Former Liberal Democrats leader Paddy Ashdown has died at the age of 77, the party has said.

Former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg is among those who has led the tributes to the man who was the first leader of the party after the merger of the Liberal and Social Democratic parties.

Sir Nick told Sky News Lord Ashdown was a pivotal factor in the Lib Dems going into coalition with the Conservatives after the 2010 election.

He said: "He was not only a supporting factor, he was a pivotal factor. Like all of us, he wrestled with what was right for the country, after that indecisive election in 2010, and he came to the view that it was the right thing to put the national interest first - whatever the political risks were for the party."

Paddy Ashdown says he joined the Lib Dems because of liberalism

He added: "He was in many ways the embodiment of vitality and energy in everything that he did so it's very difficult to imagine him not being around... so for him to not be around is just so tragic."


Lord Ashdown's death comes a month after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.

He said on Twitter his condition did "not merit any fuss", adding that "many go through this".

A Lib Dem spokesperson said Lord Ashdown died on Saturday evening "following a short illness".

They added: "He will be desperately missed by everyone at the Liberal Democrats as a dear friend and colleague, and remembered as someone who made an immeasurable contribution to furthering the cause of liberalism."

Born in India in 1941 as the eldest of seven children, Jeremy John Durham Ashdown (who preferred to be known as Paddy) served with the Royal Marines from 1959 and then the Special Boat Service in the 1960s.

Paddy Ashdown is seen in this archive footage at a 1992 campaign rally

In 1971, he left military life and joined the Foreign Office, moving his wife Jane and their two children to Geneva while he was attached to the United Nations.

But the couple became restless and worried about their children's education so decided to return to England, settling into Jane's home town of Yeovil.

In 1983, he snatched the seat from the Conservatives, who had held it for years and remained as MP in the seat until 2001.

Image: Lord Ashdown celebrates with his wife Jane after becoming Lib Dem leader in July 1988

In 1988, he became leader of the Liberal Democrats and transformed the party into a political force with 46 MPs by 1997.

Current Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said Lord Ashdown had "exercised every ounce of his considerable personal stamina" to win the Yeovil seat.

"He was a personal example to me and to many other candidates," he said.

Sir Vince said the former party leader was "always listened to, in particular, on international issues and defence" and that he often "took up unpopular causes where he was respected for his convictions".

Image: Lord Ashdown was knighted in November 2000

"He took the Lib Dems from position in the mid 80s when we were at a very low ebb, and gradually built it up and within a decade we were then a major force and I was one of the MPs who came in on his coat tails, but he was also important internationally," the Lib Dem leader told Sky News.

Lord Ashdown's leadership was rocked in 1992 by revelations of his five-month affair with former secretary Patricia Howard, but his marriage survived.

After stepping down as party leader in 1999, he was knighted and then made a peer as Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon.

Image: Paddy Ashdown campaigns ahead of the EU referendum with David Cameron and Neil Kinnock

As a former military man, he was a regular spokesman in parliament on the wars in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

He went on to spend four years as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from May 2002, reflecting his passionate advocacy for international intervention in that region.

He was also a witness for the prosecution at the war crimes trial of former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.

Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major said: "In government, Paddy Ashdown was my opponent. In life, he was a much-valued friend. Throughout his life, Paddy was a true patriot, whose overriding wish was to serve his country."

Tony Blair described him as a political visionary and leader and said he was excellent company and always fun to be around.

David Cameron said he had seldom known a public servant with so much energy and dynamism.

Theresa May said that Lord Ashdown had served his country with distinction and would be sorely missed.

Olly Grender, the former Lib Dem head of communications who shared an office with Lord Ashdown for the past five years, said he was "adored", "iconic" and a "great mentor".

She told Sky News: "He was my boss, my leader - he was the kind of political leader you would literally follow into the trenches with just a Swiss army knife in your hand and follow anywhere.

"We shared an office in the House of Lords and it was joyful, gossipy and challenging on a daily basis - because he never ever stopped wanting to deliver on political change."

Lord Ashdown is survived by his wife Jane and two adult children.