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.

Political career

While studying in America he also received the SDP nomination for the Scottish seat of Ross, Cromarty and Skye, which he went on to win in 1983, becoming the youngest sitting Member of Parliament. He has retained the seat and its successor, Ross, Skye and Inverness West, at five subsequent general elections; he is the Liberal Democrats' MP for the seat which replaced it in 2005: Ross, Skye and Lochaber.

Related Topics:
Member of Parliament - 2005 - Ross, Skye and Lochaber

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In the late 1980s the SDP and the Liberal Party, which had been co-operating in the SDP-Liberal Alliance, merged to form the Social and Liberal Democratic Party, later renamed the Liberal Democrats. Kennedy was one of only five SDP MPs to support the merge.

Related Topics:
Liberal Party - SDP-Liberal Alliance

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Kennedy served as a frontbencher for the Lib Dems in a variety of posts, including social security, agriculture and rural affairs, health, Scotland and Europe. He was also party president for four years, between 1990 and 1994.

Related Topics:
Social security - Agriculture - Rural affairs - Health - Scotland - Europe - 1990 - 1994

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