Charles Kennedy's leadership of the Liberal Democrats was on the brink tonight after more than a third of his parliamentary party called on him to resign at the weekend.
The statement by 25 Liberal Democrat MPs added to a revolt that has gathered momentum since Mr Kennedy confessed to a battle with aloholism in a dramatic statement last night.
Vince Cable, the party’s respected Shadow Chancellor, delivered a letter this evening, signed by 11 members of the Shadow Cabinet, calling on Mr Kennedy to go.
Earlier Andrew George, the international development spokesman and Norman Lamb, the trade and industry spokesman, both gave warning that they would resign if Mr Kennedy continued as leader.
In the statement issued tonight by education spokesman Ed Davey, the 25 MPs said they wanted to give Mr Kennedy a "couple of days to reflect on his position" after saying they were not prepared to serve under him if he does not resign.
They added it was "absolutely clear that a growing number of MPs agree with us". There are 62 Liberal Democrat MPs at Westminster.
But arriving tonight at his London home before the statement was released, Mr Kennedy said that he had received an "overwhelming volume and quality" of support from ordinary party members - and suggested that it was Lib Dem MPs, rather than himself, who needed to reflect on the position.
"I am very gratified indeed by the overwhelming volume and quality of the level of support that has come in again through the course of the day," he told Sky News.
"I think this is a good weekend for reflection. I would urge my parliamentary colleagues to reflect carefully on things, and I would urge our party members as well to make their views known as they are very loud and clear."
The fast-moving developments followed Mr Kennedy’s admission last night that he was suffering from an alcohol problem, which he claimed he had now conquered. In a personal statement, Mr Kennedy declared his intention to fight for his job, and threw down the gauntlet to his critics in a leadership contest.
But his position appeared increasingly untenable as support within his frontbench slipped away. Mr George was the first shadow cabinet member to warn that he would quit if Mr Kennedy carried on.
"The only honourable thing for me to do in the present circumstances - and I’ve discussed this with Charles at great length - is to offer my resignation," he told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme.
He was swiftly followed by Mr Lamb, who said that he would also go unless Mr Kennedy was prepared to step down after receiving the letter of no confidence from Mr Cable. "If the position then is that Charles is intent on continuing, then I don’t see my position as being tenable to carry on in the shadow cabinet," he told Sky News.
After delivering the letter signed by the 11 shadow cabinet members, Mr Cable said Mr Kennedy had asked for more time to think.
"He has expressed a wish - which seems to me entirely sensible - to reflect on what has happened over the weekend, to think this through," he told BBC News 24.
"Colleagues will, in any event, be coming back from their constituencies at the beginning of next week and we need to do what is in the best interests of the party. A little reflection would be healthy, I think, in the circumstances."
The statement that was delivered by Mr Davey seems designed to give Mr Kennedy the weekend to reflect on his position before MPs return to Westminster on Monday, when the revolt against the Lib Dem leader is expected to gather steam.
It said: "Everyone wishes to give Charles the weekend to reflect, and have expressed their sympathy and support for him in his battle with his serious medical condition.
"However, we felt we had to indicate what our personal intentions would be next week, given his statement yesterday.
"We have indicated to Charles Kennedy that we would no longer be prepared to serve under his leadership after this weekend and wish to give him the next couple of days to reflect on his position.
"Following conversations over the last few days it is absolutely clear that a growing number of MPs agree with us."
Matthew Taylor, who chaired Mr Kennedy’s original leadership campaign six years ago, but was sacked as Lib Dem chairman after being one of four senior party figures to deliver an ultimatum to seek treatment for his drink problem, called on Mr Kennedy not to fight to keep his job.
"After the general election it became clear that despite medical support, Charles has suffered continuing problems with alcohol, leading many of those close to him to privately advise that he could not successfully tackle this huge personal challenge whilst he remained leader," Mr Taylor said.
The Lib Dem peer, Baroness Nicholson, also urged Mr Kennedy to go, saying that he needed to concentrate on his fight against his drink problem. "Underneath it all nobody wants him to leave, but I believe myself that Charles needs a break for his health," she said.
Chris Davies, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said that Mr Kennedy was, in the American prison phrase, "a dead man walking". He told Sky News that by insisting on staying on Mr Kennedy was verging on "selfishness", and "leaving an open goal" to political opponents.
Asked whether other leading figures were likely to step down, he said: "Yes, I think you’ll find that over the course of the weekend.
However there was support for Mr Kennedy from Howard Sykes, of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors, who said grassroots activists would back him. "There’s clearly been a game going on in the Westminster bubble somewhere and the rest of us who live in the real world are slightly surprised to find out what’s going on," he said.
Mr Kennedy’s spokeswoman insisted that he would "not in any way, shape or form" resign tonight or tomorrow. The Lib Dem leader had received "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of messages of support, she said, and had spent the day talking to colleagues.
"He is talking through all sorts of options and, as I say, accepting the strong support that has been offered to him and urging everybody to reflect," she said. She added that the opposition to his leadership might melt away. Mr George could still be persuaded to remain in the Lib Dem top team, she suggested: "It is a resignation that is post-dated and can be rescinded."
If Mr Kennedy won a leadership contest he would stay on, even if MPs passed a motion of no confidence because "it would be redundant", she said.
She also insisted that the Lib Dem leader believed he could survive a vote of confidence. "He does not fear a confidence vote at all," she said.
Full list of Lib Dem MPs who support statement: Ed Davey, Sarah Teather, Norman Baker, Tom Brake, Andrew George, Sandra Gidley, Norman Lamb, David Laws, Jeremy Browne, Alistair Carmichael, Nick Clegg, Tim Farron, Lynne Featherstone, Julia Goldsworthy, Chris Huhne, Evan Harris, John Pugh, Jo Swinson, Stephen Williams, Nick Harvey, Martin Horwood, Dan Rogerson, Adrian Sanders, Matthew Taylor and Jenny Willott.
