Charles Kennedy, RIP

[Saracen]

Ex-LibDem leader Charlie Kennedy has died, age 55, at his home. No cause of death has been given, but police said there were "no suspicious circumstances".

RIP, Charlie. Whether I agreed with you politically or not, and it's usually not, a real character and I'll miss you, especially as a regular TV commentator.

[abaxas]

Cause of death - being a alcoholic.

[peterb]

Cause of death - being a alcoholic.

AFAIK alcoholism doesn't normally cause sudden death, as it is a chronic, rather than an acute condition. However, a history of alcohol abuse might pre-dispose towards a condition that could cause a sudden death.

However, as the cause of death hasn't been released, speculation is pointless.


He was certainly a colourful character, although I always thought he was a reluctant leader of the Lib-Dems. He did have a hard act to follow and obviously stressful.

[kalniel]

AFAIK alcoholism doesn't normally cause sudden death, as it is a chronic, rather than an acute condition.

Indeed. You'd expect alcoholics to have liver problems which are far from sudden.

However, a history of alcohol abuse might pre-dispose towards a condition that could cause a sudden death.

If you're saying what I think you're saying, then hard as it would be on the family, I hope more awareness is brought to these kinds of things.

However, as the cause of death hasn't been released, speculation is pointless.

It's news, this is a discussion board etc. etc. But yes, we'll possibly know more in the coming weeks.

He was certainly a colourful character, although I always thought he was a reluctant leader of the Lib-Dems. He did have a hard act to follow and obviously stressful.

I think he did a very noble job - apparently he more or less refused to take part in the usual smearing and political poisoning that a lot of MPs do and was as kind and courteous to his enemies as he was his friends.

[TheAnimus]

Don't forget pancreatitis! Plus pancreatic cancer has no real treatment or cure.

It's almost as if being an alcoholic is bad for your health.

However, my speculation is that he died out of disappointment from the recent election results.

[Saracen]

....

It's news, this is a discussion board etc. etc. But yes, we'll possibly know more in the coming weeks.

...

True enough, but right now, it's pure speculation. I lost a close relative that had a known terminal condition (an advanced case of a form of blood cancer) and not long to go .... and then died in their sleep of a heart attack.

My assumption when told of the death was that the cause was the obvious. And I was wrong.

CK was pretty open, in latter years at least, about his demons and yeah, it's a decent guess as to cause, but guess it is. My bet is that no statement on CoD has been made because, assuming this was unexpected, until PM results are in, even family and police can do nothing beyond speculate.

[BobF64]

However, my speculation is that he died out of disappointment from the recent election results.

This, sort of.

Wouldnt be the first time that someone retires and dies suddenly.

[peterb]

It's unfortunate that his political achievements were over shadowed by his health problems, but then it does serve as a reminder that politicians are human beings and have the same hopes fears and frailties as anyone else.

[Saracen]

This, sort of.

Wouldnt be the first time that someone retires and dies suddenly.

Indeed, it wouldn't. Police did say "no suspicious circumstances", which seems to preclude one obvious potential cause of such sudden death. And, as with some previous ex-politicians, I'd think Kennedy had plenty of options, for instance, in the media.

He didn't really "retire", either. More like voter-induced redundancy.

However, I grant you, having been largely responsible for building the LDs into a half-influential (pre-coalition) Parliamentary force, and having been utterly opposed to the coalition happening, seeing what he regarded as his biggest achievement utterly devasted (56 seats down to 8) very likely hurt much more than losing his iwn seat .... so he got a double-whammy.

EDIT - actually .... didn't he announce he wasn't standing this GE, or is that my imagination???

EDIT 2 - It was imagination. I checked, and the SNP scalped him.

[peterb]

I think he had announced that he wouldn't be standing, but even so, it must have been a bitter disappointment to see his 'legacy' wiped out. But then that is the nature of political fortune.

[KeyboardDemon]

Cause of death - being a alcoholic.

I found this remark to be in very poor taste, it dis-respects the deceased and his family and I found it quite upsetting myself. While I have not been a fan or a supporter of the man, I would not choose a thread such as this to post such comments myself.

My thoughts go out to his family, friends and all who will miss him now that he is sadly no longer with us.

[Saracen]

I found this remark to be in very poor taste, it dis-respects the deceased and his family and I found it quite upsetting myself. While I have not been a fan or a supporter of the man, I would not choose a thread such as this to post such comments myself.

My thoughts go out to his family, friends and all who will miss him now that he is sadly no longer with us.

So did I, but I guess there's no requirement to be respectful. I seem to remember a similar issue over Amy Winehouse, and being rather on the other side of it.

[Goobley]

I was very sad to hear this... I've never been a lib dem supporter but he was rector of Glasgow Uni for a while and he conveyed a great feeling about doing it for the right reasons (the first thing I recall him saying was that he was leaving all his political biases at the door when performing that job). He seemed genuinely interested in people's problems, bright and I felt like he could properly justify his beliefs even without me necessarily agreeing with him. I felt like he was the kind of guy all the parties need more of (maybe with less alcohol though).

[BobF64]

Indeed, it wouldn't. Police did say "no suspicious circumstances", which seems to preclude one obvious potential cause of such sudden death. And, as with some previous ex-politicians, I'd think Kennedy had plenty of options, for instance, in the media.

He didn't really "retire", either. More like voter-induced redundancy.

I'm not suggesting anything self inflicted, purely natural causes.

Just reminds me of all those people that seem to pass away just before or after retirement, when they relax having been kept going by their job, a bit like a tightly wound clock spring thats suddenly released.

[santa claus]

A Scotsman and therefore a true gentleman. R.I.P.

[Saracen]

I'm not suggesting anything self inflicted, purely natural causes.

Just reminds me of all those people that seem to pass away just before or after retirement, when they relax having been kept going by their job, a bit like a tightly wound clock spring thats suddenly released.

That's true. My grandmother was a right little dynamo. She was incredible, and into her 90s grew all her own veg in a huge veg garden, walked miles every day, and watching her scrambling over wet rocks going sea fishing was astonishing. Nothing slowed her down. Then she lost her equally tough and aged husband and .... turned off. She just stopped doing things. Six weeks later, she was gone. And while she never quite said so, my bet is it was what she wanted.

But, while I didn't know the man personally, I didn't read Kennedy that way, especially as he was "devoted" to his 10-yr old little boy.