A biography for Charles Kennedyhasn’t been written yet.
“With 24-hour news... the story moves on with the media.”
“I have always considered myself of the reforming centre-left.”
“Many people want to scale back their working hours as they near the end of their careers, but not necessarily to give up work altogether.”
“I'm not someone who dwells upon past events, taking the view that life is too short.”
“During my campaign, people of my age and younger said consistently that they would not vote because their votes simply no longer matter and because no government or member of Parliament cared a whit about their problems and their striving for employment.”
“I want to see far more decisions taken far closer to the patients, the passengers and the pupils. Far more power for locally and regionally elected politicians who understand best the needs of their areas. And far more say too for the dedicated staff at all levels in health and education.”
“My approach is always to try to be straight with people, especially about what my party can achieve.”
“We would all rather see Iraq resolved successfully.”
“Liberals have been committed to the principles of human rights, international stability, and international justice. They have also sought international solutions to those problems which have demanded collective attention.”
“Professionally I would say taking up my constituents' problems is something I continue to enjoy after 22 years as an MP.”
“Quality of life actually begins at home - it's in your street, around your community.”
“As a Scot, representing a Scottish constituency for almost the past 25 years, I do not harbour an overweening ambition to pronounce on each and every matter exclusively English.”
“I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.”
“With every day that passes, David Blunkett becomes more insensitive in his language and more intemperate in his actions.”
“Tony Blair took us to war in Iraq on the basis of the supposed threat of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.”
“To be seen to be human, provided you're doing your job at the same time, is definitely not a negative, not at all.”
“When human rights are systematically abused, it raises the question whether it may be legitimate in some circumstances for the international community to intervene within individual states as well as in conflicts between states.”
“Gratification and happiness are becoming important measures of our quality of life.”
“I should do something about the cigarettes; I quite accept that it's bad for your health, but you know a moderate tipple is positively beneficial and, at certain times, absolutely essential.”
“Ours is a stable country. Ours is a sensible country. And ours is a fundamentally decent country.”