CHARLES KENNEDY was on the verge of quitting as Liberal Democrat leader last night after his senior colleagues delivered a dramatic "you go or we go" ultimatum.

The embattled leader - who confessed this week to being treated for alcoholism - suffered a near-fatal blow when 25 of his 62 MPs said they would not work for him from Monday.

He was dealt a second blow last night when a poll showed more than half his 62 MPs believe he should quit.

BBC2's Newsnight found 33 thought his position was untenable. Only 13 said he should stay, while 16 did not express an opinion.

But, despite the revolt, Mr Kennedy continued to fight on, insisting he would reflect upon the growing pressure over the weekend.

Vincent Cable, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, described Mr Kennedy as "relaxed" after delivering a letter signed by 11 MPs demanding his resignation.

Mr Kennedy told reporters: "This is a good weekend for reflection and I really would urge my Parliamentary colleagues to reflect carefully on things."

The leader said he was buoyed by the support he had received from party members, who he urged to "make their views known, as they are very loud and clear".

Those words suggested Mr Kennedy still hoped to survive with the backing of his party's rank-and-file, despite support draining away among MPs.

Growing criticism of his alleged failure to provide clear leadership exploded on Thursday when he was forced to confirm rumours of a drink problem.

The leader - long dubbed Champagne Charlie - gambled to save his job by appealing over the heads of MPs to 70,000 party members, by promising a leadership contest.

But it appeared to have failed when senior Lib Dems, fearing there would not be a contest because of a reluctance to openly challenge Mr Kennedy, resolved to force him out immediately.

It culminated in last night's statement from 25 MPs that they could no longer serve him, with up to seven thought to have sent personal letters calling on their leader to go.

Earlier, Phil Willis, Lib Dem MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, revealed he had urged Mr Kennedy to confront his alcohol problem long before his statement.

But he said the drinking had done little to affect his ability to do his job, and instead turned his fire on the leader's critics for "tearing the party apart".

Mr Willis said: "I would have preferred not to have any of this. Charles is a very close friend and I will support him if he carries on. I'm a loyalist."

Fiona Hall, the North-East Lib Dem Euro-MP, said she would be happy for a leadership contest to go ahead, with party members deciding whether Mr Kennedy should continue.

Diana Wallis, Lib Dem MEP for Yorkshire and Humber said: "This is turning into some sort of nasty palace coup. This is not democracy as I understand it, nor does it represent the views of the Liberal Democrat party as a whole, which still seems to be hugely supportive of Charles.

"If anyone needs an opportunity this weekend to consider their position, it is those MPs who seem only to represent their own egos and not the views of those who got them elected.

"Charles is right to turn to the membership in the face of such behaviour."

But former party chairman Matthew Taylor said he feared for the health of Mr Kennedy if he clung on while battling alcoholism.

If Mr Kennedy does survive the weekend, the no-confidence motion is likely to be tabled on Monday, to be voted on two days later at a meeting of the party's 62 MPs.

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