He was a member of a (probably now extinct) type of politician, who answered a straight question honestly and directly, who trusted the electorate enough to tell them what he thought without all the spin which a modern politician wears as armour.
I feel slightly bereft today. Part of me thinks it's silly to feel so sad about a man I never met, but his role in public life gave me hope that our media-savvy politicians may one day see that it's possible to survive in politics without painting your ideological opponent as the devil, and without treating the electorate as dangerous fools who must be pandered to and feared in equal measure.
I fervently hope that the new intake of MPs contains even just one or two like him: people who would be willing to risk opprobrium to try to save us from an unjust war, who will debate fiercely but never forget that their opponent is merely a fellow flawed human being, who will have the courage to risk isolation to tell their country or their party if they are going wrong, and who will make it possible to believe that politics is still a profession for decent, sincere public servants.
Very funny man, right back to school days. He had the ability to make people think and laugh at the same time. Lunchtime debates at Lochaber High were great entertainment and what he did with Thatcher, Major and Blair was brilliant! Drinking was his curse, but, if you look at the work he did and the futility that he faced, no wonder. Sad, sad day yesterday and the world of politics is a lot worse off because he's not in it to show the big-wigs that they get it wrong.
8 years ago I wrote to Mr Kennedy about a fairly trivial constituency matter. I received a personal reply in short order. I have then had regular correspondence and greetings cards from him ever since.
He was a lovely man who cared. Most unlike a politician.
RIP.
thoroughly decent
I met him a few times. He used to come to the office where I work to meet constituents. I've met him at his best (empathising with a colleague and I angry over a political matter) and worst (shortly after his father's death). Both times he was kind and intelligent. If he was ill too that makes me respect him more.
I met Charles Kennedy on the anti war March in London in the early 2000s. he was at the head of a large group of people with a range of flags. I guess it was a Lib Dem delegation. I was only in my early 20s at the time, and had a very low opinion of most politicians. All I said was "thanks for marching". he replied that he was happy to see so many people out behind the same cause.
That was all. he seemed genuine to me.
Charlies was a very very decent guy, not too critical of others, yet would get his point across and make people think. His stance on the Itaq war, along with others, was courageous.
I could agree with many of his views excepting union, however he"d be happy to chat, knowing a vote would not be forthcoming. His personal vote can not be understated in how he held his seat for 32 years. Surprisingly with such a majority he never took the electorate for granted.
Going forward it is tragic he will not be here to articulate to the electorate the benefits of the EU and the folly of leaving it.
He will be sorely missed by family, friends, his old electorate,, Scotland and beyond, I wish them well!
Hardly ever can one man's personal problems have made so much difference
If he had not had a drink problem, he would have been leader of the Lib Dems in2010. This would have meant no coalition with the Tories, probably no Tory rule for the last 5 years and the attendant adverse effects for millions of people, probably no Tory majority now, and no disintegration of the Lib Dems as a party.
The Lib Dems will probably never be the same again as a party, as their natural supporters will never forget the betrayal led by Nick Clegg, in selling out to the Tories who as as a party, oppose everything a natural Lib Dem Supporter would stand for. I was a natural Lib Dem Supporter and that's how I feel, and I am sure that there are many more millions like me.
Charles Kennedy sounded a thoroughly decent man and a rare breed of politician. RIP....
I work at Glasgow uni and and met Charles Kennedy a few times. Last year I told him about my 11 year old nephew who read Kidnapped during the October break. The entire fortnight was spent reading it aloud and hilariously acting out bits especially the roundhouse fight and the escape from the soldiers by rolling back over the heather. As a result S__ now knows the story of the highlander v the lowlander and the Campbells, the Jacobites, Gaelic, Catholic/Protestant, King George etc.
Has it made an impact on him? Charlie asked.
Well he's built a fort called Alan Breck in Minecraft. And he went about with a silver button on his coat for a while.
He sounds, er, well adjusted, he said.
He said he couldn't wait for his son to get into the book.
That's all I can think of now. Charlie will be missed terribly, especially by us on the left fighting the tories and nationalism, but Donald Kennedy has been robbed of a wonderful father who doted on him.
Life can be so bloody cruel.
This is such sad news. Charlie was our MP in Wester Ross since before I can remember and worked hard to represent his constituents. He always responded to letters and, latterly, had been working hard to improve connectivity in the area, pushing mobile phone companies to deliver a consistent service and BT to meet promises about broadband connections. Born and raised here, he understood well the challenges of living and working somewhere so remote.
Unfortunately he was the victim of a nasty whisper campaign by SNP supporters before the 2015 general election. There was a coordinated series of letters to the local press accusing him of having become a 'Westminsterite' and of fiddling expenses on a London flat - all totally unsubstantiated.
His death is the end of an era in Highland politics and Liberal politics more widely - what will come next?
I met with Charles Kennedy during his visit to Cardiff in the SDP days. Very sincere, affable and enjoyed the pot of tea I made for him. I followed his career with interest and have nothing but praise for a very nice chap.
i know it's silly as i never met him but his death has really saddened me, he was a beacon of decency in the cesspit that is politics. that he went so far without it would seem an enemy from any side is truly the measure of the man.
he will be deeply missed, not least in the forthcoming euro referendum where the voices of measured sanity will i suspect be thin on the ground.
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Never knew or met Mr Kennedy, he wasn't my MP in Argyll. Took all the usual praise being heap on him by Westminster and politicians with a pinch of salt as it is standard practice. Was very impressed though to hear from his constituents being interviewed on the radio and they had nothing but praise for him and a very high degree of respect. In the Highlands that is something very hard to gain and to keep
Viewing him from afar, he seemed to be a genuine, principled, warm and thoroughly capable man. Charles Kennedy's LibDems won my vote. That they subsequently lost it is no fault of his. A man of real conviction had no place in that coalition, as he expressed so eloquently at the time. His party and UK politics are certainly all the poorer for his passing.
A principled and compassionate man who will be sorely missed. I vividly remember an appearance on Question Time during which he gave clear and direct answers from a place of understanding, and without resorting to the usual blame game politics. He was right on Iraq, he was right on coalition and the party always had my vote when he was its leader. I hope his legacy is more principle, less party.
Thanks to everyone who has shared their memories and experiences. You can add yours in the comments below or via GuardianWitness and the contribute button.
More than just the character he was, he'll be mourned for the character he showed.
I joined the party following a speech I saw him give against the pending war in Iraq. No other politician ever got me up and out into the world to try to make a difference.
Even his obvious human frailty set him apart. It somehow made him all the more honest and accessible. He gave direct answers to difficult questions all through the independence debate and the election - at which he was cruelly dumped by constituents in their clamour for some SNP fairy dust. He deserved so much better.