Biography

Charles Kennedy was born on November 25, 1959 in Inverness, Scotland, UK. He was married to Sarah Gurling. He died on June 1, 2015 in Fort William, Highland, Scotland, UK.

Previous careers in teaching and broadcasting.

He was the Member of Parliament for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (formerly Ross, Skye & Inverness West/Ross, Cromarty & Skye), until he lost the seat in the 2015 General Election.

Elected to Parliament in 1983, aged just 23.

Has an MA in Politics and Philosophy from Glasgow University.

From August 1999 until January 2006, Kennedy served as the leader of the Liberal Democrats (formerly the Liberals), Britain's third political party. During his leadership, the party won its greatest number of seats for a century, in the 2001 and 2005 General Elections. He was forced to resign following an admission that he has a drink problem, something he had previously denied repeatedly.

I believe in being serious about politics, though not in taking myself too seriously.

What I'm not in favour of, and I think it is a very dangerous road to go down, is that the more successful and prosperous you are the more you can seek to influence the public in this country.

[on Jimmy Savile] A true and long-standing friend to the West Highlands over decades of diligence and decency. When not resident at his home in Glencoe, he made it available for mountain rescue use. It was typical of the man that he never drew attention to such characteristic generosity. A sad loss indeed.

I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.

I jump on injustice. Not bandwagons.