Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedywas a British Liberal Democrat politician, who was Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006 and a Member of Parliamentfrom 1983 to 2015, latterly for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth25 November 1959
clear home implement involve obligation people relevant sure system
To involve young people and make sure that the system is more relevant to them in Scotland, we have a clear obligation to implement a policy of home rule.
discovered given history people politics puzzled south spread strong voters war wings
As I spread my wings in politics, I discovered many Thatcher voters down south who were the same kind of people who loathed her in Scotland. They were puzzled by the Scots' antipathy, given the Falklands war and the strong militaristic history of the Highlands and elsewhere.
government imperative learned lessons local members move speedily useful
Useful lessons can be learned from our more successful local authorities - as you move into government, it is even more imperative to communicate speedily and persuasively with your members and your voters.
aftermath coalition fragment remarkable strike unilateral
It would be a tragedy if the remarkable international coalition against terrorism, successfully marshalled in the aftermath of 11 September, were to fragment over a unilateral U.S. strike against Baghdad.
election elections modern party three uk
This is really going to be the first modern three party UK election that we have all experienced.
huge listened people time understand
People have a huge desire to be listened to, for politicians to take the time to understand their problems.
aspects breakdown british domestic dreadful forces heroic iraqi job security seeing trust worrying
The most worrying thing of all is if we are now seeing a breakdown in communication, trust and co-operation between the British forces -- who have done a heroic job there under the most dreadful of circumstances -- and aspects at least of the Iraqi domestic security forces,
almost ambition harbour matter past pronounce scottish
As a Scot, representing a Scottish constituency for almost the past 25 years, I do not harbour an overweening ambition to pronounce on each and every matter exclusively English.
basis brings cannot democratic determined liberal policy public society
A society which is liberal democratic cannot have public policy determined upon the basis of who has got the loudest voice - or who can brings things to a halt.
above democrats heads liberal meaning true vocabulary
As Liberal Democrats and proponents of federalism, we must put our heads above the parapet and recapture and disseminate the true meaning of federalism. We have to win the vocabulary before we succeed in the vision.
equate lesser membership
A smaller-size party and parliamentary membership does not necessarily equate to lesser demands; if anything, the opposite can be the case.
age cared government longer matter member parliament people problems simply striving votes younger
During my campaign, people of my age and younger said consistently that they would not vote because their votes simply no longer matter and because no government or member of Parliament cared a whit about their problems and their striving for employment.
Decentralisation is controversial - but that's fine. We should be fearless about having a debate.
contained eventual general tory
That 1983 general election contained the telltale seeds of eventual Scottish Tory self-destruction.