A wave of sadness and affection has swept over the world of British politics after the tragic death of Charles Kennedy at the age of just 55.
Described by many as talented, witty and humane, tributes to the former Liberal Democrat leader were led by David Cameron, who said Mr Kennedy's early demise was not only a tragedy for his family but for public life too.
"It's not that often in politics that someone comes along with brains, talent, wit and bags of humanity and Charles had all of those things. He achieved so much so young and he's been taken from us far too soon," said the Prime Minister.
The former Liberal Democrat leader was discovered on Monday at his Fort William cottage by his new partner Carole Macdonald, the widow of Mr Kennedy's lifelong best friend Murdo.
Mr Macdonald, who died of cancer aged 49 in 2007, was godfather to Mr Kennedy's 10-year-old son Donald. They had been students together at Glasgow University and he had helped him cope with his drink problem, which ended his tenure as Liberal Democrat leader in 2006.
The police were called out to the ex-MP's home after being alerted by the ambulance service. The cause of his death is not yet known but it is not thought to be suspicious. A post mortem is expected in due course.
His family said it was with "great sadness" and an "enormous sense of shock" that they had to announce his death.
They continued in a statement: "We are obviously devastated at the loss. Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son. We ask therefore that the privacy of his family is respected in the coming days."
Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair's former communications chief and a close friend of Mr Kennedy's, tweeted: "Can confirm Charles was found by good friend Carole Macdonald, widow of Charles' lifelong best friend Murdo." He repeated the families' appeals for privacy to be respected.
After 32 years at Westminster, the loss of Mr Kennedy's Highland seat in the SNP landslide was said to have left him "heartbroken".
Mr Campbell explained: "We were all a bit worried about him after the election. On the night the exit poll made it clear his safe seat was gone, 'Is Charles OK?' became an inquiry of a very different nature. Representing the people of Ross, Skye and Lochaber meant so much to him."
The former Labour spin doctor described Mr Kennedy as "a terrific communicator and a fine orator,(who) spoke fluent human because he had humanity in every vein and every cell".
He added: "He was a very good friend. I just wish that we, his friends, had been able to help him more and that he was still with us today, adding a bit of light to an increasingly gloomy political landscape."
Lord Oakeshott, the former Lib Dem peer, said: "If he had had not had a drink problem, he would be the leader of the Liberal Democrats today, and the Liberal Democrats would be in a far, far stronger position."
He then added: "It was drink that got him; terribly, terribly sad. But it is a terrible disease. I last saw him on a bus a few weeks before the election coming in. And we had a very good chat. But he clearly wasn't at all well."
Nick Clegg, the former Lib Dem leader, was effusive in his praise of the Scottish politician, saying: "Charles Kennedy, on form on a good day when he was feeling strong and happy, had more political talent in his little finger than the rest of us put together.
"That's why everyone felt, still, of course, feels today, that it was so tragic to see someone with such huge gifts should also struggle, as many people do, with the demons that clearly beset him and the problems that he acknowledged he had with alcohol."
Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister, revealed how he had once tried to recruit his fellow Scot to the Labour Party but Mr Kennedy "politely declined".
He was, said the ex-MP for Kirkcaldy, "one of the greatest debaters, orators and communicators who brought humour to politics...who effortlessly combined rock-solid principles with a personality that was always open to argument and ready to listen".
Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister, who said she was "sad beyond words" about Mr Kennedy's death, fondly recalled "a very special memory" during a speech in Brussels.
She recounted how, while on a political study trip to Melbourne in the 1990s, the two politicians "skived off" to watch the film Trainspotting in a local cinema.
"We were the only two Scots in the audience at that time, so we drew some very strange looks from other people as we were uproariously laughing at lots of jokes that nobody else in the cinema were even beginning to understand."
Elsewhere, comments by Alex Salmond caused controversy when the former First Minister said he did "not think his (Mr Kennedy's) heart was in the Better Together campaign".
Lib Dem grandee Sir Malcolm Bruce, who preceded the ex-SNP leader as MP for Gordon, denounced the comments as "truly despicable", suggesting they sought to gain political advantage from a personal tragedy.
But Mr Salmond later hit back, insisting he had meant no such thing and recognised that Mr Kennedy opposed Scottish independence and was a lifelong federalist.
"I liked Charles a great deal," declared the ex-First Minister. "He was quite the most generous politician I have ever met."
MPs will today take part in a special parliamentary session to pay tribute to and reminisce about one of their own, who was liked and admired across the House in equal measure. The LibDems have also opened an online book of condolence, with messages to be forwarded to Mr Kennedy's family.
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