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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Charles Kennedy death: Welsh tributes to ex-Lib Dem leader | Charles Kennedy death: Welsh tributes to ex-Lib Dem leader |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tributes have been paid in Wales to the former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy who has died in Scotland aged 55. | |
| The Scottish ex-MP's death was not believed to be suspicious and the cause has yet to be confirmed. | The Scottish ex-MP's death was not believed to be suspicious and the cause has yet to be confirmed. |
| Leader of the Welsh Lib Dems Kirsty Williams called him "a giant in our party" who was "robust and sincere". | Leader of the Welsh Lib Dems Kirsty Williams called him "a giant in our party" who was "robust and sincere". |
| Ex-leader of the party in Wales Lord German called Mr Kennedy's death a "hammer blow". | Ex-leader of the party in Wales Lord German called Mr Kennedy's death a "hammer blow". |
| Mr Kennedy, who led his party from 1999 to 2006, lost his seat in the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency at the general election in May. | |
| After his death was announced on Tuesday, Ms Williams said: "We are all immensely sad to hear of this devastating news. | After his death was announced on Tuesday, Ms Williams said: "We are all immensely sad to hear of this devastating news. |
| 'Man of principle' | 'Man of principle' |
| "You would struggle to meet a kinder man than Charles. He was a man who had time for everybody; a real people person and that made him stand out from all the rest. He will always be remembered for his warm personality and brilliant quick wit. | "You would struggle to meet a kinder man than Charles. He was a man who had time for everybody; a real people person and that made him stand out from all the rest. He will always be remembered for his warm personality and brilliant quick wit. |
| "Charles was a giant in our party. He was robust, sincere and passionate. Never will I be more proud of our party than when Charles led us from the front in our opposition to the Iraq war. This wasn't a decision taken lightly, yet Charles was a man of principle and did what he knew was right. | "Charles was a giant in our party. He was robust, sincere and passionate. Never will I be more proud of our party than when Charles led us from the front in our opposition to the Iraq war. This wasn't a decision taken lightly, yet Charles was a man of principle and did what he knew was right. |
| "The party owes him a great gratitude for the position he took and the bravery he showed. | "The party owes him a great gratitude for the position he took and the bravery he showed. |
| "Above all else, our thoughts go out to Charles's family at this very difficult time." | "Above all else, our thoughts go out to Charles's family at this very difficult time." |
| Former Lib Dem MP for Montgomeryshire Lord Carlile told BBC Radio Wales: "For me today, there is an overwhelming sense of sadness and sympathy for Charles and for his family. | Former Lib Dem MP for Montgomeryshire Lord Carlile told BBC Radio Wales: "For me today, there is an overwhelming sense of sadness and sympathy for Charles and for his family. |
| "He'd had an awful few weeks. His father, to whom he was extremely close, died recently, and of course he lost his seat." | "He'd had an awful few weeks. His father, to whom he was extremely close, died recently, and of course he lost his seat." |
| 'One of a kind' | 'One of a kind' |
| Another former Lib Dem MP for Montgomeryshire Lembit Opik said Mr Kennedy was "one of a kind". | |
| "A gentle soul who never really coped with the pressures of an abrasive career. Heartbreaking news," he said. | "A gentle soul who never really coped with the pressures of an abrasive career. Heartbreaking news," he said. |
| Lord German, who is also a former Lib Dem leader in Wales, said: "Charles was such a mainstay of the party... He was a towering figure in the party. | Lord German, who is also a former Lib Dem leader in Wales, said: "Charles was such a mainstay of the party... He was a towering figure in the party. |
| "There was a brilliant mind who knew and sensed a political direction and who knew where the party had to go. | "There was a brilliant mind who knew and sensed a political direction and who knew where the party had to go. |
| "This must be devastating for his family." | "This must be devastating for his family." |
| Lib Dem peer Lord Roberts of Llandudno told BBC Radio Cymru Mr Kennedy was a "natural, warm and humorous politician". | |
| BBC Wales parliamentary correspondent David Cornock said Mr Kennedy was a man who had "an unusual gift" for speaking about politics "with humour and humility". | |
| He said Mr Kennedy was the sort of person who showed a "genuine interest in people". | He said Mr Kennedy was the sort of person who showed a "genuine interest in people". |
| BBC Wales Welsh Affairs editor Vaughan Roderick tweeted: "Sad to hear about Charles Kennedy's death - a fine man who could have been so much more." | |
| His family said they felt an "enormous sense of shock" and paid tribute to a fine man and talented politician. | His family said they felt an "enormous sense of shock" and paid tribute to a fine man and talented politician. |
| They said Mr Kennedy died at home in Fort William on Monday and that they were "devastated". |