Charles Kennedy Plans To Stay In Politics

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has said he plans to remain involved in politics despite becoming another high profile scalp at the hands of the SNP.

He was beaten into second place in the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency by

Nationalist Ian Blackford, who won with 20,119 votes, a majority of 5,124.

Mr Kennedy, who got 14,995 votes, said serving as an MP had been the greatest privilege'' of his public life.

After the result was announced, he said: I'll obviously personally be sorry not to be a voice in the Commons contributing to that debate.

Although I certainly intend to continue to contribute in whatever way

possible to the wider political debate and the activity of the Liberal Democrats.

The greatest privilege of my public life over these past 32 years has to be being entrusted with the responsibility of representing this constituency.

That is thanks to a generation and more of voters who have extended that trust to me and I hope looking back over those 32 years they will feel that it was trust well placed.''

Mr Kennedy was one of several high profile Lib Dem casualties at the hands of the Scottish nationalists during a dismal night for Nick Clegg's party.

Both Business Secretary Vince Cable and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander lost their seats, although Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael managed to hold on to his.

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

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.

But in 2006, he announced he was calling a leadership contest after confessing

he had been receiving treatment for an alcohol problem.