The news of Paddy Ashdown’s death tonight will have doubtless come as a shock to our readers, and to the wider Liberal Democrat family.
Members of the Liberal Democrat Voice Team, like so many Liberal Democrat activists and campaigners over the years, have our own Paddy stories, of kindnesses and of events. Paddy was seldom dull, even if you disagreed with him at any one time.
But, as the news of the death of a man many of us thought of as almost indestructible sinks in, we would like to offer our condolences to Jane, to the Ashdown family and friends. Our thoughts are with them at this time.
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3 Comments
Yes, thoughts with family and friends
When Paddy was leader he went out on a fishing boat in the North Sea (and down a coalmine etcetera). In a book he argued that throwing away dead fish was wasteful (stronger language available). Many fishermen instinctively agree, as do some slow learners in government. The main effect is to feed seagulls, environmental recycling?
He did not quote the King’s Regulations, but, at a large fringe meeting at federal conference Paddy told us twice that he had been instructed in the use of toilet paper, three pieces only, “one up, one down and one to polish”.