		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="111265417"
		 data-section="1">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><p>Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has died at the age of 77 after a short illness.</p>
<p>The UK politician and former Royal Marine, who led the party for from 1988 to 1999, passed away on Saturday evening, a party spokesman said.</p>
<p>He revealed in November that he was being treated for bladder cancer.</p>
<p>Vince Cable, the party’s current leader, said it was “a hugely sad day” for the party and everyone else across politics “who had immense affection and respect for Paddy”.</p>
<p>Cable said: <em>“He was famous for his politics, but his talents extended well beyond that arena.</em></p>
<p><em>“He was an accomplished author, and had spent many years serving the country before he got near the House of Commons.</em></p>
<div data-glade="" data-ad-unit-path="/1005055/n_bn_mpu_start_300x250" data-fetch="false">
<p><em>“Few people know how hard he fought to get into politics following his service in the marines and diplomatic service.</em></p>
<p><em>“He exercised every ounce of his considerable personal stamina to win the Yeovil seat.</em></p>
<p><em>“He was a personal example to me and to many other candidates.”</em></p>
<p>Mr Ashdown, MP for Yeovil from 1983 to 2001, hit the headlines four years into his leadership when, in 1992, he revealed he had had a five-month affair with his secretary, which led the Sun to nickname him “Paddy Pantsdown”.</p>
<p>His marriage to wife Jane survived the scandal.</p>
<p>After stepping down as leader in 1999, Mr Ashdown – who served in the Special Boat Service during his time in the forces – was knighted and then made a peer as Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon.</p>
<p>He became High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2002.</p>
<p>Nick Clegg, who would as leader take the Liberal Democrats into government in 2010, said: <em>“Paddy was the reason I entered politics. He was the reason I became a liberal.</em></p>
<div class="ad-container">
<div id="div-gpt-ad-incontent-2" data-google-query-id="CIHo2tOotN8CFUKNaQodgDsIXQ">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/1005055/n_bn_mpu_start_300x250_1__container__"><em>“And he became a lifelong mentor, friend and guide. Much will, rightly, be said about him in the days ahead. He was a soldier, a diplomat, a writer, a leader, a campaigner, a servant of his constituents, and an international statesman.&#8221;</em></div>
</div>
</div>
<p><em>&#8220;But the thing I admired most in him is that rarest of gifts – a politician without an ounce of cynicism.&#8221;</em></p>
<p><em>“He was the most heartfelt person I have known – loyal and generous to a fault. Like so many others, I will miss him terribly.”</em></p>
</div>
			<div style="padding-bottom:15px;" class="wordads-tag" data-slot-type="belowpost">
				<div id="atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ece7cc42775">
					<script type="text/javascript">
						window.getAdSnippetCallback = function () {
							if ( false === ( window.isWatlV1 ?? false ) ) {
								// Use Aditude scripts.
								window.tudeMappings = window.tudeMappings || [];
								window.tudeMappings.push( {
									divId: 'atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ece7cc42775',
									format: 'belowpost',
								} );
							}
						}

						if ( document.readyState === 'loading' ) {
							document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', window.getAdSnippetCallback );
						} else {
							window.getAdSnippetCallback();
						}
					</script>
				</div>
			</div>
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
