Clegg laughs off Kennedy defection rumours

Nick Clegg has laughed off rumours that one of his predecessors as Liberal Democrat leader is defecting to Labour.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the suggestion that Charles Kennedy was quitting in protest at the coalition deal was the "silliest of silly-season stories".

The long-serving MP is believed to be upset over the policy compromises made to form the alliance with the Tories, and especially the deep spending cuts that have been proposed.

He refused to endorse the coalition deal when it was put to a vote of the parliamentary party in May, preferring a tie-up with Labour.

Mr Clegg said he had received an email from Mr Kennedy reassuring him there was no basis to the rumours.

He said: "I can't do better than say what Charles has said which is that it's the silliest of the silly-season stories. It's just nonsense so I'm not going to waste any more time on it."