Tim Farron has said the opportunity to continue the late Charles Kennedy’s legacy in his former seat would mean a great deal to him personally.
The Liberal Democrat leader spoke fondly yesterday of the man who inspired him to get involved as a youngster.
He also said he didn’t think he would be an MP if it hadn’t been for him.
Mr Kennedy, who died in June 2015, led his party from August 1999 to January 2006 and served as an MP for 32 years.
But he lost the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency to the SNP’s Ian Blackford two years ago.
Mr Farron told the Press and Journal: “Here I am on a battle bus as a party leader on our way to a target constituency.
“I remember going back more than a decade when the leader’s bus turned up in my marginal constituency.
“Off came Charles Kennedy and I don’t think I would be an MP without him.
“He was one of those people who inspired me to get involved in the first place 30 years ago as a teenager.
“His immense humanity and his ability to connect with people by having no spin about him whatsoever, is something that I have always attempted – I don’t know how well – but attempted to learn from.”
Mr Farron refused to make any predictions about specific seats, but added: “Certainly the prospect of returning the Liberal Democrats to continue his legacy would be something that would mean a lot to me personally.”
