Charles Kennedy laid to rest near parents in the Highlands

The funeral of former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy is being held today, with hundreds of friends, family members and supporters gathering to pay their last respects.

The service began at noon at St John the Evangelist church in Caol, Fort William, followed by a private burial at Clunes, Achnacarry. Kennedy's body is being laid to rest at the same church as his father Ian, who died in the lead-up to the general election, and his mother Mary.

Kennedy died at the age of 55 on 1 June after suffering a major haemorrhage as a result of his long-term alcoholism.

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Parish priest Father Roddy McAuley told the congregation that Kennedy was a "humble" man, reports the Daily Telegraph.

"When Charles's parents died and Charles said a few words in the church, he wouldn't come up here to the lectern but insisted on speaking outside the sanctuary, from the floor," he said.

"In this church, Charles was one of the 'backbenchers'. He didn't always sit in the same pew but he always sat at the back of the church."

The Liberal Democrat, who oversaw the party's greatest electoral success in 2005, winning 62 seats, lost his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat to the SNP's Ian Blackford in last month's general election.

His funeral comes as one of Blackford's campaigners was forced to resign over accusations that he was trolling Kennedy in the weeks before his death, reports the Daily Record.

Brian Smith, a former police officer, allegedly sent out a series of tweets calling Kennedy a "drunken slob" and suggesting he was a traitor to Scotland.

Charles Kennedy's death caused by alcoholism

5 June

The death of former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy was caused by a major haemorrhage linked to alcoholism, his family has said.

The 55-year-old politician died at his home in Fort William on Monday, prompting an outpouring of tributes from friends, supporters and colleagues of all party colours in the House of Commons.

Today, his family said a post-mortem examination made it clear that his unexpected death was a "consequence of his battle with alcoholism".

They thanked his "many" friends and medical experts who sought to help down the years but said that "ultimately this was an illness Charles could not conquer despite all the efforts he and others made".

In a statement, the family added: "The pain we feel has been at least eased somewhat by the reaction of so many people across Scotland, the UK and beyond, and by the affection expressed by politicians across the spectrum.

"It has become all too apparent to us how much Charles meant to so many people and how many lives he touched."

Kennedy's seven-year leadership of the Lib Dem party came to an end in 2006 after he publicly revealed his battle with alcoholism. It came just eight months after he had led the party to its best ever performance at an election.

Alastair Campbell, who earlier in the week said he was "one of the few people" Kennedy spoke to about his drink problem, said today that the post-mortem was "no surprise" and suggested that it should spur more action on alcoholism. However, he added that it was "moving" that the tributes to his friend had focused on "so much more".

Charles Kennedy remembered: 'he was a Highlander first'

03 June

Charles Kennedy has been remembered as a loyal friend, a loving family man and a charismatic political leader who battled addiction throughout his career.

In a series of tributes paid to him yesterday, Kennedy was celebrated as a statesman who transcended political affiliations, with a rare devotion to the place from which he came.

"He was a Highlander first." the former leader of the Scottish Lib Dems Tavish Scott told The Guardian. "All that made up his character, his upbringing and his values, were Highland… he cared about people at the end of the road."

Kennedy's shock death at the age of 55 left supporters bereft and political commentators lamenting the premature end of a political career which was, according to the Daily Telegraph, on the cusp of a new renaissance as Kennedy was moving towards a peerage and had "told friends he was looking forward to playing a leading role in the campaign to keep Britain in Europe".

Many of the tributes were tinged with regret that a "gentle, unflappable and immensely courageous" man had been so damaged by problems with alcohol.

Kennedy resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats in 2006 after it emerged that he had sought treatment and help for alcoholism.

But the journalist and broadcaster James Cox, who became a friend of Kennedy after his 1983 election victory, warned that his addiction must not come to define him.

"The danger is that the alcohol will overtake all the other things about him," Cox said. "Alcoholism is an illness, not a lifestyle choice, and it was only latterly that it became more serious for him. It was not the most important thing about him or his career. I don't think this was a 'fatal flaw', it was something that was wrong with him."

However, some of his friends are "in no doubt" that it was alcohol that ultimately killed him, the Telegraph said. John Pugh, a fellow MP, said: "Sadly it was the Highlands' best-known product that has been his nemesis and crushed by political misfortune and the recent loss of his parents this was the outcome many dreaded would happen."

In a tribute to his colleague, Nick Clegg, the former Lib Dem party leader and deputy prime minister, said: "Charles's untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation."

Charles Kennedy dead at 55: Lib Dem leader who won 62 seats

02 June

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has died at the age of 55 at his home in the Highlands.

The cause of his death is currently unknown but police have said it is not suspicious.

His family announced the news this morning, describing him as a "fine man, a talented politician and a loving father to his young son". A post-mortem will be held and a further statement will be issued when funeral arrangements are made, they said.

"It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy," read the statement. "Charles died at home in Fort William yesterday. He was 55. We are obviously devastated at the loss."

Kennedy, who took over from Paddy Ashdown in 1999 and led the Liberal Democrats until 2006, was opposed to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and won the party 62 seats at the height of his political career.

But in 2006, he admitted he had been receiving treatment for an alcohol problem and was forced to stand down as senior colleagues threated to resign. Last month, he lost his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat to the SNP.

Ashdown has told Sky News that Kennedy was going through "tough days" after his election defeat and had also lost his father at the beginning of the campaign.

Hundreds of people have paid tribute to the former leader today, including SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who said he was a "lovely man and one of the most talented politicians of his time".

Nick Clegg, who resigned as Liberal Democrat leader last month, said Kennedy's "untimely death robs Britain of one of the most gifted politicians of his generation".

He added that his predecessor was "one of the most gentle and unflappable politicians I have ever known, yet he was immensely courageous too not least when he spoke for the country against the invasion of Iraq".

Charles Kennedy: the tributes

Nick Clegg, leader of the Lib Dems until last month

"Charles devoted his life to public service yet he had an unusual gift for speaking about politics with humour and humility which touched people well beyond the world of politics."

Paddy Ashdown, Kennedy's predecessor as Lib Dem leader

"In a political age not overburdened with gaiety and good sense, he brought us wit, charm, judgment, principle and decency."

Tim Farron, Lib Dem leadership candidate

"I am utterly heartbroken about the news of Charles's passing. He was a colleague, friend and mentor. We've lost a giant today."

Sean Kemp, Times writer and former adviser to Nick Clegg

"Kennedy set a standard by which many politicians are still judged. His likeability, intelligence and clear, obvious decency came across to people in a way that hardly any public figure has really been able to match since."