Two leading LibDems have recently passed away and both made a huge contribution to our party:
RAY MICHIE
The former MP for Argyll and Bute, Ray Michie, has died at the age of 74.
The daughter of Lord and Lady Bannerman of Kildonan, she chaired the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1991 until 1993.
She was elected to the Argyll seat in 1987 and remained MP until she stood down from parliament in 2001, becoming a member of the House of Lords.
Scottish LibDem Leader, Nicol Stephen MSP, paid tribute to her “tireless” work for her constituents and Scotland. Charles Kennedy MP said she had a "first-class political brain".
Click on headline above to view the BBC news item about Ray. She was greatly respected in the party and will be sadly missed.
RICHARD HOLME
Former Liberal Democrat Leaders Paddy Ashdown and Menzies Campbell have paid tribute to Liberal Democrat peer Richard Holme, who has died at the age of 71.
Lord Holme, who was the party’s Northern Ireland spokesman during the 1990s, and a member of the joint consultative committee with the Government on constitutional issues, died at home in West Sussex after a long battle with cancer.
Lord Ashdown described him as a “man of outstanding talent”.
Sir Menzies said the late peer was “one of the most perceptive analysts of politics in this country”.
Current leader Nick Clegg said Lord Holme had made a “huge contribution” to the party.
Paddy Ashdown said, "I do not believe there have been many British liberals, elected or unelected have enjoyed a wider range of respect, had a more varied life, or achieved a greater influence, not just on the course of liberalism, but also on the course of government and politics in Britain, than Richard Holme."
I remember helping at a council by-election in Cheltenham in 1981 along with Martin Horwood, both of us 18 or so at the time, and Martin is now Cheltenham's MP. Richard Holme did so much to build the LibDems in Cheltenham and he made a great contribution building to our party.