Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown dies at 77

He was, in the words of one of the former prime ministers paying tribute, one of the most talented politicians never to hold high office.

Lord Paddy Ashdown – a former Royal Marine who led the Liberal Democrats for more than a decade – has died at the age of 77.

He’d been diagnosed with bladder cancer just two months ago. He’ll be most fondly remembered in south Somerset where he was MP for Yeovil for nearly two decades.