http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32970337

Blimey! Suspicious circumstances?!

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

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.

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

Canny agree with that at all tbh.
[/quote]

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

http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2015/06/02/charles-kennedy-a-lovely-man-a-talented-politician-a-great-friend-with-a-shared-enemy/

Thanks for the link tmh.