Teddy's death brings age of Camelot to an end

Published on Wednesday 26 August 2009 22:10

POLITICIANS on both sides of the Atlantic have paid tribute to the veteran United States senator Ted Kennedy, who has died aged 77.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would be mourned "in every continent", while US president Barack Obama hailed Mr Kennedy, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last year, as "the greatest United States senator of our time".

Mr Brown said he was proud to count Mr Kennedy – the brother of the assassinated US president John F Kennedy – as a friend. He said: "Senator Edward Kennedy will be mourned not just in America but in every continent. He is admired around the world as the senator of senators. He led the world in championing children's education and health care, and believed that every single child should have the chance to realise their potential to the full.

"Even facing illness and death, he never stopped fighting for the causes which were his life's work. I am proud to have counted him as a friend and proud that the UK recognised his service earlier this year with the award of an honorary knighthood."

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Mr Kennedy was a dominant force in US politics for almost 50 years – he had been senator for Massachusetts since 1962.

Mr Obama said he was "heartbroken" to hear of his death. He went on: "An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest US senator of our time."

Dawn broke over Washington's Capitol building, the home of the Senate, with the US flag flying at half mast.

The Kennedy family had announced Mr Kennedy's death in a brief statement early yesterday. It read: "Edward M Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port (Massachusetts]. We've lost the irreplaceable centre of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever."

Edward Kennedy was the only one of four brothers not to die a violent death. His brother Joseph was killed in an air crash in the Second World War, and both John and presidential hopeful Robert were assassinated in the 1960s.

Edward had been widely expected to be the next Kennedy in the White House, but he was never able to fully overcome the scandal caused in 1969, when he drove a car off a bridge at Chappaquiddick, near his home, killing his female passenger. The incident helped derail his only presidential bid, more than a decade later.

But he was the third longest serving senator in US history and remained active in politics right up until his death, famously endorsing Mr Obama for the Democratic nomination during a tight race with Hillary Clinton last year.

He was awarded his honorary knighthood for "services to British-American relationships and to Northern Ireland".

Former prime minister Tony Blair remembered Mr Kennedy's long-standing interest in Northern Ireland and hailed his role in the peace process. He said: "I saw his focus and determination first hand in Northern Ireland, where his passionate commitment was matched with a practical understanding of what needed to be done to bring about peace and to sustain it."

First Minister Alex Salmond described Mr Kennedy as "as a towering figure in progressive US politics" and "the most influential senator of his generation".

LABOUR ATTACKS SNP TRIBUTE

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond was last night accused of "nauseating hypocrisy" and "political grave robbing" for paying tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy who died yesterday.

The comment by the Labour Party has sparked a row, with allegations that it is now "playing politics" over the statesman's death.

Both the SNP and Mr Salmond issued statements mourning the death of Senator Kennedy, who died of brain cancer aged 77.

However, one of the Senator's last acts was to call on SNP justice secretary Kenny MacAskill not to release the Lockerbie bomber.

A Labour spokesman said: "It's nauseating hypocrisy for the SNP to praise Ted Kennedy after his death."