Tributes paid to former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy

Colleagues, friends and political adversaries have paid tribute to former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy after his sudden death aged 55.

David Cameron said politics had lost a man of “immense ability”, while Nick Clegg said his opposition to the Iraq war had been “enormously courageous”.

Mr Kennedy, who led his party for over six years, took it to its best election result in 2005 but battled alcoholism.

No cause of death has been given but police said it was not suspicious.

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Mr Kennedy, who lost his seat in last month’s election, died at his home in Fort William on Monday. His family said they were devastated to lose a “fine man and loving father”.

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 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.

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.

Mr Clegg, who will step down as Lib Dem leader next month, said that on a good day Mr Kennedy had “more political talent in his little finger than the rest of us put together”.

“Charles devoted his life to public service, yet he had an unusual gift for speaking about politics with humour and humility which touched people well beyond the world of politics,” 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.”

Charles Kennedy in 2001 celebrating.

BBC