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Charles Kennedy: UK political leaders join forces with heartfelt tributes Charles Kennedy: UK political leaders join forces with heartfelt tributes
(35 minutes later)
Britain’s political leaders found rare common ground as they joined forces to pay heartfelt tributes to Charles Kennedy after his sudden death at the age of 55.Britain’s political leaders found rare common ground as they joined forces to pay heartfelt tributes to Charles Kennedy after his sudden death at the age of 55.
Nick Clegg led the tributes to Kennedy as one of the most gifted politicians of his generation who died weeks after losing his Highlands seat in the SNP landslide in the general election. Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, led the tributes to Kennedy as one of the most gifted politicians of his generation who died weeks after losing his Highlands seat in the Scottish National party landslide in the general election.
Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, began a speech on the EU in Brussels with a warm personal tribute to Kennedy, whom she described as “one of the most talented politicians of his generation”. She remembered “skiving off” with Kennedy during a trip to Australia in the mid-90s to watch the film Trainspotting. Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, began a speech on the EU in Brussels with a warm personal tribute to Kennedy, who she described as “one of the most talented politicians of his generation”. She remembered “skiving off” with Kennedy during a trip to Australia in the mid-90s to watch the film Trainspotting.
Kennedy’s body was found at his Fort William home by his partner Carole Macdonald, 57, the widow of Murdo Macdonald, one of his oldest friends – and godfather to Kennedy’s son, Donald – who died from cancer in 2007.Kennedy’s body was found at his Fort William home by his partner Carole Macdonald, 57, the widow of Murdo Macdonald, one of his oldest friends – and godfather to Kennedy’s son, Donald – who died from cancer in 2007.
A family friend said Kennedy had been very careful to keep the couple’s relationship private and to protect Macdonald from the challenges and intrusions of public life. But Macdonald had helped Kennedy during his election campaign, driving him to and from events in his Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency. A family friend said Kennedy had been very careful to keep the couple’s relationship private and to protect Macdonald from the challenges and intrusions of public life. But Macdonald helped Kennedy during his election campaign, driving him to and from events in his Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency.
Kennedy, who resigned as Lib Dem leader in 2006 after disclosing that he had alcohol problems, is understood to have died of a heart attack. He had been in poor health and had been deeply upset by the death of his father, Ian, who died in early April aged 88 after suffering repeated falls last year. Kennedy had been his main carer and suspended election campaigning following his death. Kennedy, who resigned as Lib Dem leader in 2006 after disclosing that he had alcohol problems, is understood to have died of a heart attack. He had been in poor health and had been deeply upset by the death of his father, Ian, in early April aged 88 after suffering repeated falls last year. Kennedy had been his main carer and suspended election campaigning following his death.
A statement released on behalf of Kennedy’s family said: “It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy. Charles died at home in Fort William yesterday. He was 55. We are obviously devastated at the loss.”A statement released on behalf of Kennedy’s family said: “It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy. Charles died at home in Fort William yesterday. He was 55. We are obviously devastated at the loss.”
Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, led the tributes to Kennedy who steered his party to its greatest success in the modern era when he captured 62 seats in the 2005 general election after opposing the Iraq war. “Charles’s untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation,” Clegg said of the man regarded as one of Britain’s finest orators in recent years. “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.” Kennedy steered his party to its greatest success in the modern era when he captured 62 seats in the 2005 general election after opposing the Iraq war. Clegg, one of his successors, said: “Charles’s untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation. 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.”
Paddy Ashdown, Kennedy’s predecessor as Lib Dem leader, told ITV1’s Good Morning Britain: “We all have our demons … but Charles rose above those and on form he was the very best of us.”Paddy Ashdown, Kennedy’s predecessor as Lib Dem leader, told ITV1’s Good Morning Britain: “We all have our demons … but Charles rose above those and on form he was the very best of us.”
David Cameron said: “It’s not that often in politics someone comes along with brains, talent, wit and bags of humanity. Charles had all of those things.”David Cameron said: “It’s not that often in politics someone comes along with brains, talent, wit and bags of humanity. Charles had all of those things.”
The only sour note of the day came after Alex Salmond, the former Scottish first minister, said that Kennedy’s heart had not been in the pro-UK Better Together campaign during last year’s independence referendum campaign.The only sour note of the day came after Alex Salmond, the former Scottish first minister, said that Kennedy’s heart had not been in the pro-UK Better Together campaign during last year’s independence referendum campaign.
Sir Menzies Campbell, who succeeded Kennedy as Lib Dem leader in 2006, told the Guardian: “Mr Salmond’s intervention is ill judged. Today is a day for fond memories and respect. Anything else today is out of order … Charles was a classic Liberal home ruler within the UK. Federalism necessarily involves being within a whole.” Sir Menzies Campbell, who succeeded Kennedy as Lib Dem leader in 2006, said: “Mr Salmond’s intervention is ill judged. Today is a day for fond memories and respect. Anything else today is out of order … Charles was a classic Liberal home ruler within the UK. Federalism necessarily involves being within a whole.”
Kennedy was nicknamed “Chat Show Charlie” in light of his easy manner on television that once saw him chair an edition of Have I Got News for You. But Kennedy, who won the Observer Mace for university debating in 1982 in the year he graduated from Glasgow university, placed the fight for social justice and the battle to keep the UK in the EU at the heart of his politics. Kennedy was regarded as one of Britain’s finest orators in recent years and was nicknamed “Chat Show Charlie” in light of his easy manner on television that once saw him chair an edition of Have I Got News for You. But Kennedy, who won the Observer Mace for university debating in 1982 in the year he graduated from Glasgow university, placed the fight for social justice and the battle to keep the UK in the EU at the heart of his politics.
Kennedy, who entered parliament at the age of 23 in 1983 at the same time as Tony Blair, with whom he shared a love of David Bowie’s music, quickly made a mark in the relatively small contingent of Alliance MPs. But he felt deeply uncomfortable about Ashdown’s closeness to New Labour in the mid-90s and loosened the ties when he succeeded him as Lib Dem leader in 1999.Kennedy, who entered parliament at the age of 23 in 1983 at the same time as Tony Blair, with whom he shared a love of David Bowie’s music, quickly made a mark in the relatively small contingent of Alliance MPs. But he felt deeply uncomfortable about Ashdown’s closeness to New Labour in the mid-90s and loosened the ties when he succeeded him as Lib Dem leader in 1999.
Kennedy went to on to become the most senior opponent at Westminster of the Iraq war as he forged a position to the left of New Labour.Kennedy went to on to become the most senior opponent at Westminster of the Iraq war as he forged a position to the left of New Labour.
Related: Charles Kennedy – a lovely man, a talented politician, a great friend | Alastair CampbellRelated: Charles Kennedy – a lovely man, a talented politician, a great friend | Alastair Campbell
But Kennedy’s leadership was dogged by ill health and he stood down in 2006 though he initially tried to stay on after admitting he had a drink problem. “Over the past 18 months I’ve been coming to terms with, and seeking to cope with, a drink problem. I’ve come to learn through that process that any drink problem is a serious problem indeed.” But his leadership was dogged by ill health and he stood down in 2006 though he initially tried to stay on after admitting he had a drink problem. “Over the past 18 months, I’ve been coming to terms with, and seeking to cope with, a drink problem. I’ve come to learn through that process that any drink problem is a serious problem indeed.”
Sir Menzies Campbell briefly succeeded Kennedy before Clegg assumed the leadership in 2007. Clegg followed a different political path, dubbed the “Orange Book” approach, as he moved the Lib Dems to the centre ground with ambitions of becoming a party of government. Clegg fulfilled this ambition when he formed a coalition with the Tories in 2010 – to the deep shock of Kennedy, who abstained in the vote on the coalition. Campbell briefly succeeded Kennedy before Clegg assumed the leadership in 2007. Clegg followed a different political path, dubbed the “Orange Book” approach, as he moved the Lib Dems to the centre ground with ambitions of becoming a party of government. Clegg fulfilled this ambition when he formed a coalition with the Tories in 2010 – to the deep shock of Kennedy, who abstained in the vote on the coalition.
Kennedy had one son, Donald who is aged 10, with Sarah Gurling. They were divorced in 2010.Kennedy had one son, Donald who is aged 10, with Sarah Gurling. They were divorced in 2010.