Charles Kennedy: A quiet strong man of politics dies

Charles Kennedy was not a brash, loud, full of himself type of politician or leader. He gained popularity and respect through his force of reason and his kind heart. Above all Charles Kennedy was driven by a profound sense of social justice. You only have to listen to his speech at the Iraq anti-war rally to understand what this man was about.

The year was 2003; the Prime Minister Tony Blair had been pushed to the brink of war by the war mongering US President, George Bush. Most career politicians sided with power, that is except Charles Kennedy. With steely logic and a clear sense about what was the right thing to do, he led his party to swim against the international tide and against the illegal invasion of Iraq. History has proven him to be 100% right.

There are many things that Kennedy wanted to do, but the dynamics of power conspired against him: for example, the war in Iraq, reform of the House of Lords and the voting system. He also wanted to make the Liberal Democrats a more inclusive and a more representative party.

He was the first to set up initiatives such as the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats EMLD, to ensure that BME Lib dems had a voice within the party. He lobbied for Lord Dholakia to become party President, and he took OBV Alumni Gurpreet Dosanjh to become one of his most trusted senior staff.

Speaking to Gurpreet this morning about the death of his mentor, he said,

"It's very sad news. I can't tell you enough what a very decent man he was. To told me so many times that I could speak on behalf of his office. Me, a working class kid from up North, given a major platform in British politics, because he-Charles- cared. That's what he was like."

In later years he told me during a Lib Dem party conference:

"Simon, I’m really sorry I failed to make the important breakthrough on race. Changing the culture here is not easy.”

At a time when political careerists seem to dominate Westminster, principled politicians such as Kennedy are a rare breed indeed. That he had his own inner demons made him all the more like most of us; not perfect. What made him stand out was his full square belief that politics and politicians could make life better for those less fortunate and by doing so they would unleash their own wonderful potential.

God rest your soul, Charles.

Simon Woolley