Labour reactions to the death of Charles Kennedy

Labour politicians have joined tributes to Charles Kennedy, who died at his home yesterday aged 55.

Harriet Harman, interim leader of the Labour Party, has released the following statement:

“Everybody will be shocked and deeply saddened to hear Charles Kennedy has died.

“He was someone who fought for social justice and brought courage, wit and humour to everything he did.

“He had many friends in the Labour Party as he did across the political spectrum and away from Westminster.

“Thoughts will now be with his family.”

Many others from across the Labour movement have also expressed their sadness at this news – we’ll be collating these throughout the morning:

Jim Murphy, leader of Scottish Labour, has also paid tribute to Kennedy:

“The thoughts of everyone in Scottish Labour are with the family of Charles Kennedy this morning. Scotland, and the whole United Kingdom, has lost a political giant.

“Although we came from different political traditions, Charles was a man I was proud to call a friend. When I was first elected to the House of Commons back in 1997 as a young 29-year old, Charles was one of the first people to offer me support and guidance. He didn’t have to, but he did. That’s just the kind of man he was.

“Despite the sadness, those of us who knew him will remember the good times. We will look back at Charles’ wit and good humour. In years to come we will remember with a smile the delight in knowing him, his huge contribution to politics and a life lost too soon.

“The greatest tribute I could pay to Charles is that I always wished he was Labour, because he was so talented and popular with the general public. He will be sadly missed across Scotland and the whole United Kingdom.”

How sad to hear that Charles Kennedy has died. Met him often. Very nice, very clever, very principled man.

— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) June 2, 2015

So sad to hear about Charles Kennedy. All our thoughts are with his family on the loss of a decent man who gave politics a good name.

— Hilary Benn (@hilarybennmp) June 2, 2015

Alastair Campbell has written a tribute to Kennedy on his website, entitled Charles Kennedy – a lovely man, a talented politician, a great friend with a shared enemy. Here’s an excerpt, y0u can read the full piece here:

Charles Kennedy was a lovely man, and a highly talented politician. These are the kind of words that always flow when public figures die, often because people feel they have to say those things, and rightly they are flowing thick and fast today as we mourn an important public figure, and a little bit of hypocrisy from political foes is allowed. But when I say that Charles was a lovely man and a talented politician, I mean it with all my heart. 

Kennedy was an MP for 32 years and served as Liberal Democrat leader from 1999 to 2006. He lost his seat, Ross, Skye and Lochaber, to the SNP last month.

His family have released the following statement: