Charles Kennedy Loses Seat

Among the familiar names leaving parliament after seat defeats is former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, who lost in Ross, Skye and Lochaber to the SNP and is leaving Parliament after 32 years.

Having taken his party to its best election result since the 1920s, his leadership ended in ignominy when he was forced to quit after admitting a drink problem.

From his earliest days, Mr Kennedy seemed destined for great things. At the age of just 23, he took the seat of Ross, Cromarty and Skye for the SDP in the 1983 general election to become the youngest sitting MP.

At Westminster, his quick wit marked him out as a rising star - as well as making him a popular guest on shows like Have I Got News For You.

Dismissed by some as a lightweight Chat Show Charlie'', his heightened public profile nevertheless helped him secure the leadership of the merged Liberals/SDP when Paddy Ashdown stood down in 1999.

His tenure at the top of the party was marked by his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which helped propel them to their best result in more than 80 years with 62 seats.

However they failed to make the breakthrough many Lib Dems had been hoping for - with talk before the election of a three-figure tally of MPs - prompting criticism of what was seen as a lacklustre campaign by the leader.

In January 2006 - following months of rumours about his drinking - Mr Kennedy dramatically admitted he had been receiving treatment for an alcohol problem and said he was calling a leadership contest.

But while he declared that he wanted to carry on he was forced to stand down in the face in of the threat of mass resignations by senior colleagues.

• Election 2015