MP Patsy Calton dies of cancer
Liberal Democrat MP Patsy Calton has died of cancer, aged 56.
She was re-elected on May 5 for the Cheadle constituency with an increased majority of 4,020.
Mrs Calton took her oath as an MP last Tuesday, arriving in the Commons in a wheelchair.
Last night, Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy paid tribute to the “spirited and courageous” MP.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“Cheadle has lost a wonderful constituency MP and the Liberal Democrats have lost a fine representative of our cause.”
Mrs Calton had been the party spokesman on Northern Ireland from 2001 to 2002, before assuming the health brief.
