Kennedy was ‘best politics could be’ says Cameron as widow and son look on

David Cameron gives his tribute to former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy in a special House of Commons session

Mr Kennedy’s ex-wife Sarah and 10-year-old son Donald looked on from one of the side galleries as MPs shared their memories of him.

The Prime Minister also praised Mr Kennedy for the stand he took against the Iraq War, saying it is easy to forget “just what a stand that was”.

Mr Cameron said Mr Kennedy’s “character and courage inspired us all”, adding that there was “something very special” about him.

He said: “Charles Kennedy will be remembered for his success, for his principle and intellect, and above all for his incredible warmth and good humour.

“He had a way of connecting with people, even those who didn’t know him well or even at all.

“He was the most human of politicians.

“In the words of Charles Kennedy himself, the vast majority of people think there is a hell of a lot more to life than just politics and you have got to bear that in mind because you are actually trying to represent them.

“At his best, he was the best that politics can be and that is how we should remember him.”

Mr Cameron also recounted a number of anecdotes about Mr Kennedy, including a discussion he had with a careers adviser.

Asked what he planned to do with his life, Mr Kennedy answered that he could be a teacher or a journalist, but “if all else failed, there was always politics”.

Mr Cameron went on: “So, on his election, his old careers adviser wrote to congratulate him, saying ‘I can only presume that all else failed’.”

Mr Kennedy’s arrival in Westminster was only his third time in London, the Prime Minister told MPs.

The Tory leader added: “Charles Kennedy played a pivotal role in bringing together two parties - the SDP and the Liberals.

“As leader he took the Liberal Democrats to the best electoral result for a third party in British politics for nearly 100 years.

“He told Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs back in 2003 that his ambition for his party was to find themselves part of a government of the country.

“His achievements laid the foundations for that to happen and, while he was never the greatest fan of the Coalition, and indeed voted against its formation, he never spoke out against the Lib Dem participation in it.

“For as much as he was a man of strong views, he was also a man of great loyalty.”

Mr Cameron went on: “At the heart of his political views was a deep commitment to social justice. He passionately believed in Europe as a way of bringing people together, but his most outspoken contribution in recent years was the principled stand he took against the Iraq War.

“Looking back, it is easy to forget just what a stand that was.

“Taking abuse from the major parties on both sides of the House and adopting a position that wasn’t even supported by the previous leader of his own party.

“But there was something about the deeply respectful way in which he would conduct an argument. He didn’t believe in making enemies out of opponents and he didn’t - as he put it - waste time just rubbishing everybody else.

“He made friends even with those who disagreed with him. I think that was one of the reasons why he was so liked and widely supported in taking on the personal challenges he faced.”

Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman described Mr Kennedy as “the golden boy from the Highlands” who could stand tall among an exceptional generation of Scottish politicians including the likes of Gordon Brown and John Smith.

Ms Harman said: “History will show that he was one of a great generation of Scottish MPs at a time when Scotland gave this House some of the finest politicians of the era.

“Exceptional politicians like John Smith, Donald Dewar, Gordon Brown, Ming Campbell, Robin Cook - he stands tall amongst a Scottish generation who were head and shoulders above their peers.

“I remember when he first came to this House, aged only 23 - the golden boy from the Highlands, he shone in this chamber.

“He was elected so young and it’s a tragedy that he has died so young.

“All our thoughts are with his family.”

Ms Harman said the former Lib Dem leader showed that being a career politician can be an honourable pursuit.

She spoke of his commitment to his political cause over his personal career, and his deep seriousness and intelligence, yet warm, funny and generous nature.

Finally, Ms Harman paid tribute to Mr Kennedy for opposing the Iraq War but not denigrating those who voted for military action.

She said: “He was an outstanding parliamentarian and dedicated his whole life to politics.

“That is a powerful reminder to all of us that giving your life to politics, being a career politician can be an honourable, not an ignoble thing.

“He took a philosophical approach to the ups and downs of political life.

“Despite the adversity that he faced, he never became bitter because he cared more about his political cause than he did about his personal career.

“He had a deep seriousness of purpose and great intellect but he wore it lightly.

“He could be the most intelligent person in the room but still be warm, funny and generous, which made him convincing and engaging in equal measure.”

“He showed you could be in profound disagreement on matters of serious political judgment, while still accepting the good faith of those who take a different view.

“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.”

Outgoing Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg paid tribute to his predecessor as a “formidable parliamentarian” but said Mr Kennedy had been much more than his politics.

He said: “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.

“And my thoughts and condolences are with all his family and friends today.”

Mr Clegg spoke of the “enduring humanity” in Mr Kennedy, adding that he was the “polar opposite of a cardboard cut-out, point-scoring party politician”.

Mr Clegg reminded the Commons that Mr Kennedy was “very funny” before adding: “His good humour must not obscure the fact that there was a steely courage about him, most memorably on display when he took the principled decision to oppose the Iraq War.

“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 judgment and his intuitive common sense.”

The former deputy prime minister said his colleague had remained “unstintingly loyal” despite opposing the decision to enter coalition.

Mr Clegg said: “He had made his views clear at the outset but respected in good faith what his party colleagues were seeking to achieve in Government and provided support and advice every step of the way.

“Which is why it was no surprise when he said, after being challenged about his loyalties after the 2010 election: ‘I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket’.

“I am just devastated that it has happened so soon.”

Introducing the tributes session, Speaker John Bercow described the late Lib Dem leader as “the boy next door of British public life”.

He said: “Charles Kennedy spent almost his entire adult life as an MP. He was assuredly at home in this place, yet perhaps happiest beyond it.

“He was a man of deep progressive principle, but a man also blessed with the popular touch.

“He was a good talker but an even better listener.

“Above all, and perhaps most strikingly, Charles had the rare ability to reach out to millions of people of all political persuasions and of none across the country who were untouched by and in many cases actively hostile to politics.

“In this seminal sense, therefore, Charles was the boy next door of British public life - we salute him.

“We honour his memory and we send today our sincere heartfelt and deepest condolences to his family and his friends.”