This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33025795
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Charles Kennedy died of 'haemorrhage linked to alcoholism' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy died of a major haemorrhage linked to alcoholism, his family has said. | Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy died of a major haemorrhage linked to alcoholism, his family has said. |
| Mr Kennedy, who led the party between 1999 and 2006, died at his home in Fort William on Monday aged 55. | Mr Kennedy, who led the party between 1999 and 2006, died at his home in Fort William on Monday aged 55. |
| Following a post-mortem examination, his family issued a statement saying his unexpected death was "a consequence of his battle with alcoholism". | Following a post-mortem examination, his family issued a statement saying his unexpected death was "a consequence of his battle with alcoholism". |
| "Ultimately this was an illness Charles could not conquer despite all the efforts he and others made," it said. | "Ultimately this was an illness Charles could not conquer despite all the efforts he and others made," it said. |
| 'Affection' | |
| Details of Mr Kennedy's funeral arrangements will be released in due course. | |
| Mr Kennedy fought a long battle with alcoholism, which he first publicly revealed in 2006 when he stood down from the leadership of his party, just eight months after leading it to its best performance at an election. | Mr Kennedy fought a long battle with alcoholism, which he first publicly revealed in 2006 when he stood down from the leadership of his party, just eight months after leading it to its best performance at an election. |
| After his death was announced on Tuesday, the police said they did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances. | After his death was announced on Tuesday, the police said they did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances. |
| Charles Kennedy: 1959-2015 | |
| Nick Robinson on Kennedy's legacy | |
| John Pienaar's memories | |
| The Charles Kennedy story | |
| Charles Kennedy's life in pictures | |
| Charles Kennedy in his own words | |
| In their statement the family said the Procurator Fiscal's post-mortem report "makes clear his (death) was a consequence of his battle with alcoholism". | |
| "We are grateful to the many friends and also medical experts who sought to help down the years but ultimately this was an illness Charles could not conquer despite all the efforts he and others made," it said. | |
| The family said they had been "touched beyond measure by the outpouring of warmth" from all parts of the country and all sides of politics following Mr Kennedy's death. | The family said they had been "touched beyond measure by the outpouring of warmth" from all parts of the country and all sides of politics following Mr Kennedy's death. |
| "The pain we feel has been at least eased somewhat by the reaction of so many people across Scotland, the UK and beyond, and by the affection expressed by politicians across the spectrum. | "The pain we feel has been at least eased somewhat by the reaction of so many people across Scotland, the UK and beyond, and by the affection expressed by politicians across the spectrum. |
| "It has become all too apparent to us how much Charles meant to so many people and how many lives he touched." | "It has become all too apparent to us how much Charles meant to so many people and how many lives he touched." |
| 'Shared enemy' | |
| Mr Kennedy's son Donald and his ex-wife Sarah were in Parliament on Wednesday to listen to 90 minutes of tributes, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Labour leader Harriet Harman. | |
| The family's statement adds: "The words and images of that day, and of so many other tributes, will be there for us to look back on with pride in Charles, and Donald will always know what a special father he had." | |
| Tony Blair's former communications director Alastair Campbell, who was a friend of Mr Kennedy's and has written of their "shared enemy" of alcoholism, said he hoped confirmation that alcohol abuse led to the death would make politicians take it more seriously as an illness. | |
| "None of us are surprised that alcoholism played a part in his tragic death but what has been great about the tributes is that they have focused on so much more than this. | |
| "I hope that remains the case as people continue to remember him as we move towards the funeral and then subsequent memorials. | |
| "I also hope that politicians of all parties develop a better understanding of alcoholism, take it more seriously and devise policies to treat it as a disease on a par with the other major diseases." |