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
young idealism withering
My idealism has not abated, but I have witnessed it withering away nationwide, to the point where at least among the young, to have ideals is akin to being blinkered and oldfashioned.
thinking house kind
I do think there is a great deal of caricature around the House of Commons. It is just that kind of place.
thinking leader former
I think that former leaders are best seen occasionally and not too often heard - particularly on the subject of their successors!
country choices liberty
There are hard choices to be made in balancing the country's security and an individual's liberties. But it is a choice that has to be faced.
country voice fire
There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.
believe sides cooperation
We Liberal Democrats believe in dialogue. We believe in cooperation with both sides of industry and between both sides of industry. And we believe in the language of cooperation. We reject the language of confrontation.
kindness hard-work ill-health
Befriending provides a valuable lifeline to many people who feel isolated in their communities often as a result of ill health or poverty. I would like to thank all those who volunteer as befrienders and I hope that your numbers will increase in coming years. Your kindness and hard work is, I know, very much appreciated by those you help.
believe opportunity thinking
I believe that access to a university education should be based on the ability to learn, not what people can afford. I think there is no more nauseating a sight than politicians pulling up the ladder of opportunity behind them.
party government leader
For any new leader of any party at any given time it takes time if you are not in government to establish yourself.
thinking sensible
Actually, I think it's quite sensible not to take yourself too seriously.
short-life life-is-too-short life-is-short
I'm not someone who dwells upon past events, taking the view that life is too short
years people age
It is true that I entered parliament at the age of 23, and have now been representing the people of my constituency for over twenty years.
want headlines
I don't want a headline saying 'Kennedy suggests this or implies that.'
essentials cigarette accepting
I should do something about the cigarettes; I quite accept that it's bad for your health, but you know a moderate tipple is positively beneficial and, at certain times, absolutely essential.