Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy dies
Politician died at home, aged 55
Family tribute: "A fine man, talented politician and loving father"
Nicola Sturgeon: "Sad beyond words"
David Cameron: "Talented politician who has died too young"
Former prime minister Tony Blair said: "Charles' death is an absolute tragedy.
Image source, Getty Images"He came into parliament at the same time as me in 1983. He was throughout his time a lovely, genuine and deeply committed public servant.
"As leader of the Liberal Democrats, we worked closely together and he was always great company, with a lively and inventive mind. I am very saddened indeed by this news."
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I'm deeply saddened by the death of Charles Kennedy. He was a talented politician who has died too young. My thoughts are with his family."
Lembit Opik, who was a senior Liberal Democrat MP during Charles Kennedy's leadership of the party, has said he was concerned about Charles Kennedy's wellbeing.
Image source, PAHe told the BBC: "When he lost his seat, I said to people - as recently as last night - this guy has got to get in the House of Lords because he has spent 32 years of a 55-year existence in parliament.
"Without that support, he is in real danger of dying. We talked about it as openly as that. I was really concerned, because that was the support mechanism for him."
Principal and vice chancellor of the University of Glasgow Professor Anton Muscatelli said: "Charles was a distinguished alumnus of the University of Glasgow and served two terms as rector.
"He contributed an enormous amount, and was a friend to all who came into contact with him.
"The thoughts and prayers of all at the University of Glasgow are with Charles's family at this dreadfully sad and tragic time."
Senior figures from Scottish Labour have paid tribute to Charles Kennedy.
Former Scottish First Minister Lord McConnell tweets, external: Stunned to learn that Charles Kennedy has died. Talented, principled and extremely likeable over the 35 years since we first met. Very sad.
Kezia Dugdale MSP, who is hoping to become leader of the Scottish Labour Party, tweets, external: Politics has just lost one of its most principled and best advocates. Very sorry to hear Charles Kennedy has passed away.
Former Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish said: "In my 14 years in parliament he was a politician of great distinction and charm and a man of great humility.
Image source, PA"He was an easy man to like and above all else a real patriot, and always concerned with social justice.
"My condolences to his family and friends."
David Porter
Westminster correspondent
I think the Iraq War was defining for Charles Kennedy in a number of ways.
When he became party leader, he moved the Liberal Democrats away from Labour. Under Paddy Ashdown, there had been joint meetings and at one point it was thought there may be some formal tie-up before Labour got that huge win in 1997.
In 2005, after the Iraq War, he took a very deliberate decision that he would campaign against that, when Tony Blair and Conservative leader Michael Howard were saying it was right that Britain had gone to war.
For him, and the Liberal Democrats, it was a defining period in their development.
When he was first elected as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) MP in 1983, Charles Kennedy was the youngest member in the House of Commons at that time.
Image source, Liberal DemocratsThe SDP went on to merge with the Liberal Democrats, and Mr Kennedy eventually became the party leader.
The man who was nicknamed "Chat Show Charlie" - in part a reference to his appearance on shows such as Have I Got News For You - took over the leadership in 1999 from Sir Paddy Ashdown.
Mr Kennedy will perhaps be best remembered for his vocal and principled opposition of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
But his period in charge was brought to an end in January 2006, just days after he publicly admitted he had a problem with alcohol.
Less than a month ago Charles Kennedy said that serving as an MP had been the "greatest privilege" of his life.
After 32 years in the House of Commons, the 55-year-old - who had fought a very public battle with alcohol - was ousted from his Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency as the SNP swept the board in May's general election.
After the result was announced, he said be would "personally be sorry not to be a voice in the Commons" before adding that he intended to "contribute in whatever way possible to the wider political debate and the activity of the Liberal Democrats".
He said: "The greatest privilege of my public life over these past 32 years has to be being entrusted with the responsibility of representing this constituency.
"That is thanks to a generation and more of voters who have extended that trust to me and I hope, looking back over those 32 years, they will feel that it was trust well placed."
"He reached beyond the narrow circle of politics and touched people in ordinary life. That is why he was so loved", the former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said.
"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: "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."
Brian Taylor
Political editor, Scotland
If you recall on the night, with all the seats tumbling at the most recent general election, it was Charles who contrived to put a degree of dark humour on it.
He said 'at least we can tell our grandchildren we were there at the night of the long sgian-dubh'.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell tweets, external on Charles Kennedy: "Stunned to hear about Charles Kennedy. An outstanding Scottish and British politician and really nice guy. Sincere condolences to his family."
Sir Malcolm Bruce, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the death of Mr Kennedy, who was best man at his wedding, was unexpected.
Image source, PA"Most of the time he was fine, he was the old Charles. I don't think we were expecting that," he told Sky News.
"The thing people remember about Charles is he was able to bring such a light touch to politics.
"All of us really want people to reflect on what we've lost - a politician of his own type and quite unusual among other politicians."
Police officers attended an address in Fort William on the evening of Monday 1st June 2015 following the sudden death of a 55 year-old man.
Police were notified by ambulance service personnel.
There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Brian Taylor
Political editor, Scotland
I remember in 1983 when he was first elected. He was 23 years old. It was a rather unexpected victory.
He had been on a scholarship in the US and returned, and after a couple of weeks campaigning found himself an MP after taking a Conservative seat in Ross and Cromarty.
I was in the Westminster lobby at the time as a slightly older lobby correspondent. We got together and became chums. I was working for the Press and Journal. He was a very senior MP for me to be covering.
He was a remarkable individual even then. Talented and driven. He always struck me though as being slightly remote from partisan politics. He never had that killer instinct. He could always see the other side of the perspective.
He was exceptionally gifted.
Brian Taylor
Political editor, Scotland
He was a modern politician but he came from an extremely old tradition, which is that of the 'Highland radical'.
He was an extremely proud rector of Glasgow University, his old university stomping ground.
He told a story that his tutor called him and said 'Now, young Kennedy, you are bright. What is going to happen with it? Charles went through a few things, possibly academia, and said: 'If all else fails I could try politics'.
He was elected an MP not long after that, and the tutor wrote him a letter which said 'Dear Charles, it appears that all else failed'.
Ian Blackford, the man who unseated Charles Kennedy as the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, tweeted, external: "So sorry to hear the dreadful news that Charles Kennedy had passed away. A man of such great ability, such a tragedy he has passed away. RIP
Nick Clegg paid tribute to his predecessor as Liberal Democrat leader: "Charles's untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation.
Image source, Reuters"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 was a staunch internationalist and passionate believer in Britain's role in Europe, yet he was a proud Highlander, Scot and British parliamentarian."
"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.
"He led the Liberal Democrats to our party's greatest electoral successes, yet he always remained modest about his huge achievements.
"Whenever I asked him for advice, he was unfailingly kind and wise," the former deputy prime minister added.
"Most of all, I will never forget the pride and love with which he would talk about his own family, most especially his devotion to his son Donald.
"My heart goes out to his sister and brother and to Sarah and Donald at this tragic time."
Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor
A very gregarious outgoing friendly politician, always willing to talk and have a laugh with journalists and others.
But that shouldn't cloud the fact he was in his time a formidable politician.
We shouldn't forget that he led the Liberal Democrats to their best result in a long long time when he took a very deliberate and distinct line on the Iraq war.
That was against the prevailing consensus, with Tony Blair and Michael Howard all lining up in support of the war, but he very deliberately led the Liberal Democrats against that.
Paddy Ashdown, another former leader of the Liberal Democrats, tweets, external: Charles Kennedy. In a political age not overburdened with gaiety and good sense, he brought us wit, charm, judgement, principle and decency
Tim Farron MP, who is standing to become leader of the Liberal Democrats, tweets, external: I am utterly heartbroken about the news of Charles' passing. He was a colleague, friend and mentor. We've lost a giant today.