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Cameron leads Commons tributes to Charles Kennedy David Cameron leads Commons tributes to Charles Kennedy
(about 3 hours 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.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. After news of his death on Monday, MPs have been reflecting on Mr Kennedy's contribution to politics and public life in a special Commons session.
The PM said he was "an extraordinary talent" and "a man of great principle".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's ex-wife Sarah and his 10-year-old son Donald watched proceedings from one of the public galleries.
* Follow all the tributes as they happen Mr Kennedy led the Liberal Democrats for six years and took the party to its best election result in 2005 before being ousted eight months later after revealing he had been receiving treatment for a long-standing drink problem.
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". * Politics Live - including the tributes as they happened
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 aged 55. His cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
Tributes from across the political spectrum poured in after the news was announced. Speaking in the Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr Kennedy was a man of "strong views and great loyalty".
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 played a pivotal role in bringing together two parties - the SDP and the Liberals. As leader he took the Liberal Democrats to the best electoral result for a third party in British politics for nearly 100 years.
"He told Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs back in 2003 that his ambition for his party was to find themselves part of a government of the country.
"His achievements laid the foundations for that to happen and, while he was never the greatest fan of the coalition, and indeed voted against its formation, he never spoke out against the Lib Dem participation in it."
Charles Kennedy: 1959-2015Charles Kennedy: 1959-2015
By Nick Robinson, BBC political editorBy 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 thoughtsRead Nick's thoughts
John Pienaar's memoriesJohn Pienaar's memories
The Charles Kennedy storyThe Charles Kennedy story
Charles Kennedy's life in picturesCharles Kennedy's life in pictures
Charles Kennedy in his own wordsCharles Kennedy in his own words
Scottish tributesScottish 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". Outgoing Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said Mr Kennedy would have "wanted to be remembered as a kind and loving father, brother and son first; and an accomplished politician second".
"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. "His good humour must not obscure the fact that there was a steely courage about him, most memorably on display when he took the principled decision to oppose the Iraq War," he said.
"Charles was often a lone voice in this House, standing up against a consensus in favour of war on all sides. The fact that he was proved so spectacularly right is a tribute to his judgment and his intuitive common sense."
'A persuader'
The two men hoping to succeed Mr Clegg as Lib Dem leader said the party would always be indebted to Mr Kennedy.
Norman Lamb said the party must do everything it could "to ensure Charles's legacy, to rebuild the Liberal voice in this country" while Tim Farron said Mr Kennedy "was a persuader and he was a persuader because he was able to reach people in their gut".
Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman said Mr Kennedy had been right to oppose the Iraq war in 2003 while the SNP's Angus Robertson said Mr Kennedy "was a giant in Scottish and in UK politics".
Opening the session, Speaker John Bercow said Mr Kennedy had an unique ability to reach out to people normally mistrustful of politicians, describing him as "the boy next door of British public life".
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.
"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 held a series of frontbench posts when most of his party merged with the Liberals to form the Lib Dems in 1988 and 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. He married former Camelot public relations executive Sarah Gurling in 2002 and their son Donald was born during the 2005 general election campaign. 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.
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".
"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.