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| Ex-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown dies aged 77 | Ex-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown dies aged 77 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ex-Liberal Democrats leader Paddy Ashdown has died aged 77 after a short illness, a party spokesperson has said. | |
| The former MP for Yeovil, who "made an immeasurable contribution to furthering the cause of liberalism", passed away on Saturday evening, a statement said. | |
| Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said Lord Ashdown had "made a real mark" on Parliament and it was "a hugely sad day". | |
| Lord Ashdown was diagnosed with bladder cancer in October. | Lord Ashdown was diagnosed with bladder cancer in October. |
| The longest serving leader of the Lib Dems in its history, Lord Ashdown led the party between 1988 and 1999, when it became a growing force in UK politics. | The longest serving leader of the Lib Dems in its history, Lord Ashdown led the party between 1988 and 1999, when it became a growing force in UK politics. |
| Former Lib Dem leader and ex-deputy PM Sir Nick Clegg said Lord Ashdown was "the most heartfelt person I have known". | |
| "Paddy was the reason I entered politics," he said. | "Paddy was the reason I entered politics," he said. |
| "He was the reason I became a liberal. And he became a lifelong mentor, friend and guide." | "He was the reason I became a liberal. And he became a lifelong mentor, friend and guide." |
| Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "Paddy Ashdown was a hero to me, he saved and revived the Liberal Democrats at our lowest ebb, and then led us to our best result for 70 years. | Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "Paddy Ashdown was a hero to me, he saved and revived the Liberal Democrats at our lowest ebb, and then led us to our best result for 70 years. |
| "As a movement, we owe him our very existence." | "As a movement, we owe him our very existence." |
| Sir Vince said Lord Ashdown was "a great inspiration". | |
| "He was full of life, full of ideas," he told BBC News. | |
| "Only three months ago he was absolutely buzzing with energy and ideas at our party conference". | |
| The party's leader in the House of Lords, Dick Newby, said Lord Ashdown was "a natural leader" who "kept the Liberal Democrats alive in our early years". | |
| Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair said he admired the former Lib Dem leader "as a man and as a political visionary and leader". | |
| He said: "He had courage, personal and political, unafraid to speak his mind yet always open to the views of others. He was one of the least tribal politicians I have ever known." | |
| Ex-Conservative prime minister Sir John Major hailed his former opponent as "a man of duty, passion, and devotion to the country he loved - right up to the very end". | |
| He added: "In government, Paddy Ashdown was my opponent. In life, he was a much-valued friend." | |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Lord Ashdown would be "greatly missed". | |
| Lord Ashdown was an influential figure within the party and a strong supporter of Nick Clegg's controversial decision to take the party into coalition with the Conservatives in 2010. | |
| Prior to entering Parliament in 1983, he served as a Royal Marine and in the intelligence services. | |
| After standing down as an MP in 2001, he served for four years as the United Nations' high representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina. |