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| Charles Kennedy, Ex-Leader of Liberal Democrats in Britain, Dies at 55 | Charles Kennedy, Ex-Leader of Liberal Democrats in Britain, Dies at 55 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| LONDON — Charles Kennedy, a former leader of the Liberal Democrats in Britain whose career was marked by success and tragedy, was found dead on Monday at his home in Scotland. He was 55. | LONDON — Charles Kennedy, a former leader of the Liberal Democrats in Britain whose career was marked by success and tragedy, was found dead on Monday at his home in Scotland. He was 55. |
| His family announced the death on Tuesday. The police said there did not appear to be anything suspicious about his death; the family said there would be an autopsy. | His family announced the death on Tuesday. The police said there did not appear to be anything suspicious about his death; the family said there would be an autopsy. |
| Mr. Kennedy, a popular and unpretentious politician who led the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006 and who opposed Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war, resigned as head of the party after admitting that he had a drinking problem. | Mr. Kennedy, a popular and unpretentious politician who led the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006 and who opposed Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war, resigned as head of the party after admitting that he had a drinking problem. |
| He did not abandon political life, however, and represented a constituency in the northwest of Scotland until he lost the seat last month to the Scottish National Party, which won all but three of Scotland’s 59 seats in the general election. | He did not abandon political life, however, and represented a constituency in the northwest of Scotland until he lost the seat last month to the Scottish National Party, which won all but three of Scotland’s 59 seats in the general election. |
| Under the leadership of Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition with the Conservative Party in 2010 but were devastated in last month’s election, losing 49 of their 57 seats. | Under the leadership of Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition with the Conservative Party in 2010 but were devastated in last month’s election, losing 49 of their 57 seats. |
| “Charles’s untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation,” Mr. Clegg said in a statement. “He was one of the most gentle and unflappable politicians I have ever known, yet he was immensely courageous, too, not least when he spoke for the country against the invasion of Iraq.” | “Charles’s untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation,” Mr. Clegg said in a statement. “He was one of the most gentle and unflappable politicians I have ever known, yet he was immensely courageous, too, not least when he spoke for the country against the invasion of Iraq.” |
| Prime Minister David Cameron and other politicians praised Mr. Kennedy on Tuesday. | Prime Minister David Cameron and other politicians praised Mr. Kennedy on Tuesday. |
| “I’m deeply saddened by the death of Charles Kennedy,” Mr. Cameron wrote on Twitter. “He was a talented politician who has died too young.” | “I’m deeply saddened by the death of Charles Kennedy,” Mr. Cameron wrote on Twitter. “He was a talented politician who has died too young.” |
| Paddy Ashdown, who preceded Mr. Kennedy as leader of the Liberal Democrats, told the BBC, “He had his demons, we all have our demons, but on form and when he was on song, Charles was the best of all of us.” | Paddy Ashdown, who preceded Mr. Kennedy as leader of the Liberal Democrats, told the BBC, “He had his demons, we all have our demons, but on form and when he was on song, Charles was the best of all of us.” |
| Mr. Kennedy was first elected to Parliament in 1983 at 23 and was the youngest member at the time. He was garrulous and popular on television, earning the nickname Chatshow Charlie. He led his party to great success in 2005, winning 62 seats in a general election, before stepping down in January 2006 to seek treatment for his alcohol problem. | Mr. Kennedy was first elected to Parliament in 1983 at 23 and was the youngest member at the time. He was garrulous and popular on television, earning the nickname Chatshow Charlie. He led his party to great success in 2005, winning 62 seats in a general election, before stepping down in January 2006 to seek treatment for his alcohol problem. |
| Despite losing his parliamentary seat, Mr. Kennedy had hoped to be actively engaged in what he called “the great European debate which is now looming,” he wrote. | Despite losing his parliamentary seat, Mr. Kennedy had hoped to be actively engaged in what he called “the great European debate which is now looming,” he wrote. |
| “The next few years in politics will come down to a tale of two unions: the U.K. and the E.U.,” he added. “Despite all the difficult challenges ahead, the Liberal Democrat voice must and will be heard.” | “The next few years in politics will come down to a tale of two unions: the U.K. and the E.U.,” he added. “Despite all the difficult challenges ahead, the Liberal Democrat voice must and will be heard.” |
| Mr. Kennedy’s marriage to Sarah Gurlingended in divorce. He is survived by a son, Donald. |