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My approach is always to try to be straight with people, especially about what my party can achieve.
Charles Kennedy
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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
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Politics means facing up to hard choices and facing down prejudice, short-termism, the easy, tempting court of knee-jerk public reaction.
Charles Kennedy
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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
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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
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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
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There is always a temptation for governments: see a problem and announce a quick fix.
Charles Kennedy
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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
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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
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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
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I don't want a headline saying 'Kennedy suggests this or implies that.'
Charles Kennedy
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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
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I know from my own parents how important active older people are to a local community.
Charles Kennedy
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In my view, as a country we need to rediscover some of that skepticism about government and revisit that libertarian agenda.
Charles Kennedy
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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
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Terrorism gravely threatens international peace and security, and as a solution, the power and apparent finality of force are seductive.
Charles Kennedy
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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It's our job as Liberal Democrats to be an effective opposition - and an increasingly tough one as well.
Charles Kennedy
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With 24-hour news... the story moves on with the media.
Charles Kennedy
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We all accept the world would be safer without Saddam's baleful dictatorship.
Charles Kennedy
