Reaction to death of Charles Kennedy

Summary

Tributes have been flooding in after ex-Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy dies at the age of 55
Mr Kennedy was leader from 1999 to 2006, including 2005 when the party got its best ever result
Under his leadership the party opposed the 2003 Iraq War

Live Reporting

Alex Morrison, Paul Gribben and Nigel Pankhurst

Recap of the day's eventspublished at 18.09
Image source, Getty
Politicians and the public have been paying tribute to former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, who was found dead at his home in Fort William on Monday.
Police said the 55-year-old’s death was "sudden" but there were "no suspicious circumstances". No cause of death has been given.
David Cameron said politics had lost a man of "immense ability", while Nick Clegg said Mr Kennedy’s opposition to the 2003 Iraq war had been "enormously courageous".
'Never on top' of alcoholismpublished at 18:04
BBC News Channel
Former Labour strategist Alastair Campbell says he never felt Mr Kennedy was "truly on top" of his alcohol problem.
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He did take a long time to confront it. I think that because I'd had my own problems with alcohol I think I may have been one of the first people that he came to, and I can remember we went for a walk in his constituency and he said 'look, you know what, I think I do have a problem'... I do think if Charles had maybe confronted it earlier he might have ended up with a happier existence."
'Health is fine'published at 17:52
Alastair Campbell says losing his seat in Parliament last month was a "devastating blow" for Mr Kennedy - "even though he'd prepared for it". He adds:
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He was sending me text messages galore in the last few days where he was sending me the ever-narrowing odds on the SNP taking his seat and by the time it was three to one on he basically said 'look I'm a gonner'. But he did say 'health is fine'... that was our little code to say that he wasn't drinking."
'Immense courage, huge charisma'published at 17:31
BBC News Channel
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Charles had immense courage, huge charisma, but it all rested on a deep set of values and beliefs. I think we've lost not just a remarkable man, who might have become one of the outstanding politicians of the whole century, but even more I think we're looking at somebody who would have been crucial to the two great issues facing the United Kingdom at the present time. One being whether it can remain united, and Charles was a strongly pro-Union believer, and secondly whether united it can also play a huge part in Europe, because Charles again was a great supporter of the European Union.
Baroness Williams, Lib Dem peer
Book of condolencepublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 2 June 2015
Mr Kennedy's party tweets...
'One of the greats'published at 17:05
BBC News Channel
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We're absolutely devastated here. The Highlands, Scotland, the UK has lost one of the greats today. Charles was enthusiastic after the general election process. He was enthusiastic about bringing more powers to Scotland and the Highlands, to take part in the European referendum that's coming up, and also rebuilding the Liberal Democrats. So, 55, very young, he had a lot left in him.
David Green, Former adviser to Charles Kennedy
University dayspublished at 16:58
Image source, Glasgow University
Glasgow University has published pictures of Charles Kennedy both as a student and in later life.
To see the pictures, click here, external.
'Unique at the time'published at 16:54
BBC News Channel
Private Eye editor Ian Hislop, who appeared on Have I Got News for You with Mr Kennedy, said he was the first of his kind.
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Charles could not only make jokes, he could take a joke. He was incredibly self-deprecating. He really appreciated jokes about politics, about himself. He was unique at the time, in the early days of Have I Got News for You; he was a real star. This is pre the supposed opening up of politics to normal life. People were quite sneery about it. It was all 'there's Chatshow Charlie'. But actually his directness and sense of humour and sense of fun made him accessible.
Inspired others by 'sheer humanity'published at 16:52
Image source, PA
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, says:
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Charles Kennedy reminded us of the continuing importance of being able to rely on a body of principle by which our plans and actions can be both motivated and judged. This body of principle and his determination to uphold the rule of law, both at home and internationally, gave great encouragement to many of us who opposed the Iraq war. Describing himself as a 'wee crofter' hid a steeliness of a man who led and inspired others by his sheer humanity."
Sad 'too small a word'published at 16:51
Former Lib Dem chief executive Lord Rennard says:
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Sad is far too small and far too insignificant a word to express today’s feelings. You need to study Shakespeare to understand the real meaning of tragedy in today’s news. Our thoughts are very much with his family and his young son Donald. ‘CK’, as he was often known, was one of remarkably few people in politics who would find appropriate, but sometimes unusual words, to understand and express peoples’ emotions. Many of us will struggle to do that now.”
Kennedy's best bits on HIGNFYpublished at 16:17
Charles Kennedy made several appearances on the satirical news quiz Have I Got News for You - both as a panellist and a host. Here are some of the highlights .
'Joker at school'published at 16:12
Mr Kennedy was a "joker" at school and will be remembered for "all the good things" he did, according to people who have spoken to the BBC in his hometown of Fort William.
Click here for more local reaction.
BBC's Pienaar on Kennedypublished at 16:11
"We've discussed the risks Charles Kennedy took with his health quite often - a tale of a large political figure who marked himself out by his rare and authentic depiction of a normal human being". Memories of Charles Kennedy from the BBC's John Pienaar.
'Took his politics very seriously'published at 15:41
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What I'll remember about Charles is someone who was great fun to be with. Even in the darker moments, Charles would brighten things up. But he was also a man who took his politics very seriously. He thought things through. People have been talking today about the very principled stand he took over opposing the war in Iraq. Charles didn't do that out of any kind of media opportunism, he did it because he'd weighed up the arguments.
Lord Wallace, Lib Dem leader in the House of Lords
'Great loss to the community'published at 15:39
Image source, PA
People in the Highland town of Fort William have paid tribute to Mr Kennedy, who died at his home there on Monday.
"Like the rest of the country I am just stunned,” said Flora McKee, who went to school with Mr Kennedy. "Charles was a typical Lochaber person, and you will find that a lot of Lochaber people are quiet and unassuming, going about their ways."
Drew Purdon, former chairman of Lochaber District Council, said: "We can't quite grasp it or come to terms with it yet. It's totally unexpected and without a shadow of a doubt a great loss to the community."
'Principled, decent man'published at 15:35
Former Labour leader tweets...
Analysing Scottish referendum dressed as Christmas elfpublished at 15:24
The Daily Politics
The Daily Politics looks back at the political career of Charles Kennedy, who made many appearances with Andrew Neil on his late-night programme This Week.
Reporter Adam Fleming looks at some career highlights of the former Lib Dem MP and leader who died at his Fort William home on Monday. Watch the film
Remembering 'chatshow Charlie'published at 15:12
Image source, Hat Trick Productions Ltd
Mr Kennedy was dubbed “chatshow Charlie” for his appearances on Have I Got News For You.
The show’s executive producer, Richard Wilson, says Mr Kennedy’s honesty made him one of the programme's most popular signings.
"Charles Kennedy was one of the few politicians prepared to appear on Have I Got News For You and show himself as he really was," he says.
Ill-judged remarks?published at 15:08 British Summer Time 2 June 2015
Huffington Post political editor tweets...
Kennedy 'was willing to take risks'published at 15:05
BBC News Channel
Professor John Curtice says he doubts Charles Kennedy's election loss would have come as a surprise to him as "it was quite clear" from the polls that he was at risk of losing to the SNP.
Reflecting on his career, the politics professor says Mr Kennedy was willing "to take risks and stand on his own", something, he says, which "very clearly marked the leadership of his party".
Two of the "distinctive decisions" he made as Lib Dem leader was to reject what he saw as New Labour's move away from "progressive politics" and to oppose the 2003 Iraq War, which was "not an easy decision to make" but one which hindsight "has justified", he says.
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Charles Kennedy went against the time, took risks and his party profited from them."