Alex Salmond says Charles Kennedy's 'heart was not in' the Better Together referendum campaign

The former first minister described Mr Kennedy a 'fine human being'

Charles Kennedy is canvassing in Dunfermline for a by-election a month after his resignation as Lib Dem leader (Getty)

Charles Kennedy’s ‘heart was not in’ the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence, Alex Salmond has said.

The former Scottish first minister described Mr Kennedy as “an extremely generous human being” who had “the common touch”.

But he added that he did not believe Mr Kennedy’s support for Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom was wholehearted and that he would have been more at home defending membership of the European Union.

Alex Salmond (Jeff J Mitchell / Getty)

“In terms of the independence referendum, I don’t think his heart was in the ‘Better Together’ campaign,” he told BBC News.

“His heart would have been in a pro-European campaign, that’s a campaign that Charles would have engaged in heart and soul. That is something he absolutely believed in.”

He added: “He was an interesting, complex character, but above all an outstanding communicator. But, a fine human being.”

A number of people on social media were critical of Mr Salmond's comments, perceiving them to be inappropriately political:

Mr Kennedy died suddenly at home in Fort William aged 55, according to a statement by this family.

Police Scotland said the death is not being treated as suspicious. A post-mortem is set to be carried out.

“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,” his family’s statement said.

Mr Kennedy led the Liberal Democrats to their best ever general election result in 2005 when they gained 62 seats.

He led the party between 1999 and 2006 and was an MP in the Highlands of Scotland between 1983 and 2015, having lost his seat to the SNP at the last election.