Paddy Ashdown, Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, who has died aged 77, was perhaps the most unlikely leader the Liberal strand of British politics has ever had. The accent was soon lost, though the nickname never was, and there Ashdown obtained a military scholarship, which paid the school fees. In interviews many years later, Ashdown insisted that had he been an Ulster Catholic he would probably have joined the IRA, or at least campaigned for civil rights himself. Following the resignation of the previous Liberal leader, David Steel, Ashdown won the support of 72% of the party faithful against 28% for his rival, Alan Beith. • Jeremy John Durham (Paddy) Ashdown, Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, politician, born 27 February 1941; died 22 December 2018

Source: The Guardian December 22, 2018 20:50 UTC