Charles Kennedy RIP
Discussion
bexVN said:
Blib said:
It would not surprise me in the slightest if it is found that he took his own life.
Would that still be classed as a non suspicious death because they are fairly clear is isn't suspicious.Very sad to hear he passed away. He seemed like a decent man and true to himself.
BlackLabel said:
Kennedy always came across as a decent and honest man. I must admit I found his Question Time appearence a few months ago quite funny however alcoholism isn't funny at all is it and it destroys families and lives.
Apparently he'd been told that his father had been taken seriously ill just before the programme started, but he'd insisted on carrying on. (tributes on the Guardian website)
One of the ex Lib Dem MP's here in Bristol that recently lost his seat (Stephen Williams) and knew him quite well made a salient point in an interview this morning.
Said that Charles Kennedy would have found it particularly hard when he lost his seat in the election as politics was all he had ever done, pretty much, since leaving uni. He became an MP at 23/24 then stayed there till last month. Williams himself was 38 when he became an MP so had enjoyed a life outside politics before entering. Williams said he himself had found the loss of his seat hard to take so imagine it magnified several times over for Kennedy.
Whatever has happened, a good man has been lost way too early. RIP Charles.
Said that Charles Kennedy would have found it particularly hard when he lost his seat in the election as politics was all he had ever done, pretty much, since leaving uni. He became an MP at 23/24 then stayed there till last month. Williams himself was 38 when he became an MP so had enjoyed a life outside politics before entering. Williams said he himself had found the loss of his seat hard to take so imagine it magnified several times over for Kennedy.
Whatever has happened, a good man has been lost way too early. RIP Charles.
As has been said, his untimely departure is a huge loss to politics. He was a decent man, who did what he thought was right. His leadership of the LibDems shows Clegg up as the buffoon he is. A troubled soul indeed - RIP.
Blib said:
It would not surprise me in the slightest if it is found that he took his own life.
Sadly, this was my first thought as well. Condolences to the family. Always enjoyed his contributions on his many media outings...but felt he was a politician first and foremost, in that he would project an agenda that had been suitably aligned.
IIRC his biggest electoral victory - the record number of LibDem seats - was only achieved with the hidden connivance of Tony Blair (agreeing not to contest some seats where a LD win would take away a Tory chance if Labour didn't split the vote), which was only leaked to the press much later.
Feel very sorry for the 10yo son though - not a good time for this burden.
IIRC his biggest electoral victory - the record number of LibDem seats - was only achieved with the hidden connivance of Tony Blair (agreeing not to contest some seats where a LD win would take away a Tory chance if Labour didn't split the vote), which was only leaked to the press much later.
Feel very sorry for the 10yo son though - not a good time for this burden.
Amateurish said:
I can't help but feel that the Lib Dems would have fared so much better with a sober Charlie Kennedy at the helm, than with Clegg.
I don't know about this. As a Lib Dem member myself, I think they have both been excellent leaders. The decimation of the Lib Dems at the election is not the fault of Clegg and I don't think there are many Lib Dems who wouldn't have gone into a coalition with the Tories. Charles Kennedy was great for the party, Clegg was great for the country - which I think we are now seeing evidence of now the Tories are allowed to govern alone. Both were worthy and excellent party leaders, however.
BJG1 said:
I don't know about this. As a Lib Dem member myself, I think they have both been excellent leaders. The decimation of the Lib Dems at the election is not the fault of Clegg and I don't think there are many Lib Dems who wouldn't have gone into a coalition with the Tories. Charles Kennedy was great for the party, Clegg was great for the country - which I think we are now seeing evidence of now the Tories are allowed to govern alone.
Both were worthy and excellent party leaders, however.
Was not CK the only Lib Dem MP to vote against the coalition with the Tories? I'm sure I've read that somewhere. Have to say I think he was misguided in that respect, the coalition gave us stable Gov't when it was most needed. Both were worthy and excellent party leaders, however.
Cheese Mechanic said:
Was not CK the only Lib Dem MP to vote against the coalition with the Tories? I'm sure I've read that somewhere. Have to say I think he was misguided in that respect, the coalition gave us stable Gov't when it was most needed.
Yeah he was. One of 22 to vote against Tuition fee increase too. I think the Lib Dems have a good history of electing very good leaders - shame we're about to ruin that with Tim Farron. If Jo Swinson had managed to avoid losing to the SNP we'd probably have her as leader instead, like Kennedy but without any of the issues. Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff