Charles Kennedy Quotes

Taking a principled and consistent stance over Iraq has attracted much criticism from our detractors and opponents.

- Charles Kennedy

Over, Opponents, Iraq, Principled

Whatever the eventual judgment, the political implications of Hutton are already clear. A devastating indictment of Labour in power - and of our political system itself.

- Charles Kennedy

Clear, Implications, Indictment

When power is exercised exclusively at the centre, the result is rigidity of rules and alienation of the people subject to those rules.

- Charles Kennedy

Result, Subject, Centre, Alienation

A society which is liberal democratic cannot have public policy determined upon the basis of who has got the loudest voice - or who can brings things to a halt.

- Charles Kennedy

Voice, Which, Basis, Public Policy

Valuing public servants would boost morale among those on the front line of implementing government policy.

- Charles Kennedy

Line, Front Line, Valuing, Implementing

We'll need to revise the tired assumption that people automatically become more conservative as they grow older.

- Charles Kennedy

Grow, Conservative, Need, Automatically

As I spread my wings in politics, I discovered many Thatcher voters down south who were the same kind of people who loathed her in Scotland. They were puzzled by the Scots' antipathy, given the Falklands war and the strong militaristic history of the Highlands and elsewhere.

- Charles Kennedy

Strong, Politics, Discovered, Antipathy

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Past, Harbour, Almost, Representing

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

- Charles Kennedy

Politics, Think, Some, Conclusions

It would be a tragedy if the remarkable international coalition against terrorism, successfully marshalled in the aftermath of 11 September, were to fragment over a unilateral U.S. strike against Baghdad.

- Charles Kennedy

Over, Successfully, Baghdad, Fragment

We have a Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, both elected by fairer votes - involving proportional representation.

- Charles Kennedy

Elected, Fairer, Assembly, Proportional

I know from my own parents how important active older people are to a local community.

- Charles Kennedy

Own, My Own, Active, Older People

As Liberal Democrats and proponents of federalism, we must put our heads above the parapet and recapture and disseminate the true meaning of federalism. We have to win the vocabulary before we succeed in the vision.

- Charles Kennedy

Before, Liberal Democrats, Disseminate

This country has a proud history of opening its doors to generations of people fleeing personal persecution, civil unrest and war.

- Charles Kennedy

Proud, Country, Persecution, Unrest

Of all the principles which constitute Liberal Democracy, internationalism is the clearest, the most distinctive, and the one with the longest history.

- Charles Kennedy

Longest, Which, Clearest, Internationalism

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

- Charles Kennedy

Life Is Too Short, Dwells, Past Events

It has been the greatest privilege of my adult and public life to have served, for 32 years, as the Member of Parliament for our local Highlands and Islands communities.

- Charles Kennedy

Privilege, Been, Parliament, Public Life

Like John Major in her wake, Thatcher was convinced that she understood the Scots - yet couldn't understand why we remained so stubbornly resistant towards the notion of understanding her.

- Charles Kennedy

Understand, Like, Remained, Resistant

We are no longer a nation of one church; we are a nation of many churches.

- Charles Kennedy

Church, Nation, Longer, Churches

A perennial problem that has faced the Scottish Highlands is that, time and again, too many of the more talented young people have had to move elsewhere - even abroad - through a lack of opportunities that should have been available.

- Charles Kennedy

Through, Been, Perennial, Scottish

That 1983 general election contained the telltale seeds of eventual Scottish Tory self-destruction.

- Charles Kennedy

General, Contained, Eventual, Scottish

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Striving, Matter, About, Employment

We believe that government in Britain is there to protect people from terrorism and from the worst criminality, but never at the expense of our civil liberties and the basic tenets of our legal system.

- Charles Kennedy

Britain, Liberties, Legal System

It must be a judge - never a politician - who decides whether someone is to be locked up.

- Charles Kennedy

Never, Someone, Whether, Locked

Political parties need to look at the different kinds of support that people may need, suited to their way of life, and provide cost-effective solutions.

- Charles Kennedy

Need, May, Cost-Effective, Suited

When it comes to our public services, decentralisation means giving power back to those on the front line - our doctors, nurses, teachers and physiotherapists, and our locally elected officials.

- Charles Kennedy

Line, Front Line, Means, Nurses

Speaking to numerous teachers and nurses, I am consistently struck by the sense of mission they have about their work.

- Charles Kennedy

Work, About, Numerous, Nurses

I believe that our country is a richer, more vibrant society precisely because it is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic society.

- Charles Kennedy

Country, More, Vibrant, Richer

The point never to lose sight of is to be guided by the correct thing, as you see it. It's the only way to approach such profound matters and retain your integrity.

- Charles Kennedy

Lose, Correct, Retain, Guided

Just as we Liberal Democrats opposed the flawed logic of that war in Iraq - we will oppose the flawed government claim that we have to surrender our fundamental rights in order to improve our security.

- Charles Kennedy

Liberal Democrats, Opposed, Claim

I listened to the students on campus in Plymouth, worried about their steadily deepening debts and how on earth they would ever escape them.

- Charles Kennedy

Campus, About, Deepening, Steadily

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

- Charles Kennedy

Think, Actually, Take, Sensible

Ours is a stable country. Ours is a sensible country. And ours is a fundamentally decent country.

- Charles Kennedy

Country, Fundamentally, Ours, Sensible

In my view, as a country we need to rediscover some of that skepticism about government and revisit that libertarian agenda.

- Charles Kennedy

Country, Some, Rediscover, Libertarian

Terrorism gravely threatens international peace and security, and as a solution, the power and apparent finality of force are seductive.

- Charles Kennedy

Seductive, Gravely, Apparent, Threatens

We opposed unlimited detention without trial. We stood up for trial by jury as well. And of course we spoke up for asylum seekers and for the most vulnerable in our society.

- Charles Kennedy

Jury, Spoke, Opposed, Asylum

The late Roy Jenkins was both a mentor and a personal friend. He was a man of both phenomenal intellect and political achievement in equal measure.

- Charles Kennedy

Political, Mentor, Intellect, Phenomenal

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Occasion, Everybody, Hardly

Courage is a peculiar kind of fear.

- Charles Kennedy

Fear, Courage, Kind, Peculiar

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

- Charles Kennedy

Leader, New, Given, Any Given Time

The way to defeat international terrorism is through international cooperation based on international law, clear intelligence, and a measured and appropriate military response.

- Charles Kennedy

Through, Appropriate, Based, International

Good political leadership for me involves getting the big decisions right - however difficult, however controversial, however potentially divisive - and then being able to take people with you.

- Charles Kennedy

Big, However, Divisive, Controversial

Decentralisation is controversial - but that's fine. We should be fearless about having a debate.

- Charles Kennedy

Debate, Fine, Having, Controversial

Westminster is a jungle - and the hunter can always smell fear on its prey.

- Charles Kennedy

Prey, Always, Westminster, Jungle

Those who use our public services should be able to deal directly with those who manage and deliver them.

- Charles Kennedy

Deal, Deliver, Use, Manage

We all accept the world would be safer without Saddam's baleful dictatorship.

- Charles Kennedy

World, Would, Safer, Dictatorship

When I started knocking on Highland doors in May 1983, two things struck me more than any other. First was the sheer depth of hostility towards the Tories in general. Second was the particular hostility towards Margaret Thatcher and her local ministerial spear-carrier, energy minister and incumbent MP of 13 years' standing, Hamish Gray.

- Charles Kennedy

Two, Other, Hostility, Struck

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Health, Bad, About, Cigarettes

No government body is more notorious for over-legislation than the Department of Trade and Industry.

- Charles Kennedy

Government, Trade, Notorious, Department

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Committed, Been, Which, Stability

The growing influence of focus groups means we are all in danger of being excessively cowed by their feedback.

- Charles Kennedy

Focus, Means, Groups, Focus Groups

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Security, Country, Balancing, Faced

A smaller-size party and parliamentary membership does not necessarily equate to lesser demands; if anything, the opposite can be the case.

- Charles Kennedy

Membership, Opposite, Equate, Lesser

I think you've got to like people. There are MPs who are either painfully shy or who don't like public speaking or don't socialise very well, and you just think this must be the worst job in the world for them.

- Charles Kennedy

Shy, I Think, Very, Painfully

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Education, University, About, Frightened

We believe that government in Britain should be working to restore our reputation on the international stage after Iraq and engage better within Europe.

- Charles Kennedy

Restore, Within, Britain, International

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Circumstances, Some, May, International

We need a liberal agenda in which government resists the temptation to interfere in the lives of individuals but is equally determined to play an active role where creative action can advance the liberties of all.

- Charles Kennedy

Play, Role, Which, Interfere

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

- Charles Kennedy

Feet, Will, Lib, Card

The terrorist seeks to smash the most fundamental liberty of all: the right to lead our everyday lives on the basic assumption of safety.

- Charles Kennedy

Right, Everyday Lives, Lives, Smash

The government's instinct is to shroud itself in secrecy - to act like the office of a president instead of as a collective cabinet government held to account by the elected House of Commons.

- Charles Kennedy

Instinct, Like, Held, Cabinet

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

- Charles Kennedy

Human, Race, Member, Fully

Some ministers are fond of talking about a return to Victorian values. We must realise that those Victorian values are being expressed by some of the younger people in this society in shameful and disturbing disregard for other members of their generation who are not as fortunate as they are in having a job.

- Charles Kennedy

Some, Other, Disregard, Younger People

Gratification and happiness are becoming important measures of our quality of life.

- Charles Kennedy

Important, Measures, Gratification

Tony Blair took us to war in Iraq on the basis of the supposed threat of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.

- Charles Kennedy

Mass, Took, Iraq, None

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Over, Been, Representing, Twenty

The House of Lords has many fine aspects, but at its heart, it is a betrayal of the core democratic principle that those in the enlightened world hold so dear - that those who make the laws of the land should be elected by those who must obey those laws.

- Charles Kennedy

Laws, Principle, Aspects, Enlightened

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Education, Best, Pupils, Levels

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

- Charles Kennedy

Need, Glue, Everyone, Party

'Federalism', in the context of political and media usage in Britain, has come to mean the creation and imposition of a European superstate, one centralised in Brussels.

- Charles Kennedy

Britain, Usage, European, Context

Useful lessons can be learned from our more successful local authorities - as you move into government, it is even more imperative to communicate speedily and persuasively with your members and your voters.

- Charles Kennedy

Communicate, Move, Learned, Lessons

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Politics, Essence, About, Analogy

I believe when the country feels threatened it is important that we are seen to be working together to find an appropriate structure for dealing with terrorists in our midst.

- Charles Kennedy

Country, Feels, Appropriate, Working Together

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

- Charles Kennedy

Think, Caricature, Deal, Great Deal

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

- Charles Kennedy

Saying, Want, Kennedy, Implies

We Liberal Democrats don't believe we should use the tax structure to champion just one type of family.

- Charles Kennedy

Tax, Use, Liberal Democrats, Champion

I want our party to step up its efforts to reflect and champion the concerns of everybody who has reached the second half of their lives.

- Charles Kennedy

Everybody, Half, Lives, Champion

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Lose, Sue, Behalf, Vote

Public perception of the Westminster arena, with all its posturings, does little to engender a sense of voter belief.

- Charles Kennedy

Public, Westminster, Does, Perception

By common consent, most European countries support the maintenance of robust welfare states and are comfortable with taxation systems that support them.

- Charles Kennedy

Them, Robust, European, Maintenance

I don't actually subscribe to the view that all power corrupts. But absolute power - when secured on the back of massive parliamentary majorities, which don't reflect the balance of political opinion in the country - can corrupt absolutely.

- Charles Kennedy

Political, Country, Back, Power Corrupts

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

- Charles Kennedy

I Am, Politics, Kind, Over-The-Top

Democracy demands trust. It demands that sense of mutual understanding. And - it's a two way street. You've got to give - as much as you take.

- Charles Kennedy

Trust, Give, Sense, Demands

I find no contradiction between being a Highlander, a Scot, a citizen of the U.K. and a citizen of the European Union at one and the same time.

- Charles Kennedy

Citizen, European, Same Time, European Union

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

- Charles Kennedy

Think, I Think, Particularly, Occasionally

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

- Charles Kennedy

Skills, Afford, Hugely, Immigrants

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Think, Quicker, Rid, Day And Age

We actually believe in hope. But hope requires purpose. And purpose requires direction.

- Charles Kennedy

Purpose, Believe, Actually, Requires

There is always a temptation for governments: see a problem and announce a quick fix.

- Charles Kennedy

See, Always, Quick, Announce

We must restore faith in politics. Reform of the House of Lords is only one part of the answer, but it is a vital one.

- Charles Kennedy

Politics, Restore, Reform, Vital

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Sound, Concept, Imagine, Stimulates

As someone who has led his party through two general elections, I have not always been immune from feeling the pressure of electioneering tactics.

- Charles Kennedy

Through, Always, Been, Tactics

Only the Liberal Democrats have probed the government's failings consistently, thoroughly and effectively.

- Charles Kennedy

Liberal Democrats, Failings

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Work, Give, Hours, Near

We need less theoretical debate and more practical application and acknowledgment of what Europe can and does do so that it is brought home to people in a relevant way.

- Charles Kennedy

Need, Practical, Brought, Acknowledgment

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

- Charles Kennedy

Had, Having, Borne, Derived

I did not dwell on the issue of Europe during either the 2001 or the 2005 campaigns - despite it being a pivotal personal concern and despite seeing it as something of a litmus test for liberal democracy.

- Charles Kennedy

Dwell, Test, Issue, Europe

To involve young people and make sure that the system is more relevant to them in Scotland, we have a clear obligation to implement a policy of home rule.

- Charles Kennedy

Young, More, Sure, Scotland

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

- Charles Kennedy

Simple, Words, Democrats, Liberal Democrats

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Both Sides, Democrats, Liberal Democrats

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

- Charles Kennedy

Trade, Democrats, Describing, Liberal Democrats

It's our job as Liberal Democrats to be an effective opposition - and an increasingly tough one as well.

- Charles Kennedy

Opposition, Effective, Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democracy is all about extending choice. Give people the option to decide their retirement age, and you immediately extend their freedom in a very significant way.

- Charles Kennedy

Give, Very, About, Option

Politics means facing up to hard choices and facing down prejudice, short-termism, the easy, tempting court of knee-jerk public reaction.

- Charles Kennedy

Politics, Reaction, Means, Prejudice

With every day that passes, David Blunkett becomes more insensitive in his language and more intemperate in his actions.

- Charles Kennedy

Language, Every Day, More, Insensitive

The most special relationships, in my experience, are based on a combination of trust and mutual respect.

- Charles Kennedy

Trust, Special, Most, Combination

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Voice, Giving, Country, Forces

Fair votes - fundamentally - are about the rights and the interests of the people.

- Charles Kennedy

Rights, About, Fundamentally, Votes

We would all rather see Iraq resolved successfully.

- Charles Kennedy

See, Successfully, Would, Resolved

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.

- Charles Kennedy

Behind, Access, I Think, Pulling

I have always considered myself of the reforming centre-left.

- Charles Kennedy

Myself, Always, Considered, Reforming

If British troops are committed to action, then the nation will, of course, support them. Their courage and skill is not in doubt.

- Charles Kennedy

Will, Nation, Committed, Skill

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

- Charles Kennedy

Think, More, Carefully, Saying

I'm a lifelong believer in trade unionism.

- Charles Kennedy

Trade, Believer, Lifelong, Unionism

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

- Charles Kennedy

Meet, How, High, Politicians

Labour politicians for generations have fought to bring democracy to the House of Lords.

- Charles Kennedy

Bring, Generations, Fought, Politicians

People have a huge desire to be listened to, for politicians to take the time to understand their problems.

- Charles Kennedy

Desire, Understand, Take, Politicians

It is my determination that we, as a party, continue to make that fundamental restatement of liberal values in the politics of our country.

- Charles Kennedy

Politics, Country, Continue, Liberal

Professionally I would say taking up my constituents' problems is something I continue to enjoy after 22 years as an MP.

- Charles Kennedy

Enjoy, Say, Something, Professionally

We want a strong, vibrant economy for Britain so that we can set out a clear and affordable alternative programme for government.

- Charles Kennedy

Strong, Affordable, Vibrant, Alternative

Quality of life actually begins at home - it's in your street, around your community.

- Charles Kennedy

Street, Begins, Actually, Quality

We believe that government in Britain should improve the quality of people's lives and improve the quality of our public services in every local community.

- Charles Kennedy

Believe, Britain, Lives, Quality

New Labour needs to realise that family life and the way we raise our children are private matters.

- Charles Kennedy

New, Needs, Private, Raise

Britain is a European power. We cannot change our geography. Our involvement in the politics of European cooperation is one of necessity. Our wealth and our security depend upon it.

- Charles Kennedy

Politics, Wealth, Britain, Cooperation

Soon after the 1997 election, I argued that there was no inverse law of political gravity which said that everything which went down had to come back up.

- Charles Kennedy

Election, Which, Argued, Inverse

I happen to consider myself a Highlander even before a Scot; I am proud to be British yet feel comfortable as a European citizen.

- Charles Kennedy

Proud, Happen, Citizen, Consider

Terror can never be defeated by force alone.

- Charles Kennedy

Alone, Never, Terror, Force

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

- Charles Kennedy

Politics, Equally, Aspects, Seriously

It is the government's fundamental duty to ensure the security of every individual citizen.

- Charles Kennedy

Security, Citizen, Ensure, Duty

With 24-hour news... the story moves on with the media.

- Charles Kennedy

Story, Media, News, Moves

To be seen to be human, provided you're doing your job at the same time, is definitely not a negative, not at all.

- Charles Kennedy

Doing, Provided, Same Time, Negative

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

- Charles Kennedy

Achieve, Always, Straight, Approach

In my view, nations together are stronger than when they are isolated. And because they are stronger, their people are more free, not less.

- Charles Kennedy

More, Nations, Less, Isolated

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

- Charles Kennedy

Politics, Sure, One Thing, Unexpected

People are not stupid.

- Charles Kennedy

People, Stupid

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