10 Comments

• Paul Burstow 30th Apr '24 - 6:35pm

  That is such sad news. I worked with and for Andrew at ALDC for a decade and then when we were both elected in 1997. He was understated, thoughtful and kind.

• Caron Lindsay 1st May '24 - 9:29am

  I am so sorry to learn of Andrew’s death. He was a lovely man, and so wise. What he didn’t know about campaigning wasn’t worth knowing.

  I heard that he was out stakeboarding his old ward over the weekend.

  He and I had one particular thing in common – people mis-spell our names all the time. I was totally mortified to have done that to him. The first time I met him, in the Dunfermline HQ, he told me off, nicely, with a twinkle in his eye. One n, two ls. I never forgot that.

  We are really going to miss him.

• David Rogers 1st May '24 - 10:37am

  Andrew will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His manner – of patience and kindness towards anyone he encountered – and willingness to engage in conversation whatever the issue at hand, will be a lasting memory for me. My first experience of his vast knowledge of campaigning at all levels came with his work for ALC/ALDC, and, as a county councillor when he and others were holding the balance of power at Cheshire CC. As Paul Burstow mentions above, his time with our councillors’ and campaigners’ organisation was enormously supportive to all of us around the country who were encountering challenges as parish, town, district, or county level. Now we will remember him, as we do others such as Maggie Clay and Tony Greaves. Later his achievements in the House of Commons and more recently the House of Lords will be better described by others, but in conclusion, as the town where I now live is part-way through the local plan process, I acknowledge his efforts to bring about that legislation during our time in the 2010-5 government.

• Suzanne and John Fle 1st May '24 - 11:06am

  I am so sorry. I’ve known Andrew since he came to Stockton in 1983 spending the night with us, advising on coping with a sudden balance of power situation when there was just the 2 of us, having just won a by election.
  His advice nearly blew the roof off the Stockton Town Hall, but he was right of course.
  I remember his advice, never to go into a negotiating meeting with all your team, always leave room for “I’ll need to take that back”.
  A friend forever after his help with our situation then, and invaluable advice when he was at ALC.
  I remember helping with his campaign to be on the negotiating group for the Liberal / SDP merger, and a midnight dash from Harrogate to somewhere in the Barnoldswick area to get his leaflet printed. He described himself as “too boring to be dangerous”.
  My description of him is a man of integrity, wisdom, skill, humour and kindness.
  Andrew was the chair of the policy working group that I was on, “Making Migration Work for Britain” in 2013/14 and he was excellent. He had a difficult balancing act, I will say no more, but he did it well!
  It was Andrew’s skill and encouragement, and behind the scenes that ensured we have the number of excellent policies on migration in general, some built on in later policy groups, but from my angle, asylum seekers and refugees, that we have in our portfolio to be proud of.

• Ish Matharu 1st May '24 - 9:03pm

  Lord Stunell was a true Public Servant. A brilliant person and an asset to the Party.
  So many great character traits. We need more like him.
  Sincere condolences to Gillian (Lady Stunell) and the wider family.

• Andrew George 1st May '24 - 11:29pm

  Andrew was clever, witty, wise and had a Bamber Gascoigne calmness and follicle thing going on.
  A radical revolutionary with a cleverly sustained conservative facade. I always enjoyed his company. It usually involved me ending up doubled in pain, writhing in laughter at his quips and asides, even when he was telling me off as chief whip for yet another act of rebellion.
  That’s not to suggest he wasn’t deeply serious about the principles and values which drove him and which encouraged him to tolerate lesser mortals (like me) in pursuit of a world built on kindness, decency, integrity, equality and one which would deliver a sustainable planet.
  I just hadn’t anticipated this would happen. Love to Gillian and family.

• Ian Shires 2nd May '24 - 10:51am

  So sorry to hear the news of Andrew’s passing. I first met him when he came to Walsall back in the early 1980’s. We had just found our small group of Liberals on Walsall Council had balance of power for the first time following the local elections, Andrew arrived as our mentor from ALC as it was back then to help us in the negotiations with the other two groups. One of the first things he asked was “Have you got a 10 Point Plan?” We hadn’t, but he helped us put one together and we have always had one at the ready ever since. That bit of advice from Andrew changed so many things as to how the Council worked. It became more open and transparent, more democratic and more about people thanks to him. So much that he shared with us at that time still sticks with me today. Such a wise and lovely person, he will be missed by many. Our thoughts are with his wife and family

• Evan Harris 3rd May '24 - 7:54am

  I am very sorry to hear this. When he was Chief Whip, concerned about a backbencher taking a different view, I found him the epitome of professionalism and cordiality. He was also a model campaigner. My condolences go to his family.

• Wendy Talley 3rd May '24 - 5:42pm

  I first met Andrew at an ALC conference in Chester many years ago. We had booked a B&B but were shocked to find that the door would be locked at 10.30pm meaning we would miss the end of the evenings proceedings. Andrew came to our rescue. He was arranging accommodation for conference goers with local members and found us a bed with a lovely couple (whose house was on high ground overlooking the river and the racecourse). Later I got to know him well when I was on the ALC and then ALDC committee. I can’t really add to what others have said, Andrew was just one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. The world would be a much better place with more people like him in it. It will be much poorer without him.

• Ian Sanderson (RM3) 5th May '24 - 2:38pm

  Andrew first impressed me by his well ordered logical speeches at conference. He came a bit closer when another leading LibDem booked to speak at our AGM couldn’t come at short notice, and HQ substituted Andrew. He found his way to our bit of outer London, which most people couldn’t find on a map. It’s also a place which I often describe as stony ground for LibDems. He was friendly and helpful and did the job he came to do efficiently and without fuss. One of the good guys. I’m really sorry to hear that he’s no longer around.