Charles Kennedy Quotes

To run an effective political party you need a degree of tribalism, it's the glue that holds everyone together.

There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.

Courage is a peculiar kind of fear.

Befriending provides a valuable lifeline to many people who feel isolated in their communities often as a result of ill health or poverty. I would like to thank all those who volunteer as befrienders and I hope that your numbers will increase in coming years. Your kindness and hard work is, I know, very much appreciated by those you help.

The quicker we get rid of the lobby system the better for all of us. I don't think in this day and age it is tenable to have these nods and winks, and on-the-record and off-the-record briefings.

Immigrants provide skills that we simply cannot afford to do without. They have contributed hugely to Britain's success.

Three simple words - freedom, justice and honesty. These sum up what the Liberal Democrats stand for.

Paddy Ashdown is the only party leader who's a trained killer. Although, to be fair, Mrs Thatcher was self taught.

My favourite novel is Frederick Forsythe's Day Of The Jackal, the story about the unproven case of this apparent Englishman who was hired to assassinate De Gaulle….

We should have high expectations of our children, but politicians should not tell teachers how to meet them.

Politics is much too serious to be taken too seriously; equally, there are many aspects of it so laughable as to be lamentable.

Further Education should be about the ability to learn, not the ability to pay - everyone who is able should have the opportunity, regardless of their family background. I don't want to see students struggling with huge debts or frightened off even going to university in the first place.

Music and politics are in essence about communication. Without over-stretching the analogy I do feel a sense of rhythm is important in getting your message across.

If you were to describe me as teetotal, on behalf of my constituency I'd have to sue; that would lose me every vote in the Highlands.

The one thing we can all be sure about in politics is you are as well to expect the unexpected.

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.

I couldn't imagine a day without music. It relaxes and stimulates me in equal measure and I hate the sound of silence - the concept, I mean, not the track by Simon and Garfunkel.

I'm not someone who dwells upon past events, taking the view that life is too short

I don't want a headline saying 'Kennedy suggests this or implies that.'

I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.

I believe that access to a university education should be based on the ability to learn, not what people can afford. I think there is no more nauseating a sight than politicians pulling up the ladder of opportunity behind them.

I can hardly think of an occasion when I've got into a stand-up fight with any political opponent. I've got my views, people know what they are, they can agree or they can choose to disagree. I'm not going to waste time just rubbishing everybody else.

I'm a fully paid-up member of the human race.

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.

There is no satisfaction to be derived from having had many of our arguments borne out by events.

Actually, I think it's quite sensible not to take yourself too seriously.

It is true that I entered parliament at the age of 23, and have now been representing the people of my constituency for over twenty years.

Yes, you need substance in politics - but I think your style also says something about how you arrive at some of your conclusions.

We Liberal Democrats believe in dialogue. We believe in cooperation with both sides of industry and between both sides of industry. And we believe in the language of cooperation. We reject the language of confrontation.

My idealism has not abated, but I have witnessed it withering away nationwide, to the point where at least among the young, to have ideals is akin to being blinkered and oldfashioned.

For any new leader of any party at any given time it takes time if you are not in government to establish yourself.

I do think there is a great deal of caricature around the House of Commons. It is just that kind of place.

I'm a lifelong believer in trade unionism.

My health is good and it's up to me to keep it that way.

Politicians are good at saying how Government must do more, but we must also think carefully about where Government should do less.

I have never once been persuaded as to the causal link between the Iraqi regime, al-Qaeda and September 11. I do believe the impact of war under these circumstances is bound to weaken the international coalition against terrorism itself.

There are hard choices to be made in balancing the country's security and an individual's liberties. But it is a choice that has to be faced.

You won't catch Liberal Democrats describing trade unionists as wreckers.

I am genuinely not an over-the-top kind of person about politics or anything else.

I think that former leaders are best seen occasionally and not too often heard - particularly on the subject of their successors!

My approach is always to try to be straight with people, especially about what my party can achieve.

The events of the Holocaust viewed through the eyes of Anne Frank are a unique and damming testament to the dreadful atrocities of that period of our history

You mustn't confuse the need for effective chairmanship, which is part of the job of the boss, along with the ability to take tough decisions and to lead people.