'Charm, humour and great wit'published at 07:57 British Summer Time 2 June 2015
Sir Malcolm Bruce's tribute
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
'Charm, humour and great wit'published at 07:57 British Summer Time 2 June 2015
'History will be kind to him'published at 07:55 British Summer Time 2 June 2015
Ex-Labour deputy leader tweets...
'Gifted parliamentarian'published at 07:54 British Summer Time 2 June 2015
Former Conservative leader tweets...
Ashdown tributepublished at 07:48
Image source, PACharles Kennedy's predecessor as Lib Dem leader said:
Quote MessageHe reached beyond the narrow circle of politics and touched people in ordinary life. That is why he was so loved. He was a great orator. He had the ability to move people. His most significant moment undoubtedly was when he went against the political establishment and led the Liberal Democrats into opposition against the Iraq War. History will judge him right on that.
Lord Ashdown added, on BBC Radio 4's Today
Quote Message"He had his difficulties, he had his demons. We all do. But the question is can you rise above them. Yes, he did. He had a very difficult last few months. He lost his seat, he lost his father. But he rose above that. On form and on song, he was the best of us by a mile."
Charles Kennedy's lifepublished at 07:44
Carolyn Quinn looks back at the former Lib Dem leader's life - watch the video
Kennedy political career at-a-glancepublished at 07:40
Image source, PACharles Kennedy's political career began in the Social Democratic Party and he became the youngest MP of the time at the age of 23 when he won the Ross, Cromarty and Skye seat in 1983.
At first he was SDP spokesman on social security, Scotland and health and when most of his party merged with the Liberals to form the Lib Dems in 1988, he continued to hold a series of frontbench posts.
He took over the Liberal Democrat leadership from Paddy Ashdown in 1999 and led the party to its best election result since the 1920s in 2005, when the Lib Dems won 62 seats.
In January 2006 he said he had been receiving treatment for an alcohol problem and resigned as leader.
Police Scotland statementpublished at 07:36
A Police Scotland spokesman said:
Quote MessagePolice officers attended an address at Fort William on Monday, June 1 to reports of the sudden death of a 55-year-old man. Police were notified by ambulance service personnel. There are no suspicious circumstances."
Kennedy family statementpublished at 07:33
Mr Kennedy's family said in a statement:
Quote MessageIt is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy. We are obviously devastated at the loss. Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son."
Good morningpublished at 07:30
Image source, PAHello and welcome to our rolling political coverage, which today will be taking in all the reaction to the news this morning that former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy has died at the age of 55.