Former UK party leader Charles Kennedy dies

Former Liberal Democrat Party leader Charles Kennedy has died at his home in Fort William aged 55, international media report.

His family said they were devastated to lose a "fine man and loving father".

Prime Minister David Cameron, current Lib- Dem leader Nick Clegg and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon  have led tributes to the former MP, while ex-PM Tony Blair said the death was an "absolute tragedy".

Kennedy, who led the party from 1999 to 2006, lost his seat only last month, and although no cause of death has been given but police yet, they said it was not a suspicious death.

Kennedy led the party to its best-ever election result in 2005 on the back of his opposition to the Iraq War two years earlier but he resigned early in 2006 after revealing he had been receiving treatment for a long-standing alcohol problem.

The BBC reports that after his resignation, Kennedy maintained a lower profile. He did not play any role in the coalition government, having voted against his party's decision to enter an alliance with the Conservatives.

Speaker of the House John Bercow fought back tears as he announced the death of Charles Kennedy to MPs today.

Kennedy was a "principled, progressive and passionate" politician who had an uncanny ability to reach out across the political spectrum, Bercow said as he led Commons tributes to the late Liberal Democrat leader.

The Commons Speaker said MPs would have the chance to pay their tribute to Kennedy in a dedicated session immediately after Prime Minister's Questions tomorrow.