Charles Kennedy: Difference between revisions
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In late 2005, speculation surrounding the leadership of the Liberal Democrats was widespread, with the journalist [[Andrew Neil]] claiming to speak "on good authority" that Kennedy would announce his resignation at the 2006 spring conference of the Liberal Democrats. Kennedy's spokeswoman denied the report and complained against the BBC, which had broadcast it. After the election of the more moderate [[David Cameron]] as Leader of the Conservative Party in December 2005, it was widely reported that senior members of the Liberal Democrats had told Kennedy that he must either "raise his game" or resign.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4525442.stm|title = Anti-Kennedy briefings 'cowardly'|date = 14 December 2005|work = BBC News|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060221132528/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4525442.stm|archive-date = 21 February 2006|dead-url = no}}</ref> |
In late 2005, speculation surrounding the leadership of the Liberal Democrats was widespread, with the journalist [[Andrew Neil]] claiming to speak "on good authority" that Kennedy would announce his resignation at the 2006 spring conference of the Liberal Democrats. Kennedy's spokeswoman denied the report and complained against the BBC, which had broadcast it. After the election of the more moderate [[David Cameron]] as Leader of the Conservative Party in December 2005, it was widely reported that senior members of the Liberal Democrats had told Kennedy that he must either "raise his game" or resign.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4525442.stm|title = Anti-Kennedy briefings 'cowardly'|date = 14 December 2005|work = BBC News|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060221132528/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4525442.stm|archive-date = 21 February 2006|dead-url = no}}</ref> |
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On 13 December 2005, the BBC's political editor, [[Nick Robinson]], claimed that there were briefings against the leader, with members of his party unhappy at what they saw as 'lack of leadership' from Kennedy. A "Kennedy Must Go" petition was started by ''[[The Liberal]]'' magazine (a publication with no affiliation to the Liberal Democrats) and allegedly had been signed by over 3,300 party members including 386 local councillors and two MPs by the end of 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4569012.stm|title = Kennedy hits back over quit call|date = 30 December 2005|work = BBC News|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061216203524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4569012.stm|archive-date = 16 December 2006|dead-url = no}}</ref> A [[Round-robin (document)|round-robin]] letter signed by Liberal Democrat MPs rejecting his leadership received 23 signatures.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Times|author= |
On 13 December 2005, the BBC's political editor, [[Nick Robinson]], claimed that there were briefings against the leader, with members of his party unhappy at what they saw as 'lack of leadership' from Kennedy. A "Kennedy Must Go" petition was started by ''[[The Liberal]]'' magazine (a publication with no affiliation to the Liberal Democrats) and allegedly had been signed by over 3,300 party members including 386 local councillors and two MPs by the end of 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4569012.stm|title = Kennedy hits back over quit call|date = 30 December 2005|work = BBC News|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061216203524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4569012.stm|archive-date = 16 December 2006|dead-url = no}}</ref> A [[Round-robin (document)|round-robin]] letter signed by Liberal Democrat MPs rejecting his leadership received 23 signatures.<ref>{{cite news|work = The Times|author = Pierce|url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1972024,00.html|title = No confidence letter from Lib Dems forced Kennedy to brink|date = 5 January 2006|first = Andrew|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080112214902/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1972024,00.html|archive-date = 12 January 2008|dead-url = yes}}</ref> |
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In 2004, ''[[The Times]]'' published an apology over a report it had made stating Kennedy had not taken part in that year's Budget debate due to excessive drinking.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Claire Cozens|url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/libdems/story/0,9061,1331607,00.html|title=Times apologises after Kennedy drink story|date=20 October 2004|location=London}}</ref> |
In 2004, ''[[The Times]]'' published an apology over a report it had made stating Kennedy had not taken part in that year's Budget debate due to excessive drinking.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Claire Cozens|url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/libdems/story/0,9061,1331607,00.html|title=Times apologises after Kennedy drink story|date=20 October 2004|location=London}}</ref> |
Revision as of 17:18, 2 June 2015
This article is currently being heavily edited because its subject has recently died. Information about their death and related events may change significantly and initial news reports may be unreliable. The most recent updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
Charles Kennedy | |
---|---|
Kennedy in 2009 | |
Leader of the Liberal Democrats | |
In office 9 August 1999 – 7 January 2006 | |
Deputy | Ming Campbell Alan Beith |
Preceded by | Paddy Ashdown |
Succeeded by | Ming Campbell |
Liberal Democrat Leader of the House of Commons | |
In office 1 May 1997 – 9 August 1999 | |
Leader | Paddy Ashdown |
Preceded by | Office created |
Succeeded by | Alan Beith |
President of the Liberal Democrats | |
In office 1 January 1991 – 31 December 1994 | |
Leader | Paddy Ashdown |
Preceded by | Ian Wrigglesworth |
Succeeded by | Robert Maclennan |
Member of Parliament for Ross, Skye and Lochaber Ross, Skye and Inverness West (1997–2005) Ross, Cromarty and Skye (1983–1997) | |
In office 9 June 1983 – 7 May 2015 | |
Preceded by | Constituency created |
Succeeded by | Ian Blackford |
Personal details | |
Born | Charles Peter Kennedy 25 November 1959 Inverness, Scotland |
Died | 1 June 2015 Fort William, Scotland | (aged 55)
Political party | Social Democratic (before 1988) Liberal Democrats (1988–2015) |
Spouse | Sarah Gurling (2002–2010) |
Children | 1 |
Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
Website | Official website |
Charles Peter Kennedy (25 November 1959 – 1 June 2015) was a British[1][2] Liberal Democrat politician, who was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006 and was a Member of Parliament from 1983 to 2015, most recently for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency.
At the 1983 general election, at the age of 23, he stood for Ross, Cromarty and Skye, then held by the Conservative Hamish Gray. In a shock result, Kennedy was elected for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He quickly emerged as a potential party leader, and in 1994, after the SDP and Liberal Party had formally merged, he became President of the Liberal Democrats, a position he held for the next four years. In 1999, after the resignation of Paddy Ashdown, Kennedy was elected leader. Under his party leadership's opposition to the Iraq War, all Liberal Democrats voted against or abstained on the vote for the invasion of Iraq, the largest British party to do so. A charismatic and affable speaker in public, Kennedy appeared extensively on television while leader. He led the party through two general elections, during which time they increased their seats in the House of Commons from 46 to 62, the best Liberal result in a century.
During the latter stages of his leadership, there was considerable speculation regarding his alcohol consumption. From December 2005, some within the party were openly questioning his position and calling for a leadership election. On 5 January 2006, Kennedy was informed that ITN would be reporting that he had received treatment for a drinking problem. Kennedy decided to pre-empt the broadcast and admit his condition openly. He called a leadership election at the same time, stating that he intended to stand. The admission of a drinking problem had seriously damaged his standing and 25 MPs signed a statement urging him to resign immediately.[3] Kennedy resigned on 7 January and was replaced by Menzies Campbell.
After resigning as party leader, Kennedy remained in office as a backbench MP until losing his seat in 2015. In May 2010 he voted[4] against Nick Clegg's decision to form a coalition with Conservative Party after the 2010 general election. On constitutional reform, he was long-term supporter of full home rule for Scotland within a federal United Kingdom within a federal Europe.[5][6]
Early life
Born in Inverness and raised as a Roman Catholic, Kennedy was educated at Lochaber High School in Fort William.[7]
Kennedy went on to study for a Master of Arts degree in Politics and Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. At university, he became politically active, joining the Social Democrats (SDP), as well as the Dialectic Society.[7] In 1982, Kennedy won The Observer Mace debating competition, speaking with Clark McGinn.[8]
Upon graduation in 1982, he went to work for BBC Scotland as a journalist.[9] He later received a Fulbright Fellowship which allowed him to carry out research at Indiana University in the United States.[10]
Member of Parliament
While studying in America, he received the Social Democratic Party (SDP) nomination for the Scottish seat of Ross, Cromarty and Skye, which he went on to win in 1983, becoming the youngest sitting Member of Parliament, aged 23. He retained the seat and its successor, Ross, Skye and Inverness West, at five subsequent general elections. He was, until 2015, the Liberal Democrat MP for the seat, which replaced it in 2005, Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
In the late 1980s, the SDP and the Liberal Party, which had been co-operating in the SDP–Liberal Alliance, merged to form the Social and Liberal Democratic Party, later renamed the Liberal Democrats. Kennedy was the first of the five SDP MPs to support the merger; in his book Time To Declare, David Owen suggested this was due to pressure from Liberal activists in his constituency.
Kennedy served as a frontbencher for the Lib Dems in a variety of posts, including social security, agriculture and rural affairs, health, Scotland and Europe. He was also party president for four years, between 1990 and 1994.
Leader of Liberal Democrats
On 9 August 1999, Kennedy was elected leader of the Liberal Democrats after the retirement of Paddy Ashdown; he beat Jackie Ballard, Malcolm Bruce, Simon Hughes and David Rendel. He won 57% of the transferred vote under the Alternative Vote system (Hughes, the runner-up, won 43% of the vote).
Kennedy's style of leadership differed from Ashdown's, being regarded as more conversational and laid back. Although he was labelled "Chatshow Charlie" by some observers, as a result of his appearances on the satirical panel game Have I Got News for You, opinion polls showed him to be regarded positively as a party leader and potential Prime Minister by a significant fraction of the British electorate.
Kennedy maintained the long-standing aspiration for his party to break through to the status of official opposition. In his first major campaign, the 2001 general election, the Liberal Democrats improved their share of the vote to 18.3%, which was 1.5% more than in the 1997 election. Although this was a smaller share than the 25.4% the SDP/Liberal Alliance achieved in 1983, the Lib Dems won 52 seats compared to the Alliance's 23. In his last general election as leader, in May 2005, the Liberal Democrats won 62 seats, their greatest number of seats since the 1920s, gaining 22.1% of the vote.
Kennedy, along with his "election guru" Lord Rennard, targeted the Lib Dems' campaigning on a limited number of seats in such a way as to turn a lower level of national support into a greater number of Parliamentary seats. He extended this strategy at the 2005 General Election targeting the seats held by the most senior and/or highly regarded Conservative MPs, dubbed a "decapitation" strategy, with the expectation that without these "key" figures, the Conservatives would be discredited as the official Opposition allowing Kennedy and the Liberal Democrats to claim that they are the "effective Opposition".
However, this strategy is widely seen to have failed. At the 2005 General Election, the Liberal Democrats failed to unseat leading Conservatives such as the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Oliver Letwin, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, Shadow Secretary of State for the Family Theresa May and the Leader of the Opposition Michael Howard. The biggest "scalp" the Liberal Democrats managed to claim was that of the Shadow Education Secretary Tim Collins in Westmorland and Lonsdale. This was one of only three seats the Liberal Democrats won from the Conservatives, the others being Solihull and Taunton. However, the Lib Dems lost more seats overall to the Conservatives, resulting in a net loss to the Conservatives. The net gain was instead made through winning significant numbers of seats from Labour.
At the same time, the Lib Dems also hoped to capture marginal Labour seats, attracting Labour voters (particularly Muslim voters) who were dissatisfied because of the invasion of Iraq, which Kennedy's party had opposed; the party had succeeded with this tactic in by-elections, taking Brent East and Leicester South from Labour. The Party did succeed to some extent in this aim, winning particularly in student areas such as Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester, but did not see the breakthrough some expected in areas with large Asian populations, even losing Leicester South.
At the 2005 election, the party succeeded in regaining the seat of Ceredigion, its first gain from the Welsh party Plaid Cymru. Overall Kennedy's party achieved a total of 62 seats, their highest number since 1923 with 22% of the overall vote. He heralded the Liberal Democrats as the "national party of the future".[11]
However, this was significantly less than most observers had expected the party to win; just before the election, it had been anticipated by the media and opinion polls that the Liberal Democrats could win up to 100 seats and place them close to the Tories in terms of seats as well as votes.[12]
In the wake of the general election, Kennedy's leadership came under increased criticism from those who felt that the Liberal Democrats could have surged forward, the official opposition Conservative Party being relatively weak. Many pointed the finger of blame at Kennedy for failing to widen the party's appeal. Others, like the former Deputy Chairman of the Federal Liberal Democrat Party, Donnachadh McCarthy, resigned, citing the party's shift to the right of the political spectrum under Kennedy in pursuit of Conservative votes.[13]
In late 2005, speculation surrounding the leadership of the Liberal Democrats was widespread, with the journalist Andrew Neil claiming to speak "on good authority" that Kennedy would announce his resignation at the 2006 spring conference of the Liberal Democrats. Kennedy's spokeswoman denied the report and complained against the BBC, which had broadcast it. After the election of the more moderate David Cameron as Leader of the Conservative Party in December 2005, it was widely reported that senior members of the Liberal Democrats had told Kennedy that he must either "raise his game" or resign.[14]
On 13 December 2005, the BBC's political editor, Nick Robinson, claimed that there were briefings against the leader, with members of his party unhappy at what they saw as 'lack of leadership' from Kennedy. A "Kennedy Must Go" petition was started by The Liberal magazine (a publication with no affiliation to the Liberal Democrats) and allegedly had been signed by over 3,300 party members including 386 local councillors and two MPs by the end of 2005.[15] A round-robin letter signed by Liberal Democrat MPs rejecting his leadership received 23 signatures.[16]
In 2004, The Times published an apology over a report it had made stating Kennedy had not taken part in that year's Budget debate due to excessive drinking.[17]
On 6 January 2006, Kennedy was informed that ITN would be reporting that he had received treatment for alcoholism. He called a sudden news conference to make a personal statement confirming the story. He stated that over the past eighteen months he had been coming to terms with a drinking problem, but has sought ongoing professional help. He told reporters that recent questions among his colleagues about his suitability as leader were partly as a result of the drinking problem but stated that he had been dry for the past two months and would be calling a leadership contest to resolve the issues surrounding his authority once and for all.[18][19]
It was later claimed that the source for ITN's story was his former press secretary turned ITV News correspondent, Daisy McAndrew.[20]
Resignation and backbenches
At 3 p.m. on 7 January, Kennedy called a press conference at which he announced that while he was buoyed by the supportive messages he had received from grassroot members, he felt that he could not continue as leader because of the lack of confidence from the Parliamentary party. He said he would not be a candidate in the leadership election and was standing down as leader "with immediate effect", with Menzies Campbell to act as interim leader until a new leader was elected. He also confirmed in his resignation statement that he did not expect to remain on the Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team. He pledged his loyalty to a new leader as a backbencher, and wished to remain active in the party and in politics. His leadership had lasted slightly less than six years and five months.[21]
Campbell went on to win the resulting leadership election, and Kennedy subsequently gave his successor full public support.[22]
Following his resignation, Kennedy's first major political activity was to campaign in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, which the Liberal Democrats went on to win, taking the seat from Labour.[23]
On 22 June 2006, Kennedy made his first appearance in the national media after stepping down as party leader when he appeared on the BBC's Question Time. One of the questions on the show was about his possible return as leader, which he declined to rule out.[24]
On 4 August 2006, Kennedy hosted a documentary on Channel 4 about what he saw as the increasing disenchantment felt by voters towards the main parties in British politics due to their hesitation to discuss the big issues, especially at election time, and the ruthless targeting of swing-voters in key constituencies at the expense of the majority. He also contributed an article covering the same issues to The Guardian's Comment Is Free section.[25]
On 29 August 2006, The Times began serialising a biography of Kennedy by the journalist Greg Hurst. The book claimed that senior Liberal Democrats, including the subsequent leader Menzies Campbell, had known about Kennedy's drinking problem when he was elected as leader in 1999 and had subsequently kept it hidden from the public.[26][27][28]
After Campbell resigned as Liberal Democrat leader on 15 October 2007, Kennedy said that it was "highly unlikely" that he would try to return as party leader, but he did not rule it out completely.[29]
Conservative-Lib Dem coalition
At the 2010 General Election, Kennedy was re-elected to parliament with a majority of 13,070.[30][31]
Kennedy explained in an article for The Observer that he had voted against the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition "when it was presented to Liberal Democrat parliamentarians" and that he "did not subscribe to the view that remaining in opposition ourselves, while extending responsible 'confidence and supply' requirements to a minority Tory administration, was tantamount to a 'do nothing' response". Finally, Kennedy warned of the risks of "a subsequent assimilation within the Conservative fold", adding: "David Cameron has been here often before: from the early days of his leadership he was happy to describe himself as a 'liberal Conservative'. And we know he dislikes the term Tory. These ongoing efforts at appropriation are going to have to be watched".[32][33]
The media reported on 21 August 2010 that Kennedy was about to defect from the Liberal Democrats to Labour in protest against his party's role in the coalition government's public spending cuts, but the Liberal Democrats were swift to deny these reports.[34] Kennedy himself denied the rumours in an interview with The Mail on Sunday.[35]
Kennedy played a role in the cross-party Better Together campaign, which was the pro-union campaign for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[36]
Kennedy lost his seat in the 2015 General Election amid UK-wide seat losses for the Liberal Democrats and a surge in support for the Scottish National Party.[37]
Rector of University of Glasgow
In February 2008, Kennedy was elected Rector of the University of Glasgow[38] and was officially installed, succeeding Mordechai Vanunu, on 10 April 2008. He won the election with a 46% share of vote, supported by not only his own Glasgow University Union but also the Queen Margaret Union and Glasgow University Sports Association. He was re-elected in February 2011, defeating one other candidate, writer A. L. Kennedy, by a clear margin. He served six years as rector until Edward Snowden was elected in February 2014.[39]
Personal life
In July 2002, Kennedy married Sarah Gurling, the sister of his friend James Gurling.[40]
Reports of Kennedy's ill-health in 2003 at the time of crucial debates on the Iraq War and after the 2004 Budget (his ill health meant he missed an entire Budget speech)[41] and linked rumours of alcoholism, were strenuously denied at the time by both Kennedy and his party.
In April 2005, the launch of his party's manifesto for the 2005 General Election was delayed due to the birth of his first child, with Sir Menzies Campbell taking temporary charge as acting leader and covering Kennedy's campaign duties. At the manifesto launch, on his first day back on the campaign trail after the birth, Kennedy struggled to remember the details of a key policy (replacing the council tax with a local income tax) at an early morning press conference, which he later blamed on a lack of sleep due to his new child.[42][43][44]
In July 2007, Kennedy was informally spoken to by the British Transport Police after he breached the smoking ban in England on a train.[45][46]
On 9 August 2010, it was announced that Kennedy and his wife were to separate.[43] Their divorce was granted on 9 December 2010.[47][48]
Kennedy's father Ian, with whom he was close, died in April 2015.[49] He had been a brewery worker but a life-long teetotaller.[50] Kennedy had chosen a recording of his father's fiddle playing when he appeared on Desert Island Discs.[51]
Death
Kennedy's death was announced in the early hours of 2 June 2015; he died the day before at his home in Fort William at the age of 55, less than two months after his father.[52] Police described his death as "sudden and not suspicious".[53]
Bibliography
Works
- The Future of Politics (2000) ISBN 0-00-710131-7 (hardcover) ISBN 0-00-710132-5 (paperback)
Biography
- Hurst, Greg. Charles Kennedy: A Tragic Flaw. Politico's Publishing Ltd (18 September 2006) ISBN 1-84275-176-X
References
- ^ "Tributes paid to former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy". BBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Former leading British politician Charles Kennedy found dead". Independent.ie. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Defiant Kennedy urged to quit now". BBC. 6 January 2006. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Watt, Nicholas (2 June 2015). "Charles Kennedy made two momentous stands that resonate to this day". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ http://www.charleskennedy.org.uk/kennedy_hails_home_rule_for_scotland
- ^ https://www2.hull.ac.uk/fass/PDF/Kennedy.pdf
- ^ a b Wheeler, Brian (9 January 2006). "The Charles Kennedy story". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Alumni profiles: Clark McGinn". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)[dead link] - ^ "Charles Kennedy". University of Glasgow. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2006.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ MacIntyre, Donald (19 June 1999). "Profile: Charles Kennedy - The liberal party animal". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Kennedy hails 'party of future'". BBC News. 6 May 2005. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Top Ten: Lib Dem 'breakthrough moments'". ePolitix.com. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)[dead link] - ^ McCarthy, Donnachad (17 September 2007). "The shameful truth behind the Lib Dems' demise". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Anti-Kennedy briefings 'cowardly'". BBC News. 14 December 2005. Archived from the original on 21 February 2006.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Kennedy hits back over quit call". BBC News. 30 December 2005. Archived from the original on 16 December 2006.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Pierce, Andrew (5 January 2006). "No confidence letter from Lib Dems forced Kennedy to brink". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Claire Cozens (20 October 2004). "Times apologises after Kennedy drink story". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Kennedy admits battling alcohol". BBC. 5 January 2006.
- ^ "Kennedy calls for leadership election". Liberal Democrats. 5 January 2006.
- ^ "How Chatshow Charlie was left high and dry". Scotland on Sunday. 8 January 2006.
- ^ "Embattled Kennedy quits as leader". BBC. 7 January 2006.
- ^ "Support for new Lib Dems leader". BBC. 2 March 2006.
- ^ "Kennedy joins by-election drive". BBC. 2 February 2006.
- ^ "Kennedy not ruling out his return". BBC. 22 June 2006.
- ^ Kennedy, Charles (4 August 2006). "How we lost people's trust". London: The Guardian.
- ^ Andrew Pierce (29 August 2006). "Conspiracy and cover-up – how Lib Dems hid their leader's alcoholism". The Times. London.
- ^ Greg Hurst (29 August 2006). "You are an alcoholic, aren't you? Yes, he finally replied 29 August 2006". London.
- ^ Gray, Sadie (29 August 2006). "Curse of Kennedy". The Times Online. The Times. Archived from the original on 10 February 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Kennedy unlikely to run again". BBC News 17 October 2007. 17 October 2007.
- ^ The Guardian online, “Ross, Skye and Lochaber”, retrieved 2 September 2014.
- ^ UK Parliament website “Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP”, retrieved 2 September 2014.
- ^ "Charles Kennedy: Why I couldn't support Clegg's deal with the Tories". London: The Observer. 16 May 2010.
- ^ "Charles Kennedy to be European Movement President". Euromove: The Newsletter of the European Movement. Autumn 2007. pp. 1–2.
- ^ "BBC News – Lib Dems: Charles Kennedy is 'not defecting' to Labour". Bbc.co.uk. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ The Press Association (23 August 2010). "Labour 'would welcome Lib Dem MPs'". Google.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ Davidsan, Lorraine (6 December 2011). "Parties unite to fight SNP over independence plans". The Times Scotland. London: Times Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ "Liberal Democrats wiped out in Highlands and Islands". BBC News. 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Archive of news: Rectorial Election result". 27 February 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ^ MacAskill, Ewen (18 February 2014). "Edward Snowden 'humbled' by his election as Glasgow University rector". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ^ "In pictures: Charles Kennedy weds". BBC. 20 July 2002.
- ^ Kennedy laughs off health fears 26 March 2004
- ^ "Profile: Charles Kennedy". BBC NEWS. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ^ a b Wilkes, David (10 August 2010). "Charles Kennedy and wife split after eight years: 'His drinking problem ruined their marriage'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ^ Sawer, Patrick (14 August 2010). "Funeral absence hinted at Charles Kennedy marriage split". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ^ "Kennedy 'spoken to over smoking'". AOL United Kingdom. 6 July 2007. Archived from the original on 28 December 2007.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Kennedy caught smoking on train". BBC News. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
- ^ "Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and wife separate". London: The Guardian. 10 August 2010.
- ^ "Charles Kennedy, former Lib Dem leader, divorces wife Sarah". London: Telegraph. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ^ Nelson, Sara C.; Demianyk, Graeme (2 June 2015). "Charles Kennedy Death Leaves Westminster In Shock As Former Liberal Democrat Passes Away At 55". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Kite, Melissa; Leapman, Ben (8 January 2006). "The three days that finished off Charles Kennedy's leadership". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, Desert Island Discs – Music Played". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Charles Kennedy, former Liberal Democrat leader, dies aged 55". BBC. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ BBC Radio 4 PM programme, 2 June 2015.
External links
- Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP official constituency website
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
- BBC News – Politics: Charles Kennedy profile 7 January 2006
- BBC News – Politics: Charles Kennedy: Life and Times 7 January 2006
- "The Pol Who Drank Too Much", Slate.com, 11 January 2006.
- Kennedy 'plotting leadership comeback', Scotland on Sunday, 30 July 2006
- University of Glasgow Story
- Students interview Charles Kennedy about British Identity for Radiowaves (2008)[dead link]
- Tribute by Alastair Campbell to Kennedy after his death
- Articles with dead external links from 2 June 2015
- Recent deaths
- 1959 births
- 2015 deaths
- Alumni of the University of Glasgow
- Leaders of the Liberal Democrats (UK)
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Highland constituencies
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- People educated at Lochaber High School
- People from Inverness
- Presidents of the Liberal Democrats (UK)
- Rectors of the University of Glasgow
- Scottish journalists
- Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs
- Scottish Roman Catholics
- Social Democratic Party (UK) MPs
- UK MPs 1983–87
- UK MPs 1987–92
- UK MPs 1992–97
- UK MPs 1997–2001
- UK MPs 2001–05
- UK MPs 2005–10
- UK MPs 2010–15