James Tapsfield

Senior Liberal Democrat Lord Holme has died after a long illness, it was announced yesterday.

The peer was the party's Northern Ireland spokesman throughout the 1990s and a close adviser to former leaders Sir Menzies Campbell, Paddy Ashdown and David Steel.

He was also a distinguished parliamentarian, having served as chairman of the Lords constitution committee and been made a Privy Councillor in 2000.

A family spokesman said: "Lord Holme of Cheltenham died yesterday at his home in Lurgashall, Sussex, after a long battle with cancer. He was 71. A funeral will be held in the village church and a memorial service will take place in London at a later date."

Lord Richard Holme - who leaves his wife Lady Holme, two sons, two daughters and numerous grandchildren - was chairman of the successful 1997 LibDem election campaign.

Educated at Oxford and Harvard, he acted as chancellor of the University of Greenwich, and was a visiting professor at Thunderbird Business School in Arizona.

LibDem grandees immediately began paying tribute to his contribution. Lord Ashdown said: "My heart and thoughts go out to his wife and family. He was a man of outstanding talent, who was liberal to the core of his being."

Sir Menzies described him as "one of the most perceptive analysts of politics in this country".

LibDem leader Nick Clegg said: "His wisdom, kindness and advice were a great source of support for every party leader during that time."