Lib Dem leader weds after drink habit controversy

The leader of Britain's Liberal Democrat party, Mr Charles Kennedy, married his fiancée on Saturday after a week of controversy…

The leader of Britain's Liberal Democrat party, Mr Charles Kennedy, married his fiancée on Saturday after a week of controversy over his drinking habits.

Mr Kennedy appeared relaxed during his marriage to Ms Sarah Gurling at the chapel in Westminster on Saturday.

BBC Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman apologised last week to Mr Kennedy for any offence caused when he raised his drinking in an interview.

At subsequent interview on BBC Radio 4, Mr Kennedy admitted reassessing his lifestyle now that he was "into the danger zone of my early 40s" and facing the "pivotal moment" of marriage.

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He added: "I have never made the slightest secret of the fact that I am instinctively a sociable person - and that means you can enjoy a sociable drink with colleagues and friends as and when."

His comments came after Paxman admitted possibly asking "one question too many" about drink in an interview with the Scottish politician. In the interview, Mr Kennedy was asked about his drinking habits and his motives for getting married.

The presenter asked: "How much do you drink? . . . Do you drink privately? At home alone do you finish off a bottle of Scotch?" Mr Kennedy dismissed the claims and said that he got married because he was in love.

The Lib Dem leader was once dubbed "Chat-show Charlie" after appearing on light-hearted TV shows like Have I Got News For You.