PoliticsHome reports:
Campaigners have criticised the Liberal Democrats over songs mocking Charles Kennedy’s alcoholism just three months after his death.The offending lyrics are contained in a songbook for the Lib Dem Glee Club, which takes place at the party’s conference in Bournemouth tonight. …(Two) songs have been sung at the annual event for the past decade. But critics questioned whether they should have been included in this year’s line-up, given Mr Kennedy died in June following a long battle with alcoholism. Dr Peter Rice, the chairman of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems told The Herald: “We are making a lot of good progress as a society in treating alcohol problems. “Treating serious issues like this as a joke is not helpful.” A 10-minute tribute to Mr Kennedy will be held in the conference hall this afternoon.
@PolitocDaily has tweeted as follows:
https://twitter.com/Politico_Daily/status/646239929857544192
The Glee Club Song Book is published by Liberator.
Our understanding is that Charles’ family were consulted and would have been relaxed about all the songs about him appearing in the book as he was amused by them. However, out of respect, the Skye Boat Song has been retired, from this edition at least, as a mark of respect.
* News Meerkat - keeping a look-out for Liberal Democrat news. Meerkat photo by Paul Walter
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3 Comments
Not a news story. Humour is one of the best ways humans can fight tragedy. Hundreds of people will be in tears as they sing those favourite old songs about Charlie. It’s not for Dr Peter Rice to tell us how we handle our grief.
I’m fairly sure this blog has posted a post on Glee Club where one organiser mentioned that they’d made sure it was fine with Kennedy’s family before printing songs related to his alcohol problem?
Again, non-story. Negative news spreads far easier than positive news, though, so I’d expect this pops up a few times over the next month.
In very poor taste and astonishing that members of Mr Kennedy’s family were even approached , so soon after his death.
I am really shocked and disappointed.