Charles Kennedy

The Right Honourable Charles Peter Kennedy (born 25 November 1959) is a British politician, who has been leader of the Liberal Democrats (the third largest political party in the United Kingdom) since 1999.

Early life

Born in Inverness, Scotland and raised Roman Catholic, Charles Kennedy was educated at Lochaber High School and went on to study for a Masters Degree in Politics and Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. It was at university that he became politically active, he was a member of the Dialectical Society (a debating club) but he was not a member of the Labour Club. He was elected president of Glasgow University Union and won the British Observer Mace university debating award. GUU was the last all-male student union in the world; during his time as president Kennedy opposed admitting women as members, but conceded defeat under pressure from the University Court. Shortly after he joined the Social Democrats (SDP).

Related Topics:
Inverness - Scotland - Lochaber High School - University of Glasgow - Glasgow University Union - British Observer Mace - Social Democrats

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Upon graduation in 1982 he went to work for BBC Highland as a journalist, and later received a Fulbright Fellowship allowing him to carry out research at Indiana University in the United States, on the rhetoric of Roy Jenkins.

Related Topics:
1982 - BBC - Fulbright Fellowship - Indiana University - Roy Jenkins

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