Kennedy told to have examination

Fears over Charles Kennedy's health intensified today when a veteran Liberal Democrat MP told him to get a "top-to-toe" medical examination.

Former international development spokeswoman Jenny Tonge urged Mr Kennedy to "end the speculation" surrounding his health and to "decide for himself" whether he could carry on as party leader.

She raised the spectre of Mr Kennedy being "chronically ill" and having to stand down for health reasons.

Her comments came after Mr Kennedy used a keynote speech at the weekend to signal he was fit, despite missing last week's Budget complaining of a " violent stomach bug".

Mr Kennedy sweated his way through the address in Southport at his party's spring conference with his hands visibly shaking during his address.

Some MPs have speculated he has begun to suffer from selfdoubt and stage fright, although his leadership has also been dogged with rumour about his drinking habits. Today Richmond Park MP Ms Tonge, sacked from the Lib-Dem frontbench by Mr Kennedy after claiming she felt sympathy for Palestinian suicide bombers, raised the stakes by becoming the first colleague to speak out publicly.

Ms Tonge, a qualified doctor with experience in community health programmes, told ITV News Channel: "What I would say to Charles is to get yourself an absolute top-to-toe health check-up and decide for yourself, are you fit enough to lead the party.

"It's a 24-hour job. If you're not fit enough, there's no shame in ill health. Anthony Eden had to give up as Prime Minister because of ill health.

"If he is chronically ill in some way then he should decide for himself whether he wants to carry on with the job. I think he got through his speech perfectly well yesterday and I'm sorry he's been ill this week, truly sorry.

"I think he needs to bring an end to all this speculation."

Ms Tonge's remarks followed weekend claims by Lib-Dem mayoral challenger Simon Hughes that Mr Kennedy was "no Paddy Ashdown" - a reference to the former party leader's iron constitution.

Speculation about Mr Kennedy's health resurfaced when he missed last week's Budget statement by Gordon Brown, leaving the Lib-Dems' official Commons response in the hands of treasury spokesman Vincent Cable.

Mr Hughes said on BBC1's Breakfast With Frost: "Paddy Ashdown, I think, was never ill. The rest of us do get ill. It was a bad day to be ill. I think everybody accepts that."

Mr Kennedy has consistently and angrily denied claims that his fondness for the occasional drink is proving a handicap to his role as party leader.