Charles Kennedy has just resigned. Who was Brutus, the wielder of the dagger? It is obvious that many people knew of his alcohol problem, but somebody decided that now was the time to use it to get him out.

I also ask which of the MPs who were against him stopped to think that were it not for Charles Kennedy's leadership of the party they would not even have been MPs. How many will lose their seats at the next election as a result of this public bloodletting?

Still his resignation was an excellent example of dignity in adversity.