Use Kennedy legacy to help crack alcoholism, says new leader
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HIGHLAND council’s new leader believes the local authority should use Charles Kennedy’s legacy to help people overcome the scourge of alcoholism.
Margaret Davidson was speaking at a special meeting of the council today in Inverness when a new Independent administration was formed.
Cllr Daivdson is setting up an all-party group to find "renewed enthusiasm" about treatments and support for people with drink problems.
The Independent Inverness councillor has also had talks with NHS Highland’s new director of public health and she wants to speak to Police Chief Superintendent Julian Innes who chairs the council’s drug and alcohol partnership.
She is also hopeful that an annual inter-school public speaking competition can be launched in the Highlands in honour of former MP Charles Kennedy who died suddenly 10 days ago.
She said: "I think we will leave more talk of a memorial to the people of Lochaber. He was their son.
"Just three weeks ago I was at Invergarry at a plant sale and all the talk was about Charles and how he would be after the election defeat and everybody cared."
Meanwhile, the leader of the Highland Liberal Democrats, David Alston, paid his respects to Mr Kennedy at the meeting.
In a tearful speech, Cllr Alston said a sculpture with three birch trees on Church Street made him think of Charles Kennedy.
The Black Isle councillor said: "Just like these birch trees Charles erupted through the flat constraining paving stones that passes for much of politics and he brought life to everything he was committed to."
Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith, leader of the opposition, said: "He was a really popular Highland gentleman".
Jimmy Gray, Labour leader and councillor for Inverness Millburn also paid a moving tribute.
He said Charles Kennedy always gave the impression when you spoke to him that what you were saying was the most important thing he had heard that day.
"A most unusual ability for a politician to have," he said.
"I was never in Charles’s company, irrespective of where I was, where I got the impression that he was looking over my shoulder to see if there was somebody more important behind me. I believe he did that with everyone he met."
