Charles Kennedy Quotes
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There is no satisfaction to be derived from having had many of our arguments borne out by events.
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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.
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Politicians are good at saying how Government must do more, but we must also think carefully about where Government should do less.
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To run an effective political party you need a degree of tribalism, it's the glue that holds everyone together.
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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.
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Three simple words - freedom, justice and honesty. These sum up what the Liberal Democrats stand for.
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I do think there is a great deal of caricature around the House of Commons. It is just that kind of place.
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We believe that government in Britain should be working to restore our reputation on the international stage after Iraq and engage better within Europe.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Taking a principled and consistent stance over Iraq has attracted much criticism from our detractors and opponents.
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Valuing public servants would boost morale among those on the front line of implementing government policy.
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If British troops are committed to action, then the nation will, of course, support them. Their courage and skill is not in doubt.
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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.
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We would all rather see Iraq resolved successfully.
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We have a Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, both elected by fairer votes - involving proportional representation.
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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.
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Quality of life actually begins at home - it's in your street, around your community.
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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.
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People are not stupid.