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  Kennedy, Charles
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationLiberal Democrats  
<-  2014-01-01  
 
NameCharles Kennedy
Address
Caol, England Scotland, United Kingdom
Emailcharles@highlandlibdems.org.uk
Website [Link]
Born November 25, 1959
DiedJune 01, 2015 (55 years)
ContributorInspectorMorse
Last ModifedIndyGeorgia
Nov 02, 2017 10:38pm
Tags Scottish - Divorced - Alcoholic - Catholic - Straight -
InfoCharles Kennedy is the Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Born in Inverness in 1959, he was brought up and educated in Fort William, and attended Glasgow University. Following his graduation in 1982, he worked as a journalist and broadcaster with BBC Highland in Inverness.

He was then awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to attend Indiana University in the United States. In 1983 he was working towards a PhD at Indiana when the opportunity arose to seek the SDP nomination for Ross, Cromarty and Skye. He made a flying visit home, won the ballot and returned full time to the UK in April. The general election followed and less than six weeks later he was elected to the House of Commons, defeating the sitting government minister to become the youngest MP of the time.

During his term in parliament he has acted as a spokesperson on issues ranging from the welfare state to Europe, agriculture and rural affairs. He has served on the All-Party Select Committee that introduced the televising of the chamber. He was the first SDP MP to back the merger with the Liberals after the 1987 general election, and moved a successful motion to this effect at the party conference that year.

Charles Kennedy was elected UK Party President, the equivalent of party chairman, in 1990, and served in that post until 1994. In August 1999 he was elected as the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, and he was appointed to the Privy Council in October 1999.

In Febuary 2005, after months of rumours and alledged plotting against him, he admitted that he has a drink problem and that he has sought professional help. He announced that he intends to stay on as Leader, but that it should be up to the party to decide if he should remain in his position, and has called a new leadership election.

[Link]

JOB APPROVAL POLLS
DateFirmApproveDisapproveDon't Know
05/19/2005-05/23/2005 MORI 49.00% ( 0.0) 28.00% ( 0.0) 0.00% ( 0.0)

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor
The Future of Politics  Purchase InspectorMorse 

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
Jun 02, 2015 08:15am Obituary Charles Kennedy, former Liberal Democrat leader, dies aged 55  Article IndyGeorgia 
May 15, 2010 06:00pm Op-Ed by Candidate Why I couldn't support Clegg's deal with the Tories  Article New Jerusalem 
Jan 07, 2006 07:55pm News Kennedy rejects 'denial' claims  Article User 13 
Jan 07, 2006 09:00am News Embattled Kennedy quits as leader  Article New Jerusalem 
Jan 06, 2006 07:00pm Opinion In quotes: Kennedy on drink  Article User 13 
Jan 05, 2006 01:00pm News Kennedy admits drink problem; calls new leadership election  Article New Jerusalem 

DISCUSSION
Importance? 8.66670 Average

FAMILY
Wife Sarah Gurling Jul 00, 2002-Dec 09, 2010

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  05/07/2015 UK Parliament - Ross, Skye, & Lochaber Lost 35.86% (-12.26%)
  05/06/2010 UK Parliament - Ross, Skye & Lochaber Won 52.63% (+37.52%)
  05/05/2005 UK Prime Minister Lost 9.60% (-45.51%)
  05/05/2005 UK Parliament - Ross, Skye, & Lochaber Won 58.70% (+43.79%)
  08/14/2001 UK Prime Minister Lost 7.89% (-54.78%)
  06/07/2001 UK Parliament - Ross, Skye & Inverness West Won 54.10% (+37.21%)
  08/09/1999 Liberal Democrat Leader Won 55.73% (+12.92%)
  08/09/1999 Liberal Democrat Leader - Third Round Won 49.34% (+11.38%)
  08/09/1999 Liberal Democrat Leader - Second Round Won 46.31% (+0.00%)
  08/09/1999 Liberal Democrat Leader - First Round Won 44.55% (+12.73%)
  05/01/1997 UK Parliament - Ross, Skye and Inverness West Won 38.72% (+10.06%)
  04/09/1992 UK Parliament - Ross, Cromarty and Skye Won 41.59% (+18.59%)
  01/01/1992 UK Liberal Democrats - Party President Won 70.59% (+41.18%)
  01/01/1990 UK Liberal Democrats - Party President Won 82.43% (+66.32%)
  06/11/1987 UK Parliament - Ross, Cromarty and Skye Won 49.40% (+29.73%)
  06/09/1983 UK Parliament - Ross, Cromarty and Skye Won 38.52% (+4.85%)
SPECULATIVE, DID NOT RUN
  11/10/2010 Liberal Democrats Party President Lost 0.00% (-52.98%)
ENDORSEMENTS
Scottish Independence Referendum - Sep 18, 2014 NO No
UK Alternative Vote Referendum - May 05, 2011 YES Yes