms Oaten will stand.

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Today's Evening standard carries the story of their own proprietary survey of Lib Dem senior front bench MPs. They say 16 out of 23 that were questioned want CK to resign "without delay"

Special Bets believes that a contest involving CK is now highly unlikely and as we said yesterday would be backing Menzies Campbell Menzies Campbell is the #1 choice among Lib Dem senior MPs as a consensus candidate that would enable younger "Orange Bookers" to take over from Sir. Menzies at a later date... UPDATE 16.17 - Sky News says "20 Lib Dem MPS refuse to work with CK" UPDATE: Statement expected at 5.45pm from Lib Dem Shadow cabinet...

Statement of opposition to CK was headed by Ed Davey and Sarah Teather, followed by Norman Baker,Tom Brake, Jeremy Browne, Alistair Carmichael, Nick Clegg, Tim Farron,Jenny Featherstone, Andrew George, Sandra Gidley, Julia Goldsworthy, Evan Harris, Nick Harvey, Martin Horwood, Chris Huhne, Norman Lamb, David Laws, John Pugh, Dan Rogerson, Adrian Sanders, Jo Swinson, Matthew Taylor, Stephen Williams, Jenny Willott.

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