MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
How on earth did you get 'suspicious circumstances' from that article which in fact says no suspicious circumstances. It's a sad loss of a relatively young man who had public health issues. Let's not go all jivehoney just yet.
Suspicious circumstances?!
Not if you read the article in your link.
RIP Charlie. 🙁
Blimey...that's young. 🙁
Politics just got a little more beige I guess.
Wow, that's such a shame. Always like Charles Kennedy. RIP.
That about sums it up, whatnobeer. Thoughts are with his family.
That's a real shame. He seemed like a thoroughly decent bloke. And normal. One of very few modern politicians you could actually imagine sitting and having a pint with.
After his last appearance on QT it was obvious he was a man still wrestling his demons.
RIP Charlie 😥
RIP.
Seemed a decent, principled bloke but troubled by his demons as binners states.
Really sad for his family and friends, RIP
By all accounts, a thoroughly decent guy. Would the LibDems be in their current position had he remained leader? I think not.
His "demon", alcohol, unfortunately remains a major contributor to illness and early death in the Highlands and Islands.
Interesting, it definitely said suspicious circumstances when I read it, but the article has been changed now.
Anyway, yes, a sad loss. 🙁
One of very few modern politicians you could actually imagine sitting and having a pint with.
😕
Big shock for the family, seemed like a nice bloke.
Always came across well, tragic.
Not surprised, but very saddened by this. Whatever his problems with alcohol, he was a decent man, and the most successful Liberal leader of modern times, thanks to his principled opposition to the Iraq war.
Why the euphemisms? "Battling with his demons" indeed. He was an alcoholic, and that very likely had a part to play in his untimely death. Having recently watched my mother-in-law succumb to alcohol-related organ failure after many years of very little NHS intervention, it pisses me right off that it's treated like some personal, private weakness whose name must never be uttered.
His family must be devastated.
He seemed to be a politician everyone liked and respected irrespective of any political difference. I've always been an advocate that politicians have more worth if they have a life before politics but he started so young rather proving me wrong.
The BBC homepage is rather depressing - Charles Kennedy's death - with alcohol playing a major part in him not truly fulfilling his potential (and who knows, playing a contributing factor in his death) and Danni Cipriani's arrest for drink driving just a day or so after showing the rugby world what he was capable of again after years in the wilderness. To some folk, the drink is an evil thing.
Little NHS help or not a friend of mine who was a recovered alcoholic who spoke very freely about it said you can get offered all the help there is but until you hold your hands up and admit the problem no amount of intervention will help
Very sad, however he will not be the last talented, genuine and funny man to drink himself to death. I have heard some comments this morning that he should have been given an immediate place in the Lords so that he could have some continuity in his life and some institutional support. Having lost his seat at 55 he may well have felt his career was over and thus his life had no meaning.
@convert yes agreed on Cipriani too.
Very powerful words @Edric, I've had some friends who've been alcoholics and that's been exactly my experience.
That's a shame, TBH not sure if it's the highland culture or Westminster (or both) that saw him off.
One of the few decent (if flawed) LibDem politicians I'd have voted for.
Feel for the family. RIP.
Rest in peace. Think it was clear he was struggling after his last appearance on question time, clear pissed. I wondered if losing his seat sent him over the edge. Shame he always did come across as a decent sort.
Thoughts go out to his family.
He came across very well,one of those politicians you could like if not agree with .A very sad loss
[i]Rest in peace. Think it was clear he was struggling after his last appearance on question time, clear pissed. I wondered if losing his seat sent him over the edge. Shame he always did come across as a decent sort.[/i]
Indeed....you would have thought having a young son would have motivated him to pull himself together, but that just shows how powerful the lure of another drink is. Great shame.
It appears his father died last month too. A tough last month or so the poor man.
Terrible news 🙁 Politics is a hard place for a decent man. RIP Charlie.
RIP - I'm not saying anything new, but I agree with everybody else that he was one of the decent ones. Sadly it's not a huge surprise given his known alcohol problems and recent series of setbacks in his life. I agree with the sentiment that he should have been fast tracked into the Lords - I suspect he probably was due to be elevated as part of the next batch, but things don't work that fast (though you'd like to think somebody would have given him the nod that he was getting that so he had something to look ahead to).
aracer - Member
I agree with the sentiment that he should have been fast tracked into the Lords
Canny agree with that at all tbh.
A sad loss. I think he was an 'old school' politician that no matter your political views you listened to his viewpoint and you respected it. Unlike the current batch of self serving soundbite spouters.
I campaigned for the SNP against Charles Kennedy at this election but wish to say how shocked and saddened I am to hear of his death.I believe that he still had much to offer public life particularly during the forthcoming eu referendum. My condolences to his family
As others note that rare thing a decent person in politics with cross party appeal and respect.
A sad loss
[quote=seosamh77 ]
aracer - Member
I agree with the sentiment that he should have been fast tracked into the Lords
Canny agree with that at all tbh.
Because you disagree with the existence of the HoL or you don't think he'd have had anything useful to bring to that chamber?
Better get in before the usual trolls turn this into yet another stupid stw Scottish politics argument thread which seems to be starting already.
Yes very sad news, he used to come to our school near Inverness to enthuse us about politics and debating. Was always on the local radio and very active in the community, a very decent chap, the Highlands have lost their most public face.
That's really very sad - the Lib Dems were mad to get rid of him as leader, he was a very decent, good man.
RIP especially if he was battling inner demons.
Respect his willingness to back principles.
@gordi he had a drink problem, its not surprising he has passed away. It's very sad but it's not an unexpected outcome, particularly given his age having lost his seat/career and also his father (given the post above).
He took a principled stand against the Iraq war against lots of opposition, he also voted against the Tory / LD coalition in 2010.
A decent principled politician, well like by his supporters and opponents.
RIP
As others have said - a good bloke who was respected by Political friends and opponents alike.
It is a shame about the boozing, as he was a force for good in British politics.
Interesting words
Thanks for the link tmh.
I see Alex Salmond can't stay out of the limelight, has reportedly said "Kennedy's heart wasn't in the better together campaign". Very classy just a few hours after the mans death trying to score some political points.
I see Alex Salmond can't stay out of the limelight, has reportedly said "Kennedy's heart wasn't in the better together campaign". Very classy just a few hours after the mans death trying to score some political points.
No opportunity goes unmissed eh to have a dig
He also tweeted this:
@AlexSalmond 2 hours ago
Charles Kennedy was by far the most generous person I have ever met in politics. Sad loss of a great politician and, above all, a great man.
[url= https://twitter.com/AlexSalmond/status/605664763306209281 ]https://twitter.com/AlexSalmond/status/605664763306209281[/url] https://twitter.com/AlexSalmond/status/605664763306209281
@rich, the article popped up in the middle of the Guardian feed I was reading. The gulf in class and integrity between Kennedy and Salmond couldn't have been better demonstrated.
[quote=richmtb ]No opportunity goes unmissed eh to have a dig
Indeed, AS just can't resist
Jesus it's time for the mods to close this thread now
wow the salmond thing is going nuts online. Seems to have worked from his point of view anyway in terms of getting a vast amount of attention, does seem in poor taste though. Poor old Chazza.
I was saddened to hear this news this morning. I always thought he came across as a decent guy.
Very, very sad indeed. Principled politician and a decent kind man.
He was a decent man who used to stand up for what was right.
But it didn't go unoticed that
[url= http://chrisspivey.org/shhh-its-an-official-secret/ ]he voted to block the opening of the Official Secrets Act, thus effectively protecting child molesters.[/url]
In the end it was obvious he was more or less toeing a party line and had lost his independent streak.
Crumbs you [b]english london folk[/b] and your loathing of AS
The gulf in class and integrity between Kennedy and Salmond couldn't have been better demonstrated
Yes till you read that you were sort of fence sitting about what you thought about him 😕
Its not exactly the worst thing you will read on the internet about his death.
Campbell article also in the Guardian.....excellent eulogy IMHO
A good piece on him in today's Guardian by [url= http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/02/charles-kennedy-alastair-campbell-lovely-man-a-talented-politician-a-great-friend ]Alastair Campbell[/url] - who was obviously a very good friend of his
Read his piece yesterday binners - he writes well; unlikely chums in many ways you'd have though eh? Can't get my head around Campbell at all - so much to dislike him for, and yet, and yet.
I know what you mean. I should dislike him immensely for numerous reasons, but.... He's been very honest about his own alcoholism and depression, and I do like his blunt Malcolm Tuckerishness!
I do find it odd that the man behind the dodgy dossier and one of the most vocal opponents of the war on Iraq would then go on holiday together. But in a lot of ways, that's quite admirable, and a testament to their freindship
also in Guardian (c) Steve Bell - [img] 
[/img]
Deleted: see below
jambalaya -oneyedSNPhater
I wonder how the subject of Kennedy's views came up...maybe he was asked? Oh,whats that;he was?
Coming soon to this thread,SNP killed Charles Kennedy (c) the spectator
jesus epicyclo can't you just leave it? the guy's died young leaving a young son without a dad, stop using it as a platform for all this unconcious sheep anti-english crap. There are plenty of other threads on here for all that chat.
Nice touch by Steve Bell, that.
bigjim - Member
jesus epicyclo can't you just leave it? the guy's died young leaving a young son without a dad, stop using it as a platform for all this unconcious sheep anti-english crap.
You're right. Sorry.
(I wasn't having an anti English rant, just making the point that the press in Scotland is generally owned by English interests, ie not predisposed to Scottish interests.)
I have both eyes open when it comes to the SNP. I was only commenting on what appeared in that bastion of English right wing journalism, the Guardian.
The Steve Bell cartoon is a nice touch, saw that this morning.
I have both eyes open when it comes to the SNP
Of course you do,and your even handedness in commeting on anything to do with them is measured and balanced. See carmichael tread for an example.
Its not exactly the worst thing you will read on the internet about his death.
AS's comments aren't at all rude about CK (or at least I don't interpret them that way), the issue is with him using the opportunity to make a political point.
I'll say no more on this - I made my feelings about CK clear in my first post on this thread, and it doesn't need any more derailing.
by the usual suspects who are like a stuck record turning every political thread into a debate about AS and defending it as true and not biased 🙄
I didn't turn it into a debate, I just referenced a Guardian article. I thought you ignored all my posts anyway 8)
(I wasn't having an anti English rant, just making the point that the press in Scotland is generally owned by English interests, ie not predisposed to Scottish interests.)
I think, in fact, that is the (beginning of) an anti-English rant - claiming that English interests are both foreign and different to Scottish ones.
If you look at how the two places voted in the last general election its not unreasonable to suggest the people have different goals from their government and that their interests are different.
As for foreign it is and it is not another country depending on the issue - defence V law for example. Education v Foreign policy
One of those when you are a nation within a Union.
Very good point made by Ian Hislop, according to the Independent he came out with the observation that Charles Kennedy had better judgement drunk than many politicians do sober.
From Campbell's eulogy
Charles knew that it was possible to disagree with people without constantly feeling the need to condemn them as lacking in integrity or values
Something that explains how they were able to be friends and also something for several people to consider...
[i]Charles knew that it was possible to disagree with people without constantly feeling the need to condemn them as lacking in integrity or values[/i]
He obviously didn't post on STW then! 😕
Quite...
Rockape, indeed.
Quoting myself, today's gem below.
The gulf in class and integrity between Kennedy and Salmond couldn't have been better demonstrated
"Behave yourself, woman" Classy ? Enlightened ?