TAKING over from Paddy Ashdown, the Liberal Democrats' new leader, Charles Kennedy, has a hard act to follow - for he inherits a party his predecessor made more popular in terms of its strength at Westminster than most people alive can remember.
But, as the voting for the leadership showed, it is one with considerable doubts among its own membership about the close links Paddy Ashdown forged with ruling New Labour.
Mr Kennedy's signalling he would take a harder line towards the government and at the same time continue co-operation with it if he thinks it is in the country's best interest suggests he is having to walk a tightrope at the outset - even though to many voters his progress is only a sideshow attraction.
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