Charles Kennedy, a truly authentic politician who rose above the crowd | Martin Kettle

Whatever his inner demons, the former Lib Dem leader was one of the few politicians of the modern era to whom ordinary Britons could relate

Authenticity is the most elusive but the most precious of all qualities in modern democratic politics. Very few politicians are blessed with it. Lots of politicians pretend to possess it. The lack of it causes many careers to stumble and not even get off the ground. But Charles Kennedy had it naturally and he had it in spades. He was one of the very few politicians of the modern era to whom ordinary non-political people instinctively related. People liked him and were right to do so. It gave him a special status in public life right to the enormously sad end.

At his best, Kennedy had the ability to rise above the crowd and speak for his times in easily expressed and easily understood language. His ability to cut through the evasions and cliches of modern politics was a quality so many others struggle to emulate, often without success. He also had a great and natural sense of humour, unusual in a very private man such as he. It made him one of the few politicians who could master every form of television interview or appearance without looking awkward.

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