Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy (55) dies

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has died suddenly at home.

Mr Kennedy had served as an MP for 32 years but was ousted from his Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency last month as the SNP swept the board in the general election north of the border.

Police had been called out to his house in Fort William yesterday, after being alerted by the ambulance service. The cause of is death is not yet known, but it is not thought to be suspicious.

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A statement released on behalf of his family said: “It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy.

“Charles died at home in Fort William yesterday. He was 55. We are obviously devastated at the loss.

“Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son. We ask therefore that the privacy of his family is respected in the coming days.”

The father of one had been leader of the Liberal Democrats between 1999 and and January 2006 — when he stood down days after admitting he had a problem with alcohol.

His political career began in the Social Democratic Party, winning the Ross, Cromarty and Skye seat in 1983 to become the youngest MP of the time at the age of 24.

He took over as leader from Paddy Ashdown in 1999; in that role was one of the most vocal critics of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

In the 2005 general election he took the party to what was then one of its best general election results, winning 62 seats.

But just months later, following months of rumours about his drinking, Mr Kennedy admitted he had been receiving treatment for an alcohol problem and said he was calling a leadership contest.

While he had initially declared that he wanted to carry on he was forced to stand down in the face of the threat of mass resignations by senior colleagues.

Nick Clegg paid tribute to his predecessor as Liberal Democrat leader: "Charles's untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation.

“Charles devoted his life to public service, yet he had an unusual gift for speaking about politics with humour and humility which touched people well beyond the world of politics.”

Mr Clegg added: “He led the Liberal Democrats to our party’s greatest electoral successes, yet he always remained modest about his huge achievements.

Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, paid tribute to a “hugely well-respected and well-liked man”.

“He was without doubt one of the towering political talents of his generation - a sharp debater, who deployed knowledge, experience and wit to wonderful effect.”

Mr Kennedy’s predecessor as Lib Dem leader, Lord Ashdown, said on Twitter: “Charles Kennedy. In a political age not overburdened with gaiety and good sense, he brought us wit, charm, judgement, principle and decency.”

PA