{"id":4596,"date":"2015-06-03T10:47:42","date_gmt":"2015-06-03T09:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/?p=4596"},"modified":"2015-06-03T10:47:42","modified_gmt":"2015-06-03T09:47:42","slug":"lib-dem-leader-kennedy-dies-aged-55","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/index.php\/lib-dem-leader-kennedy-dies-aged-55\/","title":{"rendered":"Lib Dem leader Kennedy dies aged 55"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lib<\/a>Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, one of the most colourful characters in Britain\u2019s parliament and an opponent of the Iraq War, has died suddenly aged 55, his family said on Tuesday.
\n\u201cIt is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy,\u201d said a statement.
\n\u201cCharles died at home in Fort William yesterday. He was 55. We are obviously devastated at the loss.
\n\u201cCharles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son,\u201d it added.
\nAmbulance services alerted police after being called out to his home on Monday, but his death is not being treated as suspicious.
\nPrime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter that he was \u201cdeeply saddened\u201d by the news, calling him \u201ca talented politician who has died too young\u201d.
\nThe Scotsman became the youngest MP of the time when he won the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency in 1983, aged 24.
\nHe took over the leadership of the party from Paddy Ashdown in 1999, leading the party to its best general election result since the 1920s in 2005, claiming 62 seats on the back of his lone stand among major party leaders in opposing the Iraq invasion.
\nAshdown paid tribute to his successor, saying that \u201cin a political age not overburdened with gaiety and good sense, he brought us wit, charm, judgement, principle and decency\u201d
\nKennedy quit as leader in 2006 after confirming that he had received treatment for a drinking problem and lost his seat after 32 years at last month\u2019s general election as the Scottish National Party swept to victory north of the border.
\nNick Clegg, the party\u2019s leader until last month\u2019s disastrous election that saw them win just eight seats, called Kennedy \u201cone of most gifted politicians of his generation.\u201d
\n\u201cHe had an unusual gift for speaking about politics with humour and humility which touched people well beyond the world of politics,\u201d said Clegg.
\n\u201cHe was a proud Highlander, Scot and British Parliamentarian.
\n\u201cHe 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.\u201d
\nDespite being at odds over the Iraq invasion, former prime minister Tony Blair said Kennedy was a \u201clovely, genuine and deeply committed public servant\u201d adding that his death was \u201can absolute tragedy.\u201d
\nSNP leader Nicola Sturgeon wrote on Twitter that she was \u201csad beyond words,\u201d calling him \u201ca lovely man and one of the most talented politicians of his time\u201d while acting Labour Party leader Harriet Harman praised his \u201cwit and humour\u201d and courage in fighting for social justice.
\nKennedy separated from his wife Sarah Gurling in 2010 after eight years of marriage and leaves 10-year-old son Donald.<\/p>\n

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