Tag Archives: charles kennedy

The Voice

Memorial Service for Charles Kennedy

By The Voice | Wed 10th June 2015 - 10:22 am

Charles_Kennedy

A memorial service to mark Charles Kennedy’s remarkable contribution to public life will be held in the Bute Hall at the University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ on Thursday 18 June at 7pm.

It is expected that members of the public, politicians from across the spectrum, students old and new, academics and university leaders, friends and colleagues from the world of entertainment and the media will attend this service which is open to the public.

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NewsHound

LibLink: Sir Menzies Campbell: Commons reform is fitting tribute to Kennedy

By NewsHound | Sun 7th June 2015 - 8:00 pm

Sir Menzies Campbell has written an article for the Sunday Times in which he argues that the House of Commons should be reformed to reflect Charles Kennedy’s style of politics.

It is hard to match the extraordinary and justified tributes made this week on the too-early death of Charles Kennedy. But perhaps the most fitting thing to do now would be to see what can be learnt from his style of politics in order to create a more appreciative understanding between politicians and the people they represent.

He talked about Charles’ ability to communicate, his sense of humour which was mischievous but never cruel and his tolerance and respect for others.

He went on to outline the specific reforms that could be enacted in the Commons to make it reflect those values:

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NewsHound

LibLink: Tavish Scott: Principles and warm wit with a highland accent

By NewsHound | Sun 7th June 2015 - 2:06 pm

Shetland MSP, who started out his career, like Danny Alexander, as a party’s press officer back in the 80s. That involved working with a young Charles Kennedy and he writes about that experience in a tribute written for the Yorkshire Post:

On one such occasion the MPs joined a demonstration with students at Inverness College. Charles spoke and debated with the students and had them eating out of his hand. They laughed at his jokes and nodded at his serious observations. We then drove to Portree. The next day, on the three-hour drive back to the Highland capital, Charles gave me a political tour de force on the Highlands, nationalism and Britain. The lessons of that discussion stay with me to this day.

Fast forward to 1999 when Tavish was an MSP:

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Paul Walter

Charles Kennedy on Desert Island Discs

By Paul Walter | Sun 7th June 2015 - 12:35 pm

The BBC’s Desert Island Discs has a wonderful archive of most of their past programmes. Charles Kennedy appeared on the show on Sunday 26th October 2003, in conversation with Sue Lawley. It’s a fascinating dialogue, with some very searching questions from Ms Lawley and excellent answers from Charles.

You can listen to the programme on the BBC’s Radio Player here. And here’s what the BBC said about the programme:

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Paul Walter

Charles Kennedy on Question Time

By Paul Walter | Sun 7th June 2015 - 10:04 am

Bless the BBC. They’ve put together this fantastic selection of clips from Charles Kennedy’s incredible 42 – yes 42 – appearances on Question Time. It’s well worth a watch.

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Caron Lindsay

In full: Lib Dem MPs’ Commons tributes to Kennedy

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 6th June 2015 - 6:55 pm

We’ve already posted the video of the tributes to Charles Kennedy from the Commons on Wednesday and we’ve also posted Nick’s in full. We thought it might be useful to put the text of all five of the Lib Dem tributes, including Nick’s, in one post for ease of reference and posterity. They all did Charles proud. Greg and Mark talked about the way he really connected with ordinary people and about his concern for others. Norman spoke about his unfailing courtesy in his dealings with people, highlighting the need to tackle the stigma around mental ill health and emphasising Charles’ passions for internationalism and social justice. Tim’s emotional tribute spoke about Charles the persuader, how he could change minds and really tug on the heartstrings. Nick’s was just beautiful, and I particularly liked the memory he shared about their fly smoke outside the National Liberal Club where they discussed the Coalition. In years to come, I hope that Charles’ son and those who were close to him find great comfort and pride. To be universally admired in our tribal politics takes some doing.

I guess I should advise that if you are going to read all five of them in one sitting, you will need a cup of tea and a box of tissues.

So, here they all are, starting with:

Greg Mulholland

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Caron Lindsay

Daily Mail: on how Charles Kennedy was “hounded” by the SNP in run-up to the election

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 6th June 2015 - 1:58 pm

You’ll not often find me linking to the Daily Mail. It’s even less likely that you’ll find me praising anything on its pages. However, I have to make an exception for one article today.

Guy Adams outlines in some detail the sort of abuse Charles Kennedy and his team were subjected to from supporters of the SNP, both online and in the street.

He quotes Charles’ campaign manager, Conn O’Neill at length. He described returning back to Charles’ cottage the morning after the election:

It was a Friday morning, when the rubbish gets taken out in and around Fort William,’ recalls Kennedy’s campaign manager, Conn O’Neill.

‘When Charles got back to the cottage, he discovered his bins upturned and left at the end of his driveway. It seemed as if someone had gone through them and spread the contents everywhere.

‘There was litter all over the place. Most of it ended up strewn over the field across the road.

He also quotes Candy Piercy, but she didn’t actually talk to them. It may be that he took that quote from our article on the day the SNP candidate took a posse to Charles’ office in Fort Williams and shouted at the staff because he didn’t like something from Charles’ Facebook.

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Paul Walter

Charles Kennedy on Have I got news for you

By Paul Walter | Sat 6th June 2015 - 12:25 pm

Here are a few available clips of Charles Kennedy on Have I got news for you.

Firstly, this was when he presented the show in 2002, courtesy of the Guardian:

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Memories from KOOL (Kennedy Office Old Lags)

By Sian Norris-Copson | Fri 5th June 2015 - 7:31 pm

That small, yet obviously very select, band of staff who had the privilege of working for Charles Kennedy are this week, like everyone in the world of politics and beyond, slowly coming to terms with his untimely and tragic loss.

Working for the Leader of a major political party is a rare honour, and often the pinnacle of a staffer’s career in Westminster. To those of us from Office Kennedy, these are dark days but we have been sharing thoughts and memories with each other which is helping to ease the blow.

The overwhelming view, as shown by most tributes, is one of deep sadness, fondness and respect for a man many in the media knew as a friend, and indeed often as a fellow journalist – far removed from the stuffy mould of many of today’s politicians.

They didn’t know “CK” (never Charlie) as we did of course, often exasperating and inspiring in equal measure but always kind and full of encouragement, especially to the newest members of staff. At the beginning of the Iraq crisis, I particularly remember Charles taking great care to speak to us all and note our opinions which, with one honourable exception (he knows who he is!) was happily the same as his own. His bravery and firm leadership during that time is his greatest legacy and one that resonates so strongly even today.

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Caron Lindsay

Charles Kennedy’s family thank public for their messages, warmth and concern

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 5th June 2015 - 7:11 pm

Charles Kennedy’s family issued a statement this afternoon saying that they had been “touched beyond compare” by the “outpouring of warmth” for Charles.

They thanked everyone who had sent them messages and who had helped them since Charles’ death on Monday.

They also announced the findings of the post-mortem, that Charles had died of a “major haemorrhage” linked to alcoholism.

Here is their statement in full:

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Parmjit Singh Gill

Opinion: Charles Kennedy: Loss of a great leader

By Parmjit Singh Gill | Fri 5th June 2015 - 2:30 pm

Formidable, talented, passionate and hugely inspirational, Charles had deep conviction and was able to engage the public in a way no other politician could. That gave him a level of public popularity rarely enjoyed by a political party leader. Above all else he was highly principled and when Tony Blair took us into the Iraq war supported by the Conservatives, he stood firm to those principles against the political establishment. Despite being heckled and shouted down in Parliament and criticised widely he remained resolutely against a war which he knew was fundamentally wrong.

That principled stand was significant in the historic 2004 Leicester South By-election, where media arrived from all over the world. I recall speaking to a number of international film crews from as far away as India and Japan. They were unclear on whether the British public supported the war or not and seemed to have a collective view that this particular By-election would be seen abroad as a Referendum on the Iraq war. Would the British public support Tony Blair’s decision to go to war through the ballot box?

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David Murray

Opinion: A liberal future

By David Murray | Fri 5th June 2015 - 1:30 pm

In the conclusion to his book ‘The Future of Politics’ published in 2000, Charles Kennedy stated

It will not be possible to categorize the voter of 2020 as a socialist, or a conservative. Instead, the voter of 2020 will be a variety of things: internationalist, green, committed to properly funded public services, technologically aware and liberal. That could make the voter of 2020 a natural Liberal Democrat supporter – but only if he or she hasn’t lost faith in politics altogether.

He believed that politicians have to restore a sense of idealism to politics, but that first, we have to know what our ideals are, and re-define our basic principles. Charles made clear that his key principle was a firm belief in liberty. As we consider electing a new leader, I would urge both old and new members to read this book before voting. I read it when it was first published, and have just read it again, following his tragic death.

There is much in the book that is as relevant today, as when it was published in 2000. It was three years into a ‘New Labour’ government under Tony Blair, and the government was already beginning to lose trust with the public, after all the initial euphoria of 1997. Charles emphasised that,

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NewsHound

LibLink: Malcolm Bruce: The Commons Man

By NewsHound | Thu 4th June 2015 - 8:00 pm

Malcolm Bruce has written, for Politics Home, a tribute to Charles Kennedy that gives quite an insight into their friendship and his parliamentary career as well as his life outside politics.

There are bits that will make you cry with sadness and bits that will make you absolutely howl with laughter. The accounts of their double dating exploits probably fits best in the latter category. You will want to click on the link to find out what “Frocks at Eight” means.

Here’s an extract:

From the start Charles had two contrasting lifestyles. In London he was at the centre of political debate, rarely

…

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Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera

Opinion: The Highlander who won our hearts, and will never be forgotten!

By Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera | Thu 4th June 2015 - 3:30 pm

Together with Liberal Democrat family and wider world of politics and beyond, my brothers and sisters and I within the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats (EMLD) am deeply saddened by the untimely death of Charles Kennedy, and wish to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and many friends.

His brave stance on Iraq has rightly been the subject of much eulogising, and for many members of the EMLD this was the motivation to join our Party in the first place.

It may not have been planned but the impact of Iraq has had a profound effect on Black, Asian and minority ethnic politics in Britain.

Labour lost a hefty proportion of support, especially from Muslim communities, mostly to the Lib Dems, and Labour’s assumed hegemony over the BAME vote was irreparably damaged.

Charles almost certainly did not consider these consequences when opting to do what was simply for him, the right thing to do, and oppose the war in Iraq, but pretty soon afterwards saw that courting diverse Britain was a key part of his plan to make the Party the conscience of, and rooted firmly in the centre left of politics.

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The Voice

Cllr Jill Shortland pays tribute to Charles Kennedy at the European Committee of the Regions

By The Voice | Thu 4th June 2015 - 11:58 am

Liberal Democrat Councillor Jill Shortland, from Somerset, is Deputy Coordinator for Citizenship, Governance and External Relations in the ALDE Group of the European Committee of the Regions. Yesterday, she paid tribute to Charles Kennedy at a meeting of the Committee in Brussels. She said:

As a Liberal Democrat from the United Kingdom, I wish to use my 2 minute intervention to pay tribute to a former leader of my party who sadly and unexpectedly died yesterday.

Charles Kennedy had been a Member of Parliament for 32 years, and he was also President of the European Movement in the UK since 2008. Two years ago he wrote an article which I would like to quote.

He said: “At an age of continent-sized powers, with global ambitions, European nations are better off working together, pooling resources, joining forces.“

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Olly Kendall

My day with Charles in Wales

By Olly Kendall | Thu 4th June 2015 - 10:58 am

So many fond memories of Charles, but one in particular stands out. It was 2004 and we were travelling together to the Welsh Lib Dem conference where he was due to give the set-piece address – he’d been given a 15 minute slot and his speech was to be broadcast live on Welsh TV.

Anna Werrin, his formidable adviser, who has also sadly since passed away, charged me with the task of writing some speaker notes with Charles on the train journey there since a speech had yet to be drafted. I cannot think why that was, but my abiding memory of his brilliant and engaging speech writer Greg Simpson was that he never had enough hours in the day to write all the speeches Charles delivered, so that probably explains it. At any rate the responsibility for having something scribbled down for Charles fell to me. I of course obliged, and was told in no uncertain terms to keep the office updated on the progress of the speech. I was not going to drop the ball on this one.

Aboard the train, as was the case then, we hunted out the smoking carriage. Charles sparked up the first of many of Silk Cut Silvers and I dare say it was accompanied by an equally insipid Diet Coke (his other great tipple. Really). I suggested, after a time, that we might scribble down some notes for him – after all Anna, I quivered, has insisted we jot down something. In fact it was not uncommon for those of us with Charles to be given these kind of instructions and it was always made clear it was not worth our lives not to push back. Charles suggested some lunch first. And so we ordered, lunch came and went, and then again I tried to cajole him into thinking about this speech. Again, no. By this time a call or two came from London, ‘Any update?’ I fudged ‘yep, few bits down, getting there’ and so on.

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Nick T

LDVideo: Commons tributes to Charles Kennedy from Cameron, Clegg, Farron, Lamb and others

By Nick T | Thu 4th June 2015 - 10:00 am

It is usual, after the conclusion of Prime Minister’s Questions, for the chamber of the House of Commons to quickly, and noisily, empty. Yesterday, however, the House remained full, in sombre, reflective quiet to hear tributes from members to Charles Kennedy. The Speaker, John Bercow, shared his reflections first, followed by David Cameron, Harriet Harman and Nick Clegg.

You can see the full one hour and thirteen minutes in the video below, or via this link, and below the video are the times at which you will find various speeches from a selection of MPs.

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NewsHound

LibLink: Vince Cable: Charles Kennedy: he was left of Labour maybe, but always a true liberal

By NewsHound | Wed 3rd June 2015 - 7:59 pm

Vince Cable has been writing about Charles Kennedy for the Guardian. He mentioned Iraq and was honest about his own role in confronting Charles towards the end of his time as leader. It was this passage on Charles’ ideas and philosophy that caught our eye, though.

In the early Blair-Brown years, when Labour successfully colonised the centre ground, Charles took the Liberal Democrats into territory described as “left of Labour”. This reputation was underlined when we were joined in the run-up to the 2005 general election by a defecting leftwing Labour MP, Brian Sedgemore, and others with similar views.

But this was also the period when the Orange Book, edited by David Laws, to which I contributed, was produced as a counter view, with more economically liberal arguments.

As our party’s shadow chancellor at the time I had doubts about the wisdom of promising a range of free things – university tuition and personal social care, for instance. But it is wrong to portray Charles as a socialist. He had come into parliament as a social democrat and remained one. Like me, he joined the SDP in the early 1980s when Labour was anti-Europe, anti-Nato and was looking back nostalgically to the era of state control and trades union power. For those of us who were attracted to the ideals of social justice, and wanted an alternative both to Thatcher’s Conservatism and to what Labour then offered, the SDP then the Lib Dems offered a way forward.

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The Voice

In full: Nick Clegg’s Commons tribute to Charles Kennedy

By The Voice | Wed 3rd June 2015 - 3:27 pm

Nick Clegg gave this tribute to Charles Kennedy in the Commons today:

A few days ago I got in touch with Charles because I was looking for a telephone number of someone we both knew.

His friends will not be surprised to learn that we were texting each other. He was notoriously bad at answering his phone but famously fluent by SMS.

He said he didn’t have the number on him – but he would get back to me this week – because he was spending time with his beloved son, Donald, during his half term break.

While we all remember Charles as a formidable parliamentarian and a much-loved politician, it is worth remembering that he retained his greatest pride and devotion for his family. He lived next door to his parents and latterly his brother in his grandfather’s croft house near Fort William and cared for them through sickness and old age.

Much though he was wedded to politics all his life, I think Charles would have wanted to be remembered as a kind and loving father, brother and son first; and an accomplished politician second.

And my thoughts and condolences are with all his family and friends today.

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Caron Lindsay

Willie Rennie: We have lost someone special

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 3rd June 2015 - 2:15 pm

This tweet of mine led to several requests from people outside Scotland to see Willie’s email, so here it is.

But you have been warned. Willie so often gets it absolutely right when he does this sort of thing and this is no exception. Get yourself a cup of tea and a tissue.

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Opinion: My year working for Charles Kennedy

By Conn O'Neill | Wed 3rd June 2015 - 12:57 pm

For just a year, I had the great honour of knowing Charles Kennedy. Through the most tumultuous times in Scottish politics, it was a pleasure to be by his side and to share in his insight.

In the short time I knew Charles, we only scratched the surface as he toldthe most wonderful anecdotes and yet I know I’ll be retelling a great many of them and talking about the time I spent with him for the rest of my lifetime. CK would always say that we, his team, were far keener than he to point out in literature his 32 years of service yet when travelling around the constituency there was no hiding from that long record of delivery. In every town we visited, there was living proof that in the Highlands, everybody knows somebody Charles helped.

On what Charles dubbed “the night of long sgian dubhs” of 7th/8th May at around 1.30am I made the short journey from the count to Charles’ hotel to confirm what he had already surmised, we had lost. He was more prepared than I, having watched majority after majority washed away by the SNP Tsunami. It was, he said, easier to go on a night in which so many others had fallen. Charles took defeat with all the good grace you would expect from a man of his standing. Before the public declaration, he congratulated his successor and enjoyed some snatched moments of somewhat dark humour with the Highland Lib Dem team.

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NewsHound

LibLink: Danny Alexander: The Charles Kennedy I knew

By NewsHound | Wed 3rd June 2015 - 11:40 am

Danny Alexander has been writing about his memories of Charles Kennedy for the Spectator. His first experience of him was when he was a party press office and Charles was already an MP:

The first time I spoke to him was as a young press officer for the Scottish Lib Dems, nervously recommending that we cancel a press conference because the material was not quite ready. I expected the hairdryer treatment, but he was pleased. ‘When you have nothing to say,’ he replied, ‘best say nothing at all.’ He followed his own advice — which meant that, as party leader, he did not imitate the frenetic pace of Paddy Ashdown. This earned him criticism, but his style was to pick battles carefully, and fight them well.

He supported Danny in his campaign to become an MP in 2005:

When I was selected to contest the Highland constituency next to his, then held by Labour, I expected to see little of him. I was wrong. He gave ample and generous support, letting me sit in at his constituency surgeries to better understand how Parliament works — or, more accurately, how it should work. He taught me that politicians should never lose sight of who they’re working for.

Danny talks about Charles’ Highland crofting mindset:

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David Green

Opinion: Why I will remember Charles Kennedy

By David Green | Wed 3rd June 2015 - 10:30 am

The devastating loss of Charles Kennedy has affected people of all political colours and none.

The public reaction to his passing illustrates the great achievements that Charles made in his short life. His kind manner and personable approach, combined with his deep convictions for fairness and social justice, transcended politics for a generation and more.

Charles was a political giant of our time, his talent was indisputable.

Charles spent his life in dedication to public service. His record as a local champion and for taking a stance against the Iraq War is well known. I will leave it to others who know more to offer greater insight. I just want to use this moment to say who Charles Kennedy was to me.

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Caron Lindsay

Three quick things about today

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 3rd June 2015 - 8:38 am

It’s too soon to go back to business as usual.

Obviously, coverage about Charles Kennedy will continue to dominate today. We have been sent some pieces by people close to him and we will be publishing them as well as covering tributes from Vince and Danny. There will also be a session of tributes in the House of Commons this afternoon which we will want to report on, too. Please continue to share your comments and memories and, if you haven’t already, sign the party’s Book of Condolence. 

I owe a massive debt of thanks to Paul Walter who kept things going on here yesterday while I was out and about. I’m sure you’ll agree that he did a great job, sharing some fantastic photographs, videos and bringing in a bit of Bowie too.

Many people have shared Steve Bell’s beautiful cartoon tribute:

We should also remember that today is the fourth anniversary of the passing of our great colleague and friend Andrew Reeves. On that awful day in 2011, Mark Pack shared his memories.

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Paul Walter

Lady Stardust (demo version) and Young Americans for Charles

By Paul Walter | Tue 2nd June 2015 - 10:14 pm

Charles Kennedy was a great David Bowie fan. I hope he likes this one up in heaven. (And thanks to Alex Wilcock for the prompt).

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Paul Walter

Charles Kennedy speaks at the anti-Iraq war rally in Hyde Park, 2003

By Paul Walter | Tue 2nd June 2015 - 8:19 pm

Saturday 15th February 2003 – Hundreds of Liberal Democrats joined over a million people in London to protest against the invasion of Iraq. At the post-march rally in Hyde Park, Charles Kennedy addressed the crowd. Click below to view.

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The Voice

Charles Kennedy on sparkling form about Europe at the Liberal Democrat conference in 2013

By The Voice | Tue 2nd June 2015 - 12:30 pm

On this very sad day, there is perhaps no finer way to pay tribute to Charles Kennedy than to view him in action. Here is Charles speaking on fantastic form about Europe at the Glasgow Liberal Democrat conference on 17th September 2013. Passionate. Powerful. Funny. Pithy. Brilliant! Please watch this. It’s great. What a great man! We will miss him dreadfully.

Click below to view.

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The Voice

Charles Kennedy on the night of the long sgian dubhs

By The Voice | Tue 2nd June 2015 - 11:30 am

As part of our tributes to Charles, we’re republishing this piece, which he wrote for us just after the May general election. You can see the article in its original form here. Between 7am and 11.30am today this article has been viewed on Liberal Democrat Voice over 6400 times, as a result of being linked by the Independent and on Twitter.

I am very fond of political history. If nothing else, we can all reflect on and perhaps tell our grandchildren that we were there on “The night of long sgian dubhs!”

I would very much like to thank my home team. They have been so energetic, dedicated and selfless to the task. Indeed, with them, I would like to thank the very many over the years who have made possible the previous seven successful general election campaigns locally.

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The Voice

Charles Kennedy – a life in pictures

By The Voice | Tue 2nd June 2015 - 10:04 am

This was put together with tears in our eyes.

Scroll down to view. Hover your mouse over the image to see the caption and click on it to see similar pictures on Getty Images.

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Caron Lindsay

Tributes to Charles Kennedy

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 2nd June 2015 - 8:24 am

Pretty much everyone is paying tribute to Charles Kennedy and we’ll bring them to you on here.

Tim Farron was on Breakfast a while ago and sounded like he was fighting off tears as he talked about his good mate. I suspect that the tributes will take up several threads today. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

Nick Clegg

Charles’s untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation.

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.

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.

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