Mr Kennedy: Leadership questions

Lord McNally, leader of the Lib Dems in the Lords, told the Times Mr Kennedy had not addressed directly enough the concerns expressed since the election.

But he also warned in-fighting could harm the party's performance in May's local council elections.

Mr Kennedy promised in December to lead a refreshed, "thrusting" party in 2006.

That promise came after he received backing at a meeting of all Lib Dem MPs in Westminster.

'Terminal?'

Claims that he could soon face a fight for his job have refused to go away.

There have been suggestions that deputy leader Sir Menzies Campbell, 64, has support to lead the party through to the next general election.

Lord McNally fleshed out his concerns in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Charles has a lot to prove Lord McNally Lib Dem peer Hear the interview

He said: "Charles has to recognise there is a good deal of discontent inside the parliamentary party about the style and content of his leadership since the general election."

MPs and peers had to avoid being "egged on" by Conservative-supporting newspapers and remember the Lib Dems must be united for the important local council elections in May.

"I certainly do not want to see us plunged into a bitter election campaign between now and May," said Lord McNally.

Recovery chances

The peer argued that a "Charles firing on all cylinders" was the best alternative for the party up to the next election but admitted that was not a ringing endorsement of his leader.

"Charles has a lot to prove," he said. "The question is: is he given the chance to prove it or do we go into an election in January...

"Can he recover? He most certainly can but he has to recover by having good days followed by good days, followed by good days. He has got to give the party the sharper leadership which it clearly is asking for.

"Is he capable of it? I think Charles Kennedy is one of the most impressive politicians of his generation and he has an opportunity now to answer his critics."

'Opportunity missed'

Lord McNally said he thought Mr Kennedy had four years but a lot would depend on how he returned from the Christmas break and the maturity with which MPs and peers handled the issue.

Lord McNally urged MPs to consider the fates of the party's 4,700 councillors in May's poll, reminding them that many arrived at Westminster via town halls themselves.

Mr Kennedy's backers point to the result of the 2005 general election, which saw 62 Lib Dem MPs elected, the highest total since the 1920s.