Tribute to Patsy Calton MP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 29th May 2005

Paying tribute to Patsy Calton MP, who died today, Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

"I wish to extend my most profound sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the late Patsy Calton following her death this afternoon. In particular all our thoughts are with her husband Clive and their children.

"Patsy was a spirited and courageous member of parliament, and nowhere was that spirit and commitment more evident than in the way she continued to represent Cheadle throughout the recurrence of her illness during the General Election campaign, and most movingly when only last week she took her oath in the House of Commons.

"Despite her desperate illness her determination shone through. Cheadle has lost a wonderful constituency MP and the Liberal Democrats have lost a fine representative of our cause."