Tributes pour in for Charles Kennedy
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TRIBUTES are pouring in for Charles Kennedy, the former Liberal Democrat leader and Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP who has died at his home.
He was 55.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police officers attended an address at Fort William on Monday, June 1 to reports of the sudden death of a 55-year-old man. Police were notified by ambulance service personnel. There are no suspicious circumstances."
Mr Kennedy’s family said in a statement: "It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy.
"We are obviously devastated at the loss. Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son."
A posting on Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s Twitter account this morning says: "Sad beyond words to hear the news about Charlie Kennedy. A lovely man and one of the most talented politicians of his time. Gone too soon."
Also on Twitter, Ian Blackford, SNP MP who won the Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat in the general election, said: "So sorry to hear the dreadful news. A man of such great ability, such a tragedy he has passed away. RIP."
In one of his final interviews in April Mr Kennedy complained of not feeling well.
"I’m feeling under the weather," he said. "Just cannot seem to shake it."
Charles Kennedy became the youngest MP of the time at the age of 23 when he won the Ross, Cromarty and Skye seat in 1983. From 1997 to 2005 he was MP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West before going on to represent Ross, Skye and Lochaber from 2005 until last month's general election when he was unseated by the SNP's Ian Blackford.
