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

'Truly great man'published at 15:00
Image source, AP
Lib Dem peer Baroness Williams says she once thought Mr Kennedy "might one day be one of the best prime ministers” ever to lead the UK.
"We have seen a great man go, a really, truly, great man," she says.
Speaking about his alcoholism, she adds:
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You could never be quite sure he would show up on a particular great occasion; you were always living with uncertainty, always wondering if he was going to be there. There were occasions where he didn't come at all or he came but he was not really in a fit state to deal with the issues that he was trying to talk about. But he was so wonderful when he did get there that you forgave almost everything."
Campbell's tribute to Kennedypublished at 14:58
The Daily Politics
Sir Menzies Campbell has paid tribute to Charles Kennedy, whom he succeeded as party leader.
He described Mr Kennedy as a plain speaker, good companion, gregarious, good fun and someone who liked to gossip, and added that he never undermined his successor, or went out of his way to damage the coalition.
Sir Menzies told Jo Coburn that "relations between himself and myself were a bit cool to begin with", but later "we restored the warm and friendly relationship which we had had".
And he added: "He accepted the rule of former leaders, which is to be seen often, and to be heard very rarely, and he was throughout a complete and absolute loyalist to the party.” Watch the interview
Kennedy's 'heart not in No campaign'published at 14:38
Image source, PA
SNP MP Alex Salmond says he does not believe Charles Kennedy’s “heart” was in the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence.
Mr Kennedy campaigned for a No vote, but Mr Salmond says: "His heart would have been in a pro-European campaign - that's the campaign that Charles would have engaged in heart and soul."
He also says Mr Kennedy was "an interesting, complex character, but above all an outstanding communicator and a fine human being".
'Immensely generous-spirited'published at 14:34
Another Liberal Democrat has paid tribute to Charles Kennedy, who has died at the age of 55. Dick Newby, the Lib Dem chief whip in the House of Lords, said he was "the most naturally gifted politician I’ve ever worked with".
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He instinctively knew where he stood on the big issues. He was immensely generous-spirited in both his politics and his broader approach to life. I am proud to have worked closely with him."
Morgan 'admired' Kennedypublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 2 June 2015
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Kennedy was 'a remarkable man'published at 14:28
BBC News Channel
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie reveals that he "shed a few tears this morning", and says the "outpouring of emotion from across the political spectrum and way beyond politics" is "really touching". The MSP says he is privileged to have known and worked for Mr Kennedy, adding: "He was quite a remarkable man."
How badly did his election loss hit him? "He took it in his stride," Mr Rennie says, as he "never presumed" anything. He says he joined Mr Kennedy on the campaign trail and he was working "as hard as ever" to win.
Kennedy's 'instinctive humanity'published at 14:21
Jim Wallace, the Lib Dem leader in the House of Lords, has paid tribute to Charles Kennedy, whom he described as "a hugely gifted and principled man with a common touch".
"He was one of my oldest and closest friends in politics," he said, recalling how they entered the House of Commons "on the same day in 1983, representing Highlands & Islands seats".
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"I have just so many memories of him, but what I will probably remember most were his instinctive humanity, his infectious good humour and his determined, even stubborn commitment to the principles and the values he believed in. Above all, he had a way of communicating his message in a down-to-earth human way which was second to none among his contemporaries."
Life on campuspublished at 14:13
We're familiar with pictures of Charles Kennedy on the Westminster political circuit, but Glasgow University has released a series of charming pictures from his student days, external - when his political career began - including the then young man taking part in "custard throwing" for charity.
A life in picturespublished at 13:57
From his birth in Inverness and growing up in a remote crofter's cottage in the Highlands, to electoral defeat in 2015.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 13:49
James Landale
Deputy political editor
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Charles Kennedy was a man of paradox. He was a career politician who managed somehow to transcend politics and appeal beyond his party, beyond Westminster. He was also a man whose day-to-day leadership could be chaotic, yet when it came to the big issues like Iraq he was incredibly decisive. He was a man who was known to be gregarious and witty but at the same time in private was very shy at times. Above all, he will be remembered not for the chat shows, for the fun and games he provided to Westminster, but for the fact he brought his party to its largest electoral success in the post-war era.
Kennedy could 'cut through'published at 13:48
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
Image source, Getty Images
Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell says Charles Kennedy was one of the rare politicians that managed to "cut through" to the public and be both "popular and authentic". He also led the party to "a pretty successful position", he adds.
Mr Campbell says the former Lib Dem leader was principled, funny, engaging and clever. But he was also "complicated", he adds, saying they forged a friendship "in part through shared issues with alcohol".
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He had his problems but let's remember there was a lot more to him than his story with alcohol."
'A fine parliamentarian'published at 13:42 British Summer Time 2 June 2015
Image source, Getty Images
Charles Kennedy was uncomfortable with the party's decision to go into government with the Conservatives. Sir Menzies says the former Lib Dem leader, as a centre-left politician, "wasn't willing to compromise" - which, he says, he admired and respected. Mr Kennedy was "slightly on the periphery" during the coalition years, but had he been re-elected last month "he would certainly have been re-energised", he adds.
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He was a fine parliamentarian but a man for whom principle was everything. He was a Highland gentleman, but never a nationalist."
'An inspiration for young people'published at 13:39
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Mike Molloy:
A massive loss and someone who will always be an inspiration for young people who want to enter politics. He never lost his human decency or human touch or ability to connect with people. I worked for another party and yet in all our encounters he was never anything but a true gentleman, funny, decent and kind. He will remain an inspiration for any young person who wants to make a difference in public life. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, colleagues and anyone who was lucky enough to have met Charles.
'You couldn't fall out with him'published at 13:36
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
Reflecting on his style of leadership, Sir Menzies says Mr Kennedy didn't rule by diktat or force policy down people's throat, "but he would argue the case, so rationally". He says he had a strategic sense of where the party should sit in the spectrum of UK politics.
"You couldn't fall out with Charles Kennedy, not that I ever tried," he adds, and praises his communication skills - both with the public and colleagues.
In his own wordspublished at 13:34
Image source, PA
Here are some of his opinions:
"There is genuine public perception that we are being bulldozed into a war not of our choosing and not - on the basis of the evidence so far - vital to national interests." (on the Iraq War, 2003)
"It's serious for yourself and it's serious for those around you. I've sought professional help and I believe today that this issue is essentially resolved." (on his drink problem, 2006)
"Certainly, they drive a strategic coach and horses through the long-nurtured 'realignment of the centre-left' to which leaders in the Liberal tradition, this one included, have all subscribed since the Jo Grimond era." (on the coalition, 2010)
'His finest hour'published at 13:33
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
Sir Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, says he believes Mr Kennedy's opposition to the Iraq war was "his finest hour", saying it was a "courageous" decision to take, as he went up against opposition parties and some within the Lib Dems who supported military action.
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Nevertheless, his courage triumphed and he took the party into a position of outright opposition... I think people will remember him for that more than anything else."
'A good man, gone way too early'published at 13:21
"As a lyrical Highlander, blessed with down-to-earth charm and a way of expressing deeply held principles in a manner refreshingly free of sanctimony, his gift was the one most politicians want. He had a natural ability for making himself popular," writes political journalist Iain Martin of Charles Kennedy, in the London Evening Standard., external
He says the former Liberal Democrat leader was "a good man, gone way too early".
Charles Kennedy's life and careerpublished at 13:19
Image source, PA
As Lib Dem leader, Charles Kennedy took his party to their best ever election result in 2005 but, battling a drink problem, had to resign a few months later. Here is a look back at the life and careerof one of the most influential politicians of his generation.
'Passionate Highlander'published at 13:10
BBC News Channel
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He was a passionate Highlander. I grew up in the next constituency which was about 100 miles away. I first met him when I was 16. He had been elected the year before as an MP and that was an incredible inspiration to me as a young girl growing up in the Highlands.
Caron Lindsey, Editor, Lib Dem Voice blog
'Charles will always be in my thoughts'published at 13:10
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Elaine McCall:
Charles Kennedy was one of the best and I voted for him not the party not the country but a man I trusted to do right by me. Like him a great number of hard working Scottish MPs lost their seats at the election and I wonder if the Scottish people should consider the path they follow and their reasons for doing it. Charles will always be in my thoughts.