Kennedy’s torment
Friends and family talk of abuse MP suffered during his final days
KENNEDY HOUNDED BY HATE CAMPAIGN
CHARLES Kennedy suffered a torrent of abuse and was hounded by a poison pen letter campaign in the final weeks of his life, close friends have revealed.
The ex-Liberal Democrat leader was targeted by ‘petty, malicious’ individuals who led a campaign against him during the 2015 General Election, according to loved ones.
This includes having aggressive notes put through his front door and placed on his car, actions which left him ‘really worried’.
Mr Kennedy, 55, died from a major haemorrhage linked to alcoholism three weeks after losing his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat, which he had held for 32 years.
Now, in a documentary filmed for BBC Alba, friends and relatives reveal the ‘cruel’ treatment he was subjected to in the final weeks of his life as he fought to hold on to his Westminster role.
Mr Kennedy lost his seat in the SNP landslide, with now Nationalist Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, unseating him.
Mr Blackford was previously accused of leading a campaign that ‘unleashed a torrent of abuse’ against Mr Kennedy.
Friends say the final months of his life were disfigured by a ‘disgraceful’ campaign marred by social media abuse. Mr Blackford has denied personal attacks and has claimed he was ‘proud’ of the election campaign he ran in 2015.
The documentary, which airs tonight, will focus on the social media and wider abuse the veteran politician was subjected to in his final weeks.
Mr Kennedy’s former brother-inlaw and close friend James Gurling said: ‘The level of anger and vociferous nature of the campaign surprised and really worried him.
‘When you’ve got anonymous notes being left on your car or things put through your letterbox unsigned but highly aggressive, you begin to wonder what’s in those people’s minds.’
Mary Ann Kennedy, a friend, said it is ‘wrong to say “The SNP was against Charles Kennedy”,’ but added: ‘There was a petty, malicious group which undermined him, devising an election campaign which was shameful.’
Former Labour MP Brian Wilson, criticised those who targeted Mr Kennedy as he was grieving the death of his parents and a friend.
He described the attacks as ‘cruel beyond words’.
■ Charles Kennedy: A Good Man Speaking, BBC Alba, 9.00pm.