Charles Kennedy's 10-Year-Old Son Watches Commons Tributes: 'You Should Be Proud Of Your Daddy'
Charles Kennedy's 10-Year-Old Son Watches Commons Tributes
Ned Simons— The Huffington Post UK
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Charles Kennedy's 10-year-old son Donald watched from the Commons gallery on Wednesday, as MPs paid tribute to his father who died on Monday aged 55.
Sarah Gurling, Kennedy's ex-wife, was also present as David Cameron, Harriet Harman and Nick Clegg remembered the former Lib Dem leader.
And speaking in the Commons, Clegg said while Kennedy was a "formidable parliamentarian" he would want to be remembered first for his "devotion to his family".
"Much though he was wedded to politics all his life, I think Charles would have wanted to be remembered as a kind and loving father, brother and son first; and an accomplished politician second," the former deputy prime minister said.
"He had - and still has - that rare gift for someone in public life that when people think of him, they smile."
Tim Farron, who is seen as favourite to become the next Lib Dem leader, appeared close to tears as he looked up to speak directly to Donald in the gallery above the chamber.
"It's not what you have done, it is who you are. And Charles Kennedy was a very special man. Donald you should be really proud of your daddy, I am proud of your daddy, I loved him to bits. I am proud to call him my friend," he said.
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Kennedy was first elected to parliament in 1983. He led the Lib Dems between 199 and 2006. However he lost his Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency to the SNP's Ian Blackford in last month's general election. He was found dead at his home in Fort William.
In the Commons today, Cameron said Kennedy's "character and courage inspired us all" and praised his "warmth and good humour". The prime minister also noted Kennedy's "great loyalty" to Clegg - despite his decision not to endorse the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition. "At his best he was the best that politics can be," Cameron told MPs.
Harman, who is serving as interim-Labour leader, said Kennedy's example showed that devoting a professional life to politics could be a "honourable not an ignoble thing".
And she praised his decision as Lib Dem leader in 2003 to oppose the Iraq War. "He disagreed with the decision to go to war in Iraq and he was right. But he never felt the need to denigrate those of us who got it wrong," she said.
Harman added: "I remember when he first came to this House, aged only 23, a golden boy from the highlands, he shone in this chamber. He was elected so young and it is a tragedy he has died so young."
Charles Kennedy: Key moments
Winning his seat (1983)(01 of10)
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At the 1983 general election, Kennedy stood for the for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ross, Cromarty and Skye in Scotland, and won in a shock victory over the incumbent, Conservative Hamish Gray. He would hold the seat until the 2015 General Election, though its boundaries changed twice and it is now Ross, Skye and Lochaber. (credit:REX)
The maiden speech (1983)(02 of10)
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Kennedy was just 23 when he entered parliament, becoming the 'Baby of the House'. He gave his maiden speech, speaking for the first time in the House of Commons, in a debate about young people on 15 July 1983.
He spoke about youth unemployment and equality, saying: "There is a yawning gap in outlook between those who have a job and those who have not. Some Ministers are fond of talking about a return to Victorian values. We must realise that those Victorian values are being expressed by some of the younger people in this society in shameful and disturbing disregard for other members of their generation who are not as fortunate as they are in having a job. That is disturbing for a Government of any political complexion."
He also called for electoral reform, and a more compassionate government, telling MPs: "Under the present system many people are effectively disfranchised... However, voluntary disfranchisement is also taking place. 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." (credit:Press Association)
Elected Lib Dem leader (1999)(03 of10)
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After the SDP and Liberal party merged in 1988, Kennedy was elected leader in 1999, after then leader Paddy Ashdown resigned.
Kennedy was at the helm of the third largest political party in Britain. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Leading the Lib Dems through two elections (2001 and 2005)(04 of10)
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Kennedy would lead the party to led the party to its greatest ever electoral success: winning 62 seats in the 2005 election - a vast number in comparison to the current 8 Lib Dem seats. (credit:Sean Dempsey/PA Archive)
Marrying Sarah (2002)(05 of10)
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In July 2002, he married Sarah Gurling, the sister of his friend James Gurling. The couple have a young son, Donald, now aged 10. (credit:Press Association)
Taking a stand against the Iraq war (2003)(06 of10)
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In a stirring speech against the Iraq War at Hyde Park at a February 2003 anti-war protest in London, Kennedy laid out his party's opposition to the conflict and Labour's choice to go to war.
"No more glad, confident morning for this shop-soiled Labour government. They seek to manage, not lead; to manipulate, not tell it as it is. I don’t actually subscribe to the view that all power corrupts. But absolute power – when secured on the back of massive parliamentary majorities, which don’t reflect the balance of political opinion in the country – can corrupt absolutely.
"The soul goes out of politics. So the system itself simply has to change. I tell you this. If the British House of Commons had known then what it knows now – about the events leading up to that fateful parliamentary debate and vote on committing our forces into war in Iraq – then the outcome could and should have been fundamentally different." (credit:Ben Sutherland/Flickr)
Admitting his drink problem (2006)(07 of10)
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Kennedy fought a very public battle with alcoholism, and had been dogged by rumours of his drinking habit.
In 2006, he confirmed publicly that he was receiving treatment for it, pre-empting a TV news report that would have 'outed' him.
Two days later, Kennedy announced his resignation as Liberal Dem leader, after being forced to stand down by dwindling support among Lib Dem front benchers and threats of mass resignations if he stayed in position. (credit:Press Association)
University rector (2008)(08 of10)
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Kennedy won the vote to become rector at the University of Glasgow, and served for six years, being re-elected once, before being succeeded by Edward Snowden , the whistleblower who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA). (credit:Andrew Milligan/PA Archive)
Double loss (2015)(09 of10)
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Kennedy was one of many high-profile Liberal Democrats to lose their seats in what was a dismal night for the party in the 2015 election. Sources said that losing his seat to the SNP hit Charles Kennedy hard.
He said he intended to "contribute in whatever way possible to the wider political debate and the activity of the Liberal Democrats".
It had been a difficult few months for Kennedy, Paddy Ashdown told Sky News, after Kennedy's father Ian died during the election campaign, aged 88, after a long illness. (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
Graceful in defeat (2015)(10 of10)
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In his final tweet, Kennedy shared a blog post written the day after the election. It said: "It has been the greatest privilege of my adult and public life to have served, for 32 years, as the Member of Parliament for our local Highlands and Islands communities. I would particularly like to thank the generation of voters, and then some, who have put their trust in me to carry out that role and its responsibilities."
"The eligible candidates must reflect with care and collectively before we rush into the best way forward – out of this political debris we must build with thought and care.
The next few years in politics will come down to a tale of two Unions – the UK and the EU. Despite all the difficult challenges ahead the Liberal Democrat voice must and will be heard.
We did so over Iraq; we can do so again. Let us relish the prospect." (credit:Twitter)
In his tribute, Clegg also highlighted Kennedy's leading role in opposing Tony Blair's push for war in Iraq. "Just because that may seem an obvious thing to do now, it was not at the time," Clegg said.
"Charles was often a lone voice in this House, standing up against a consensus in favour of war on all sides. The fact that he was proved so spectacularly right is a tribute to his judgement and his intuitive common sense."
He added: "Our liberal political family has lost one of its most admired advocates. British politics has lost one of its best storytellers. This House has lost one of its warmest wits and most loyal Parliamentarians.
"If we could all carry ourselves with a little more of the honesty, wisdom and humility of Charles Kennedy, politics would be held in much higher regard than it is today."
John Bercow, the Speaker of the Commons, opened the tributes by emotionally describing Kennedy as the "boy next door" politician.