 |
News release 24 August 2007
Kennedy kicks off Festival of Politics
Former leader of the Lib Dems and MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, Charles Kennedy kicked off the Festival of Politics this morning with a full and frank ‘in conversation’ interview with Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson.
Before a public audience gathered in the Holyrood debating chamber, Mr Kennedy tackled his past personal health problems and resignation from the party leadership right from the off.
He said: "I’ve never been one to complain over the years, if you put yourself up for election, you put yourself on the public platform, you’ve just got to take what comes."
Referring to one of his toughest interviews in which broadcaster Jeremy Paxman referred to alleged comments from Westminster parliamentarians in order to question Mr Kennedy about his alcohol problems, he added: "I have no complaints over what interviewers say to me, by and large. Because the alternative is a lack of questioning, a lack of abrasiveness, and probably a lack of candour that goes with it.
"As far as I am concerned personally, my health is good and it is up to me to keep it that way."
With typical candour, on the political significance of his standing down as leader Mr Kennedy concluded:
"As I said this time last year at our party conference, I’ve moved on, time has moved on and the party should move on with it. And I think people have – I certainly have."
Looking back on his opposition to the War in Iraq, at a time when public opinion was 70 per cent in support of the UK government’s position, Mr Kennedy saw the key to his leadership as going with: “your own gut instinct, even when the roof might fall in".
The MP believed that the party’s early, principled stance on the War in Iraq was ultimately beneficial – 2005 saw the Liberal Democrat’s most successful electoral performance in over 80 years with the return of 63 MPs at the General Election.
Influences in life and in politics ranged from the security of an idyllic Lochaber upbringing to what he describes as being a “Barr’s Irn Bru / Red Clydeside” approach to debating at the University of Glasgow.
Ending the hour long session with questions from the public, Mr Kennedy neatly sidestepped whether he was planning to be the “comeback kid” but made clear that he was enjoying life.
Addressing members of the public seated at the desks normally occupied by MSPs he said:
"The great thing about being an ex-leader, but not deceased, is that you’re not a threat to anyone."
He added: “When you have been the leader of a national political party obviously you know what is involved, you are still of an age where you have got something to contribute, but you don't have the relentless and remorseless demands upon you in quite the same way.''
The full interview along with other Festival of Politics highlights will be available to view online at www.holyrood.tv.
Biography
Though still only in his 40s, Charles Kennedy MP can already claim an illustrious political career that spans three decades. He was the "Baby of the House” when in 1983 he was elected, at the age of 23, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye.
The first SDP MP to back the party’s merger with the Liberals following the 1987 General Election, Charles Kennedy quickly rose to prominence within the Liberal Democrats and was elected as the party’s leader in 1999.
In his six years in that role, he presided over a rise in the party’s fortunes, culminating in the Liberal Democrat’s most successful electoral performance in over 80 years with the return of 63 MPs at the 2005 General Election.
The media contact is:
Eric MacLeod: 0131 348 5389
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome: 18001 0131 348 5389
email: [email protected]
The Festival of Politics - tickets available for ticketed events:
- Online at www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
- In person or by post:
Hub Tickets
The Hub, Castlehill
Edinburgh, EH21 2NE
- By telephone: 0131 473 2000. Calls via RNID Typetalk: 18001 0131 473 2000
- In person at the Scottish Parliament.
Full details of the Festival programme are available from
http://www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
Media Accreditation - Media interested in covering any of the Festival of Politics events should send an email detailing their name, publication, contact details and which event they would like to cover to:
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999
(local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: [email protected]
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk