Charles Kennedy ‘unlike any in this era of professional politicians’

Political commentators also paid tribute to Charles Kennedy and praised his unique position in British public life.

The BBC’s political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Kennedy’s character was “unlike any in this era of professional politicians”.

He added Mr Kennedy, despite being a professional politician, connected with voters “effortlessly”.

Robinson also highlighted his dedication to politics and his staunch beliefs.

He said Mr Kennedy “had the House of Commons as his life, as his family” from the time he was elected at the age of 23.

Robinson added: “He was the only leader of a major political party to oppose the Iraq war, and the only Lib Dem MP to refuse to go along with the coalition with the Conservatives.

“Those two facts alone make him a unique figure in history”.

Former Labour strategist Alastair Campbell also hailed Kennedy’s contribution.

He said: “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.”

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg added; “Charles Kennedy was an unusual thing in politics, kind and clever – very very sad news today.”