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| Cameron leads Commons tributes to Charles Kennedy | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Charles Kennedy was the "most human of politicians", David Cameron has said as he led tributes to the former Liberal Democrat leader in Parliament. | |
| MPs are reflecting on Mr Kennedy's contribution to politics and public life in a dedicated Commons session after his death on Monday. | |
| The PM said he was "an extraordinary talent" and "a man of great principle". | |
| Mr Kennedy led the party for six years and took the Lib Dems to their best election result in 2005. | Mr Kennedy led the party for six years and took the Lib Dems to their best election result in 2005. |
| * Follow all the tributes as they happen | |
| Speaker John Bercow said the tributes session would be an opportunity for MPs to "say what they think and feel and remember about our departed colleague". | Speaker John Bercow said the tributes session would be an opportunity for MPs to "say what they think and feel and remember about our departed colleague". |
| Mr Kennedy, who lost his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat in last month's general election, died at his home in Fort William on Monday. His family said they were "devastated" to lose "a fine man and a "loving father". | Mr Kennedy, who lost his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat in last month's general election, died at his home in Fort William on Monday. His family said they were "devastated" to lose "a fine man and a "loving father". |
| Tributes from across the political spectrum poured in after the news was announced. | Tributes from across the political spectrum poured in after the news was announced. |
| Under Mr Kennedy's leadership, the Lib Dems won a record 62 seats in 2005 but he resigned eight months after the election after revealing he had been receiving treatment for a long-standing drink problem. | Under Mr Kennedy's leadership, the Lib Dems won a record 62 seats in 2005 but he resigned eight months after the election after revealing he had been receiving treatment for a long-standing drink problem. |
| Charles Kennedy: 1959-2015 | Charles Kennedy: 1959-2015 |
| By Nick Robinson, BBC political editor | By Nick Robinson, BBC political editor |
| Charles Kennedy left a mark on British politics. The man who took his party to its electoral peak, he was the only UK party leader to warn the country of the perils of invading Iraq when Labour and the Conservatives were uniting to support it. | Charles Kennedy left a mark on British politics. The man who took his party to its electoral peak, he was the only UK party leader to warn the country of the perils of invading Iraq when Labour and the Conservatives were uniting to support it. |
| He was also the only Liberal Democrat MP who could not bring himself to vote to form a coalition with the Conservatives. | He was also the only Liberal Democrat MP who could not bring himself to vote to form a coalition with the Conservatives. |
| But British politics also left its mark on him. Elected at the age of just 23, politics and the House of Commons became his life whilst alcohol was his friend, his prop and his curse. | But British politics also left its mark on him. Elected at the age of just 23, politics and the House of Commons became his life whilst alcohol was his friend, his prop and his curse. |
| Read Nick's thoughts | Read Nick's thoughts |
| John Pienaar's memories | John Pienaar's memories |
| The Charles Kennedy story | The Charles Kennedy story |
| Charles Kennedy's life in pictures | Charles Kennedy's life in pictures |
| Charles Kennedy in his own words | Charles Kennedy in his own words |
| Scottish tributes | Scottish tributes |
| Mr Clegg, who will step down as Lib Dem leader in July, said that on a good day Mr Kennedy had "more political talent in his little finger than the rest of us put together". | Mr Clegg, who will step down as Lib Dem leader in July, said that on a good day Mr Kennedy had "more political talent in his little finger than the rest of us put together". |
| "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," he said. | "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," he said. |
| The Lib Dems have opened an online "book of condolence" where anyone can leave messages via its website. | The Lib Dems have opened an online "book of condolence" where anyone can leave messages via its website. |
| In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Kennedy's family said: "It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy. | In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Kennedy's family said: "It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy. |
| "We are obviously devastated at the loss. Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son." | "We are obviously devastated at the loss. Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son." |
| Mr Kennedy's political career began in the Social Democratic Party and he became the youngest MP of the time when he won the Ross, Cromarty and Skye seat in 1983 at the age of 23. | Mr Kennedy's political career began in the Social Democratic Party and he became the youngest MP of the time when he won the Ross, Cromarty and Skye seat in 1983 at the age of 23. |
| He became SDP spokesman on social security, Scotland and health and continued to hold a series of frontbench posts when most of his party merged with the Liberals to form the Lib Dems in 1988. | He became SDP spokesman on social security, Scotland and health and continued to hold a series of frontbench posts when most of his party merged with the Liberals to form the Lib Dems in 1988. |
| He took over the Liberal Democrat leadership from Paddy - now Lord - Ashdown in 1999. | He took over the Liberal Democrat leadership from Paddy - now Lord - Ashdown in 1999. |
| His 2002 marriage to Camelot public relations executive Sarah Gurling - and the later birth of his son in 2005 - was seen by many in the party as a sign he was settling down. He and his wife split up in 2010. | His 2002 marriage to Camelot public relations executive Sarah Gurling - and the later birth of his son in 2005 - was seen by many in the party as a sign he was settling down. He and his wife split up in 2010. |
| After his resignation, Mr Kennedy maintained a lower profile. He did not play any role in the coalition government, having voted against his party's decision to enter an alliance with the Conservatives. | After his resignation, Mr Kennedy maintained a lower profile. He did not play any role in the coalition government, having voted against his party's decision to enter an alliance with the Conservatives. |
| Tony Blair, who clashed with Mr Kennedy over the former Labour PM's decision to take the UK to war in Iraq, said his death was "an absolute tragedy". | Tony Blair, who clashed with Mr Kennedy over the former Labour PM's decision to take the UK to war in Iraq, said his death was "an absolute tragedy". |
| Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Kennedy was "an incredibly talented, gifted, effective politician", while Lib Dem peer Baroness Williams said he had "huge charisma" and was "deeply loved in the party". | Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Kennedy was "an incredibly talented, gifted, effective politician", while Lib Dem peer Baroness Williams said he had "huge charisma" and was "deeply loved in the party". |
| "He was completely beyond the standard of what we rather regard as greatness in politics. He could have been a very great man indeed," Lady Williams told the BBC. | "He was completely beyond the standard of what we rather regard as greatness in politics. He could have been a very great man indeed," Lady Williams told the BBC. |