MPs pay tribute to Charles Kennedy in the House of Commons
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Version 0 of 1. Watched by Charles Kennedy’s former wife Sarah Gurling and their 10-year-old son Donald, MPs have paid warm and generous tributes to the former Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Commons. In time put aside after the first prime minister’s question time of the new parliament on Wednesday, politicians from both sides of the chamber praised Kennedy for his sense of humour, good judgment in opposing the war in Iraq and the respectful way that he treated his opponents. Kennedy, 55, the former Liberal Democrat leader who lost his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat to the SNP in last month’s general election after 32 years as an MP, was found dead at his home in Fort William on Monday. Related: Charles Kennedy, former leader of Liberal Democrats, dies aged 55 “There was something very special about Charles. As his good friend [the former Labour spin doctor] Alastair Campbell put it yesterday. ‘he spoke fluent human because he had humanity in every vein and every cell’,” said David Cameron, adding that Kennedy would be remembered for his “success, for his principle and intellect and above all for his incredible warmth and good humour”. “At the heart of his political views was a deep commitment to social justice,” the prime minister added. “He passionately believed in Europe as a way of bringing people together, but his most outspoken contribution in recent years was the principled stand he took against the Iraq war. “Looking back it is easy to forget just what a stand that was, taking abuse from the major parties on both sides of the house and adopting a position that wasn’t even supported by the previous leader of his own party.” The acting Labour leader, Harriet Harman, said Kennedy was the “golden boy in the Highlands” and that “he shone in this chamber”. “He had a deep seriousness of purpose, and great intellect but he wore it lightly,” she said. “He could be the most intelligent person in the room, but still be warm, funny and generous, which made him convincing and engaging in equal measure. “He showed you could be in profound disagreement on matters of serious political judgment, while accepting the good faith of those who take a different view,” said Harman. “He disagreed with the decision to go to war in Iraq and he was right, but he never felt the need to denigrate those of us who got it wrong.” Nick Clegg, who announced his resignation as leader of the Lib Dems after the party lost 48 of its 56 MPs in last month’s general election, said that while Kennedy was a “formidable parliamentarian and a much-loved politician” he retained his “greatest pride and devotion for his family”. “He lived next door to his parents and latterly his brother in his grandfather’s croft house near Fort William and cared for them through sickness and old age,” noted Clegg. “Much though he was wedded to politics all his life, I think Charles would have wanted to be remembered as a kind and loving father, brother and son first; and an accomplished politician second.” Speaker John Bercow described Kennedy as the “boy next door of British public life” and said he had spent almost all of his entire adult as a member of parliament, but was “perhaps happiest beyond it”. He was, Bercow said, a “good speaker, but an even better listener”. |