>> live now to london for question time from the british house of commons. british prime minister david cameron takes questions from members today in his first question on session since the

may 7 election. he now leads the majority conservative government in parliament. after question that members will give tribute to former liberal democrat leader charles kennedy who passed away earlier this week. >> only thing that will truly alleviate the situation, i think we all recognize that is some way off. >> mr. speaker i think it's fair to say her department lead the world in putting together an earthquake preparedness plan for nepal and when the inevitable happened she will be looking at what worked and what did not. will she conduct a full review into what did not and did so in the ready for the inevitable repeat of this tragic? >> would always look at the lessons that can be learned to our response. i think you should be very proud of the role that he personally played in putting a program in place or it meant that we had

food medical supplies already pre-positioned when the earthquake hit. it meant we had enable hospitals to get back up and running quickly. it critically meant we had for the humanitarian staging area close to the airport to prevent it from getting even more close up more than once. all that brought for the relief effort by three weeks which undoubtedly saved lives. >> order. questions to the prime minister. >> number one, mr. speaker,. >> thank you, mr. speaker. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later today. >> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, during the general election my blue-collar conservatives resonated very well with my constituents and

they are very keen for the economic recovery carries on contract. does my right honorable friend agreed that what we must achieve is lower taxation for working people, high minimum wage and assuring the lord vader taken out of tax altogether? >> first of all, congratulate my honorable friend on his return to the house. i think doubling his majority. there are a number of results in his party that it took a particular interest in and was pleased to see happen. he's absolutely right at the heart of our plan is making work pay. that is the best way to help people out of poverty the best way to get people more security creating jobs cutting taxes and sing increase in the minimum wage and legislating so that people working 30 hours on minimum wage to pay income tax. voucher plan for working people. >> harriet harman.

>> we all agree about the importance of homeownership and the prime minister city will increase the. can he tell us since he became prime minister in 2010 has the percentage of people only -- only their own home got got got out or contents because it's been a very challenging time for people to buy their own home. but what we are responsible for is almost 100,000 people able to buy their own home because of the right to buy them because of health divide to schemes opposed by labour. >> harriet harman. >> the answer is that since he became prime minister that the percentage of people who own their own home has fallen. now, he mentioned his pledge extend the right to buy the housing association tenants. is promised under this new scheme the replacement of sold properties on a one-to-one

basis. he promised that on council homes in the last parliament. can you remind us what he kept that promise? >> first of all if she's complaining about homeownership, will she confirm she will support the extension of the right to buy? do you support that approach? will you -- there we are. there we have it. a landmark manifesto commitment. let's expand right to by the housing association but as ever the enemies of aspiration and the labour party will not support it. >> harriet harman. >> we support more people owning their own home. it's not what happens under the last five years of him being prime minister. we support more people having an affordable home and wealth and that didn't happen under the last five years of him being prime minister either. he promised for every council homes sold, another one would be

built. that did not happen. for every 10 sold there's only been one built and less affordable housing means people have to be in more expensive private rented accommodations which means i hire housing benefit bill. can he confirm that for every affordable homes sold and not replaced the housing benefit bill goes up? >> first of all we build more council homes in the last five years than were built under 13 years under the last labour government. icpd honorable lady she can ask these questions about supporting homeownership ever as she enters the simple question, will you back housing association tenants been able to buy their homes yes or no? >> he broke his promise on replacement one for one of affordable council homes.

he broke that promise and as a result housing benefits have gone up. and at the same time he says he wants to take 12 billion pounds out of welfare year so where is it coming from? earlier this week his spokesperson confirmed the government would not make any changes to child benefit that's a commitment for the whole of thethis parliament. can he confirm that no? >> we made a very clear opposition on child benefit. i confirmed again as the dispatch box but let's be clear we are absolutely no answer from the labour party about housing association tenants. we are clear. they should have the right to buy. so we can now see the new labour backing of aspiration after election has lasted three weeks. that's how long they did to aspiration to let me give her another chance. we see housing association tenants get the right to buy. what does she say?

>> well, his commitment not to cut child benefit during the course of this parliament has not even lasted a few days. that's what his spokesperson said and he's not been committed to it. can he tell us about another issue of importance to families, which is what is going to rule out further cuts to working families tax credit? >> again, we have said we're freezing tax credits in the next two years because we need to get the deficit down and we want to keep people's taxes down. but isn't it interesting that the whole of the last parliament, labour team europe and opposed every single spending reduction, every single welfare savings, and they've learned absolutely nothing. they are still the party of more spending, more welfare, more debt. it's extraordinary the two people responsible for this great policy of theirs, one of them lost the election, he of the one loss to see.

the messengers are gone but the message is still the same. [shouting] >> he promised he promised 12 billion pounds of welfare cut, and i am asking where those welfare cuts are coming from. mr. speaker, before an election it's about the promises. now they're in downing street. it's about the deliberate. the prime minister spent the last five years thing everything that was wrong was because of the previous prime minister. well, he can do that for the next five years because of the last prime minister was him. i hope you will bear in mind when things go wrong over the next five years there is no one responsible let him. >> first of all we are still clearing up the mess our government left behind.

[shouting] the honorable lady asked for an example of a welfare cut. let me give her one. we think we should cut the welfare cap from 26000 pounds per household to 23000 pounds per household. in her speech in reply to the gracious speech, it sounded like she was going to come out and support. so why not that's the labour goes to approach this. we support a cut in welfare cap? >> the right honorable learned lady has had her six questions. [shouting] >> everyone should be clear about that your mr. andrew mitchell. >> my right honorable friend will be well aware that there is considerable concern on both sides of the house at the proposition that britain might withdraw from the european convention on human rights.

will he take the opportunity today to make clear that he is no plan for us to do so? >> we will make clear what we want which is a british judges making decisions in british courts. and also the british parliament being accountable to the british people. now, our plans set out in our manifesto don't involve us leaving the european convention on human rights but let's be absolutely clear. if we can't achieve what we need, and i'm very clear about that where we've got these foreign criminals and we can't send them all because of their rights to a family life, that needs to change, and i will absolute nothing and getting that done. [inaudible] i know we're making tribute a little bit later. it's a stain on the conscience

of europe the thousands and thousands of refugees have been nine in the mediterranean when many lives could have been saved. does the prime minister agree that the role of the room navy of the italian coast guard and the navies of other european countries making a profound difference however much more needs to be done including offering refuge and asylum to those who need it? >> first of all his right to mention charles kennedy and we will have those tributes right after my ministers questions. he's right to praise the role of of the royal navy in dealing with the tragedy of the mediterranean. the flagship of the royal navy has been playing it so the a key role in saving lives. but i would part company with him on his next suggestion to what we need to do in order to solve this crisis is two things. one, we need a government in libya that we can work with so it's possible to return people to africa and stop this criminal trade taking place and second we

need to break the link between getting on a boat and achieving residents and your. that's what needs to be done. in the meantime everything britain can do as a moral and upstanding nation to save lives we will do and we should be proud that we are doing it. >> angus robertson. >> fifty years ago that's what united kingdom did when offered refuge and asylum to those who are being pursued by the nazis and we all know about the transport and the children that were accepted and given refuge in the uk. now in contrast, however, the uk has an appalling record on the resettlement on syrian refugees it is not prepared to cooperate with other european nations unaccepting refugees had been rescued in the mediterranean. why does the prime minister think it is fair for sweden and for germany and other countries to accept these refugees while the uk turns its back on them? >> first of all i would take issue with the honorable gentleman that we have and

asylum system and record of the giving people asylum in this country that we should be proud of when people are fleeing torture and persecution they can find a home here in britain. but let's be clear. the vast majority of people who were setting off into the mediterranean are not asylum seekers but are people seeking a better life. they've been tricked and fooled by criminal gangs, and our role should be going after those criminal gangs, sorting out the situation in libya, turning back those boats were began and making sure with our generous aid budget that this government achieves that we use that money demanded the countries from which these people are coming. that is our responsibility of what i'm proud to fulfill. >> thank you mr. speaker. thanks to the careful financial stewardship of its government yorkshire economy continues to grow with unemployment a fraction of what it was five years ago.

can the prime minister assured me that you that it will percolate right the way through the great county of yorkshire? deliver a yorkshire powerhouse. >> i can certainly give my honorable friend that assurance. i mean he talks about the strength of yorkshire economy, the claimant count in his own constituency, the people claiming unemployment benefit come down by 74% since 2010. in terms of the northern powerhouse what we see is the linking up of the great northern cities as a counterpoint as a counterpoint to the strength of london. we are making good progress but certainly we want to see more money, more resources and more powers devolved to the city to if we take the york north yorkshire and growth feel that is creating at least 3000 jobs allowing 4000 homes to be built. we make good progress but

there's more to be done in this parliament. >> mr. speaker the prime minister rightly apologized for government which failed to address properly those claims and those -- of the families lives that were torn apart and those who lost their lives in the contaminated scandal. he also said in response to the question that they would deal with this as a matter of priority, if he was reelected to go to ask america update on his commitment to that and progress on the so that this is dealt with finally for all those people who have lost their lives and those who live with the damage caused by this scandal? >> i'm grateful to the honorable gentleman for raising this issue. all of us have come across people who through no fault of their own were infected with blood, with a there hiv or hepatitis c end effector is his consequences for them. in terms of what we're going to do about it what i said there

were before the election we made available 25 million pounds to help those families and will be a full statement by the government before the summer recess to make sure we do with us and the best way we possibly can. >> mr. speaker, a national health -- [shouting] mr. speaker, and national health service fruit of the point of use was at the heart of the conservative general election campaign. will the prime minister confirm that he will continue to deliver pashtun better and is response time, better access to cancer drugs and more funding? these make the nhs not only in the of the world but to my constituents. >> i'm grateful for what he says. i can say to them under this government the nhs will remain free at the point of use and more to the point we are backing that simon stevens plan with an extra 8 billion pounds of spending, commitment that the

labour party still refused to me. it's not surprising when you look at the labour record in wales where they have cut the nhs in stark contrast to the decision we made to increase investment in the nhs. that's why you see and the welsh nhs performance worst figures on a unique him on waiting times, on cancer. and i would urge the labour party in wales even at this late stage, change or approach. did a u-turn but the money into the nhs like we are doing in england. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the fragility of our economic recovery in my constituency is demonstrated by the impending closure of dixon with a loss of 500 jobs, and 8 million to the local economy. will the prime minister into being to keep it working to save these jobs, or at the very least ensure that the company provides appropriate compensation and

support for employees to secure alternative employment? >> i will look very closely at the case that he mentions it obviously everything the job center plus can do define employment for those people should be done. he talked about the fragility of the economy in his own constituency, the claimant count has actually fallen by a third over the last year. so there are jobs being made available but as i said where jobcenter plus network funny people work we will certainly make sure they do. >> the u.n. secretary-general has described the refugee situation in jordan and lebanon as the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. what more can britain do in tandem with other countries to help relieve suffering? and to learn from the lessons of history to ensure that poorly resourced refugee camps doesn't become breeding grounds for extremism. >> i think the first thing we can do is to continue our

investment using our aid budget that i think the second largest bilateral donor in terms of providing refugee support, refugee camps, whether in jordan or elsewhere in the region. we should continue with it but cleared the answer is to allow those people to go back home, the to iraq or to street. what we need is a government in both those countries that can represent and work with all other people. there's some progress in iraq with the a body government and we need to make sure they can represent sunnis as well as she used to answer your this situation is far, far worse we should still be continue with the plan with others during the modern should opposition and tried to bring about a transition so we get rid of the assad regime and the site itself who is one of the biggest drivers of care in the region because of what he's done to his region. that is the strategy we should pursue for however long it takes. >> can do prime minister inform

the house when expects the uk to retain its aaa credit rating? >> first of all, can i welcome the honorable lady to her place and congratulate her on her election success. and if i might say i think the first question she asks which is about fiscal responsibility and sustainability, i take that as a sign of progress. [shouting] there's a leadership election. throw your hat in the ring. in that one question she's made more sense than all the rest of them put together. go for it. [laughter] [shouting] >> diversity in the point is a key part of my plan.

can the prime minister to my constituents -- [inaudible] can be concerned into court because he looked to welcoming another high-tech company to the city. >> first volcanic and graduate my autocrine on her election success in for standing up already for portsmouth and all the work she did as a candidate and all the things i know she would as a member of parliament. we are committed to ensuring issues in the most effective way to deliver capability to create jobs and boost the growth in the region. i have to say i think developments in portsmouth are exciting, was that his ship servicing, welcoming the carriers when they come to portsmouth are whether it's the center that is being constructed with the government supporter can also cannot can i just say how i think how good it is a portsmouth will be represented in this place by strong conservative women.

>> mr. speaker, in the gracious speech by her majesty last week a government committed to legislating the agreement. casinos that agreement has our support. it is an agreement that was signed up to by all the five parties in northern ireland. neither has it been reneged on certainly the reform -- [inaudible] does he agree with the second estate following the talks yesterday -- second estate, all the parties that signed up should not implement it? if they fail to do so will he take steps to preserve the integrity of that agreement? >> first of all let me agree with the right honorable gentleman that edward was party to those talks and they were exhausted and lengthy talks ending in an agreement everyone should implement that agreement

in full and that agreement did include welfare reform. that is the first point and he's right. but whatever happens we need to make sure that northern ireland and the assembly has a sustainable and deliverable budget. site hope even at this late stage people can look at what they can do to make sure that happens. >> thank you, mr. speaker. last year saw record numbers of adoptions and prospective adoption but they're still over 3000 children in care waiting to be adopted. half of them having waited for over 18 months. what plans does my right honorable friend have to enable more children to be placed in a loving, stable family home sooner rather than later? >> i think my audible friend is absolutely to raise is that i think speeding up the rate at which adoptions a place, making sure more adoption can take place is key to getting more children a better start in life it over the last three years we've seen 63% increase in

adoptions we have made progress but in the gracious speech and into building published today that are the plans to quit regional -- regional adoption agency bring together the many agencies that are in this country i think that's a because it matters far more than a talk at a loving home the weather that home is actually in a particular county council area. get on, create these agencies to make sure more adoptions take place. >> the uk steel industry is a key foundation industry for britain, but it's in crisis. will the prime minister join me and the rest of the steel industry to call upon the leadership in mumbai to correctly intervened on the situation and get the colleagues to get back around the table and avoid the worst crisis in the steel industry which we do pictures of -- potentially see and 35 your? >> i agree it's important that government talks intensively to the leaders of the steel

industry about what we can do to make sure safeguard the growth and jobs that growth and jobs that there had been in a stupendous over previous years which started those discussions and have discussions about the steps we're taking for our high-energy intensity energy industries and to help we can give. but at the heart of a successful steel industry is always going to be a successful economy and a successful construction industry which is why we should stick to long-term economic plan. >> mr. speaker today -- [inaudible] there will be a high content in the uk in the supply chain and a commitment to pursue higher projects together in a sugar this confirms our ability to attract chinese investment and great new export opportunity. does my right honorable friend share my hope that the energy secretary will soon agree the development consent order needed

and also agree soon on the pricing of power from this exciting example of british innovation and engineering? >> my honorable friend is right to raise the specific case but also the general case of wanting to attract chinese investment into britain and we've seen something like this 73% increase between 2010-2013 and that is partly because this government has pursued chinese investment and attracted chinese investment into britain. on the specific case of the title tune its subject to a planning decision but i think it does have significant potential but i have seen some of the plans for myself and hope this is something we can make progress on and attract investment into the country to help make it happen is a win-win for both countries. >> devolution of powers to our nation our region and great cities will be one of the things

of this part but that does the prime minister except that londoners will accept tallies at the same powers that are being devolved to the northern powerhouse? >> i think it's a very powerful point the honorable lady makes and there's been an ongoing discussion with the mayor of london about what more powers can be -- he's running london. that's where he is and is doing a very, very good job of. [shouting] he's doing an excellent job. very good. i think the honorable lady as right. and we have devolved powers to london we are very happy to go on having discussion about transport and about other economic powers to make sure under -- londoners create half a million more jobs over the last five years. it's a staggering performance and we want that to continue.

>> thank you, mr. speaker your does the prime minister agree that any onshore wind farm report that already granted should not expected to receive any public subsidy? >> i'm very glad to see my honorable friend back in his place. he campaigned very hard on this in the last parliament and in our manifesto we are very, very close it should be no more subsidies for the onshore wind farm. it is time to give local people and decisive say. that is what will happen in england come in wales, the subsidy regime will be changed because it is a reserve issue. i think his desire has been met. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the prime minister might be aware of the ongoing case of my constituent, doctor forward despite his immense contradiction to the music scene around the world the home office lasting effect to try to -- [inaudible] can be prime minister to the house by people like doctor from

don't seem to be welcomed in this country because of if the prime minister can't run an immigration policy that works is gone and i know it opened up the road that would be very happy to do so. >> connect and gradually the honorable gentleman on his election. i'm not aware of the specific case evasive but i will look at it urgently after prime ministers questions and see what i can do. >> peter bone. >> mr. speaker, with the prime minister agreed that one of the ways forward in the european union is to have two pillars for the first countries that want a single currency, a common fiscal policy and ever closer political union? the second building countries that want none of those but instead want a free trade area a common market? >> i think my honorable friend makes a good point. one of the arguments they held in europe at the moment is to try to get them to accept what is already the case, which is that our countries like britain at the heart of the single market but not involved in the agreement are more likely to

join a. not involved in the single currency and in my view, should never join it. we should accept this sort of flexibility is here to stay and i think the challenge for europe is to build a european community that is flexible enough for the single currency country to be happy that their problems and issues can be sorted out but flexible enough for countries like britain at the heart of the single market but not wanted to be part of the ever closer union can also be comfortable with their membership. that is the aim of my renegotiation and it will be followed by a referendum. >> i welcome the prime minister's confirmation there will be no cuts in conditions which are benefits. will also confirm the commitment he made during the election so that'll be no cuts in the benefits paid for disabled people? >> at what we've actually done is increase the benefits paid to disabled people by bringing in the personal independence payment which is actually more generous to those who are most

disabled. can i say how much i enjoyed meeting with him during to generate election were we both addressed the festival of life in xo center in his constituency? i don't know about him but it is certainly the only time in my life i've talked to 45,000 people in my life and i suspect the same thing goes for him. >> the prime minister preferred to libya earlier on. we have exchanged views and had many debates on libya since our military involvement in that country in 2011. and yet the situation is getting worse and worse. what new steps and initiatives easy going to bring in conjunction with allies egypt and italy to ensure that this situation is resolved? >> i think my honorable friend is right to raise this. there will be discussions at the g7 and germany this weekend. we've got to position where special representative from the united nations has been bringing

everybody together to try and form a national unity government. we need to give everything we can to support that process because then there is some prospect of libya having a government from a government and then close some security and from security can flow the ability to start a deal with his migrant crisis in the way i was discussing earlier. >> free social houses wanted to be sold to generate enough revenue to build one new one. leaving one and half a thousand families in new york without a home for well over two years but aspiration? >> first of all let me welcome the honorable lady to the house and congratulate her on her election victory. the are two things we're doing to provide these replacement houses. one is for every housing association sells a home it has been received and is able to build a new house. but also we are making sure that councils so often the most

expensive council houses they have when they become vacant in parts of london are council houses with over 1 million pounds and you can build many, many more houses. what's clear, what's clear from this question time is on this side of the house we understand homeownership aspiration people wanting to get on. the party opposite are for the most catastrophic election defeat in his can't even begin to spell aspiration. >> order. i informed the house yesterday that would be an opportunity today for members to pay tribute to the right honorable charles kennedy. i shall help with the houses understanding deploy the chair's prerogative to begin that process. charles kennedy spent almost his entire adult life as a member of

parliament. he was assuredly at home in this place yet perhaps happiest beyond it. he was a man of deep progressive principles, but a man also blessed with the popular touch. he was a good talker, but an even better listener. above all and perhaps most strikingly charles had the r.a.r.e. ability to reach out to millions of people of all political persuasions across the country who were untouched by come and in many cases actively hostile to politics.

in this seminal sense therefore charles was the boy next door of british public life. we salute him. we honor his memory and we send today our sincere heartfelt and deepest condolences to his family and his friends. >> here, here. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the whole house were shocked and so deeply saddened by the sudden news yesterday morning of the death of charles kennedy. as you said it's a tragic loss to his family, his son donald is 10 years old and i know the thoughts and prayers of the whole house are with his family and his friends at this time. mr. speaker's right now should come together in a trip to a man whose character and courage

inspired us all. and who served serve his constituents so well for almost 32 years. there was something very special about charles. it is good for an alastair campbell but yesterday, he spoke fluent human because he had humanity and everything in every cell. mr. speaker, charles kennedy will be remembered for his success him for his principled and intellect, and above all for his incredible warmth and good humor. i will say a word about each. he was elected as the youngest member of parliament in 1983 at just 23. it was a remarkable victory extended for a new party while studying in america at the time. he went from fourth place to first defeating an established conservative had been in this house for 13 years. from their his political career took off. just a year earlier he had been asked by give advise what is going to get in his life. he replied that he could be a teacher or a journalist, but all if all else failed there was always politics.

[laughter] his own career advisers wrote to congratulate him sing i cannot present all else failed. [laughter] the new member can he face ever challenges at the beginning of his parliamentary career. his arrival in westminster was only a third time he'd been to london in his life. arrange music in a friends spare room and he know how you got from hemisphere to westminster big in fact it was worse than that. he didn't know how to get to heathrow damage of charles kennedy played a pivotal role in bringing together two parties. the sdp and the liberals. as leader he took the liberal democrats to the best election result a third party in british politics than in 100 years. his ambition for his party was to find themselves part of the government of the country. his achievements laid the foundation for that to happen. while he was never the greatest

fan of the coalition and indeed vote against its formation he never spoke out against the lib dem participation in it. for as much as he was a man of strong views he was also a man of great loyalty. the equally resisted any overtures from the labour party, dismissing rumors he would rejoin them up i sang i will go out of this world feetfirst with my lib dem membership card in my pocket. as ever with charles kennedy he was a man of his word. mr. speaker, charles kennedy was also a man of great principle and great intellect. at the heart of his political views was a deep commitment to social justice. a passionate belief in europe as we bring people together but most outspoken contribution in recent years years was the principles that he took against the iraq war. looking back it is easy to forget just what a standard that was, taking abuse from the major parties on both sides of the house and adopting a position that wasn't even supported by the previous leader of his own party.

but do there was something about the deeply respectful way in which he would conduct an argument. he didn't believe in making enemies out of opponents, and he didn't as he put waste time just rubbishing everybody else. he made friends even with those who disagreed with them. i think i was one of the reasons why he was so light and so widely supported. in taking on the personal challenges he faced. i had the privilege of getting to know him a little bit when i was a new thing be back in 2001. we both were in the smoking room and while we disagreed about many things we both war and his partner i find myself thinking about just what exporter talent he was. all the while he was battling his demons, he could make amazing speeches delighted to the audience inspire his followers, take down his opponents with his brilliant debate and crack jokes all at the same time. above all mr. speaker, it is his warmth and good humor for which charles will be remembered most fondly. he had with connecting with people, even those who didn't know well or even at all.

and attributes to nelson mandela in this house 18 months ago charles told his sister of their first meeting. he said he was introduced by his friend who introduced him to nelson mandela as a colleague from the house of commons called nigel kennedy. as a charles remarked at the time, the president characteristic firm handshake and show the welcome confirmed two things for me that day. first of all it he had never heard of nigel kennedy but far more distressing he sure as hell had neither heard of me either. [laughter] mr. speaker, he was the most human of politicians and in the words of charles kennedy himself, the vast majority of people think there's a hell of a lot more to life than just politics and you go to bed that in mind because you're actually kind representing it as best he was the best the politics can be and that is how we should remember him. >> here, here. >> harriet harman. >> we also are so saddened to make up to the news yesterday the death of charles kennedy,

and to try to express the feelings of the whole house in his generous tribute, as you given your comments mr. speaker. it to come together to mourn his death and to pay tribute to his extraordinary qualities can i think there is much that all of us in political life can learn from charles kennedy. he was an outstanding parliamentarian and dedicated his whole life to politics. it is a powerful reminder to all of us that giving your life to politics, being a career politician can be an honorable not an ignoble thing. he took a philosophical approach to the ups and downs of political life your despite the adversity that he faced, they never became bitter because he cared more about his political cause and he did it on his personal career. he had the deep seriousness of purpose and great intellect but he wore it lightly.

he to be the most intelligent person in the room but still be warm, funny and generous which made him convincing and engaging in equal measure. he showed you could be in profound disagreement on matters of serious political judgment while still accepting the good faith of those who take a different view. he disagreed with the decision to go to war in iraq, and he was right, i never felt the need to denigrate those of us who got it wrong here despite the fact that he was strongly committed to his own party that didn't stop them having friendships across party lines. he was partisan but he was still generous, enough to admire people in other parties. mr. speaker history will show that he was one of a great generation of scottish mps at a time when scotland gave this house some of the finest politicians of the era.

exceptional politicians like john smith, gordon brown robin cook he stands a tall amongst the scottish generation who are head and shoulders above their peers. i remember when he first came to this house, aged only 23 the golden boy from the highlands he shown in this chamber. he was elected so young and it is a tragedy that he died so young. all our thoughts are with his family. >> here, here. >> mr. nick clegg. >> mr. speaker, a few days ago i got in touch with the charles because i was looking for a telephone number of someone we both knew. his friends will not be surprised to learn that we were texting each other. he was notoriously bad at actually entering his own but famously fluid and pessimistic he said he didn't have the number on them like he would get

back to me this week. because you're spending time with his beloved son donald, during his half term break. while we all the be member charles as a formidable parliamentarian and the much loved politician it is worth remember in that he retained his greatest pride and devotion to his family. he lived next door to his parents and his brother and his grandfather's house near fort william, and cared for the through sickness and old age. much to he was wedded to politics all his life, i think charles would have wanted to be remembered as a kind and loving father, brother and son first, and an accomplished politician second. my thoughts and condolences are with all his family, especially donald, and friends today. maybe, mr. speaker, it was that enduring humanity people always came before politics were

charles, which is reflected in the heartfelt tributes over the last 24 hours from so many outside the world of politics who did know him directly but somehow still felt they did know him and could relate to him. he had and still has that rare gift for someone in public life that people think of him, they smile. he saw good in people and even his staunchest political foes, and it always brought out the best in people in return. he was the polar opposite, mr. speaker, of a cardboard cutout party politician. brave yet the vulnerable, brilliant yet flawed. as he would often say to people he admired most, he was a fully signed up member of the human race. and mr. speaker he was funny

very funny. but it's good humor must not obscure the fact that there was a steely courage up at him, memorably on display when he took a principled decision to oppose the iraq war. just because that might seem an obvious thing to have done now it most certainly wasn't at the time. charles was often a lone voice in this house standing up against the consensus in favor of war on all sides. the fact that he was proved so spectacularly right, the tribute to his judgment and his intuitive commonsense. mr. speaker i think charles would be the first to admit that he was not exactly a detailed man when he came to policy. he treated the necessary with often tedious tedious detail of those discussions within the liberal democrats with the same attitude he viewed been never in his own constituency, something to be admired from afar but a trial to

be endured by others. [laughter] at one of his earlier decision when he became leader of the liberal democrats was to end the long held convention the leader of the party should attend all of the regular and invariably lengthy meetings of the liberal democrats federal party policy committee. it was a characteristically wise decision, for which i've was forever grateful during my time as leader. [laughter] but again, mr. speaker, is a disregard for the undergrowth of policy should not obscure his unusually instinctive and deadly serious appreciation of the bigger picture in politics. whether on europe constitutional reform, or his arguments against nationalism and the politics of identity for his lifelong belief in social justice charles had a gut instinct about the big challenges and the big choices

we face. not the daily twists and turns and slights of hand atomic so much of westminster politics. he understood above all i believe that politics is at its best when it speaks to people's values in their hearts, not just the policy debates of the heads. mr. speaker there is so much that i will miss about charles his wit, his warmth his modesty. but i suspect many of us will feel is absolute most keenly when our country decide in the next year or two whether we belong or not in the european union. because of all his convictions, his internationalism endured most strongly. he was a proud highlander a proud scott and if you believe in our community of nations within the united kingdom. but also a lifelong believer that our outfit facing character as a country is best secured by remaining at the heart of europe

rather than retreating elsewhere elsewhere. and as the debate becomes dominated as it no doubt well by the noise i will miss the lyrical clerisy of charles belief that our future of an open heart and generous spirit of the country is at stake and must be defended at all costs your mr. speaker, a couple of years ago charles and i found ourselves cowering under shelter on the terrace of a national liberal club in the pouring rain for what he called a wee bit of fresh air a wonderfully inappropriate euphemism for a quick smoke. we talk to like about the difficulty that the liberal democratdemocrat s were facing within the then coalition government. it is a measure of the man that even though he was almost alone in our party in not supporting the decision to enter into coalition in may 2010, there was

never a hint of reproach or i told you so in the advice he gave to me than come and in other conversations. he remained loyal no matter what the circumstances and no matter how strong the sensation must have been to blow his own trumpet and say that events that prove him right. he was far too subtle for that. he had made his views clear at the outset but respected in good faith that it was his party colleagues seeking to achieve in government and provide support and advice every step of the way. which is why it was no surprise when he said after being challenged about his loyalty after the 20th election the mr. speaker, has already cited, i will go out of this world feetfirst with my lib dem membership card in my pocket. i am just devastated that it happened so soon. our liberal political family has lost one of its most admired

advocates. british politics has lost one of its best storytellers. this house has lost one of its warmest wits and most loyal parliamentarian's. mr. speaker, if we can all carry ourselves with a little more of the honesty, wisdom and humility of charles kennedy politics would be held much higher esteem than it is today. >> here, here. >> tracked on crippled the ability to make a very brief addition to the tribute already paid by the party leaders which i wholly agree. i, too, am one of those remember charles kennedy first arrived in the house of commons in 1983 when he made a very startling impression. he was very young. he was a student there he looked like a schoolboy and rapidly people realize that in addition to all these rather striking attributes seek combined it with

being highly intelligent very articulate, very self confident and capable addressing this house in a very, very fluid and elegant way with the relaxed charm which was his very distinctive style which i don't recall anybody actually achieving in the way that he did. he rapidly became very prominent not only in parliament but nationally and he looked as though he would have been destined for a brilliant national career are far from a limited expectation of the social democrats and the liberal party with which he didn't associate himself well, he did actually achieve a good national career and eventually took his party to heights that would've been unimaginable electorally when he first arrived. and i do believe that his own

distinct personality made a very great contribution to that. people have said that his great moment was the iraq war and i do agree with that. but he actually made many other strong principled positions, on europe he was wrong sometimes as it was on the coalition, but he always had this candid sincerity in which he expressed his views and he always came to clear and principled conclusions which he was prepared to argue for. we will all miss him. his personal attributes we all know but they never make an unpleasant. sometimes they made it a little difficult and it made him a more rounded character. i'm glad to say that he was one of the last of the great tradition which said you should best address political problems in the atmosphere of a

smoke-filled room which has been lost today. [laughter] if i may i would agree with the right honorable lady. himpeople like charles kenny will leave their mark on this house for many years to come. my sympathies also go out to his family and friends. >> here, here. >> mr. speaker, i first met charles kennedy on his first day in the house of commons when i went into the members dining room and saw this young man looking lost wandering around and wondering what to do.

i asked him to join me at lunch and i found out who he was and he was the youngest member of the house of commons. but the fact that he was young although it meant that he was not that stage going to assert himself, did that mean that he didn't know why he was in the house of commons. it was in the house of commons to stand up for certain principles about which he felt strongly, and he stood for those principles in this house of commons and outside this house of commons from that first day right through to the end. he had very, very strong views but he was never vindictive. he was never benevolent and expounding those views.

he knew where he stood. you knew when charles kennedy spoke, he thought it out he thought it through and at the same time you would not budge him and bless you could argue him out of a position, and his positions were pretty strong. it's been mentioned again and again, and rightly so that he opposed the iraq war, and it has been mentioned again that that was not an easy thing to do at the time. and was not the view of the overwhelming majority of the house of commons at that time but you would not budge charles if he worked out a position and he believed that position to be right. he was always fun it was good to be in his company, you rarely saw him without a smile on his

face but the smile on his face was not a smile of appeasement that it was a smile of genealogy and it was a smile of goodwill. i knew him over the years that i always valued his company and his opinions. i join with the rest of the house in expressing my profound sympathy to his family. we shall miss him. >> here, here. >> thank you, mr. speaker. may i begin by expressing my sadness and sadness for all members of the scottish national party about the untimely death of charles kenny but most people in the political village, most people here knew he had been not well for quite some time. during the last parliament offices on the third floor which is run accord from one another and we would love into each other regularly, and come into the chamber are returning from committees. it was clear that he was still

having to battle his challenges but not in my worst dreams of ever imagine that he be taken from us at the young age of 55. politics is a very hard business, mr. speaker, and while i and my colleagues delighted the snp one constituency -- i was generally said that charles kennedy would no longer be in parliament. it's the mark of the meant that when i get in touch with him after the general election he readily agreed to meet up and share his experience of his leadership of the liberal democrats when that was the third party in the house of commons. people across politics will attest to the generosity spirit that charles kennedy showed the people on all sides of the party divide. for those of not yet had the opportunity, i would strongly recommend, strong urge every to read the blog by alastair campbell which illustrates his friendship. my predecessor as member of parliament margaret ewing, charles kenny were very, very

good friends and i know there are others in the south and elsewhere that enjoyed the friendship and mutual respect tremendously. we all know that charles kennedy was a formidable and witty debater, and his skills were honed long before he was elected to this chamber unbelievably at the age of 23 pitches skills were honed at his beloved glasco university. as anybody who has been debated against anybody from glasco university, they will attest to be -- that has come through the glasco university union. it's one more world championships. more than any other university. charles kennedy was one of the top debaters and winning the observer mason accolade shared with the former leader of the labour party john smith with the

former sect of state of scotland and first minister, and with my honorable friend the member for east martin scherpen my memory of the charles kennedy however is in this chamber and it was in this powerful condemnation of the iraq war, a position shared between the liberal democrats and the national party. charles kennedy question the prime minister of the time repeatedly on the case for war on the lack of evidence of weapons of mass destruction, on the role of the united nations and international law. ..