EX-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown has died aged 77, says his spokesman.
Ashdown revealed he had bladder cancer in November 2018.
“I have known for about three weeks that I am suffering from a cancer of the bladder,” he told Somerset Live. “I’m being effectively and wonderfully looked after by everyone at Yeovil hospital, in whom I have complete confidence.
“We must see about the outcome, which as always with things like this is unpredictable. I’ve fought a lot of battles in my life.”
Lib Dem leader, Vince Cable, called Ashdown “one of the great British political figures of the past 30 years and the man who built the Lib Dems into a parliamentary force”.
Ashdown started his career in the Armed Forces as a Royal Marine.
He represented the Somerset constituency of Yeovil from 1983 to 2001.
He led the Lib Dems from 1988, after the SDP and Liberal Party merged.
Tim Farron said: “Paddy has been a hero and mentor of mine for many years. He saved the party during its darkest hour and led it to its greatest successes.”
