Paul Keetch has died

Sad news this evening. Paul Keetch, Liberal Democrat MP for Hereford from 1997 to 2010, has died.

Liberal Democrat Voice points us to a report in the Ross Gazette:

Paul was a liberal, a democrat and an internationalist and amongst Liberal Politicians, a rarity in that he had never lost an election. 

He was elected to Hereford City Council at the age of 21, making him the then youngest City Councillor in the UK. 

As a proud Herefordian, born and raised in the city, there was only one place he wanted to represent in Parliament and he became the MP for Hereford at his first attempt in 1997. He defended the seat twice in 2001 and 2005, before standing down prior to the 2010 election.

Paul was the most senior Liberal Democrat to campaign for a Leave vote in last year's referendum.

Paul Keetch launches Liberal Leave

Embed from Getty Images

The former Liberal Democrat MP Paul Keetch announced in an article on the Independent website this afternoon that he will be voting for Britain to leave the European Union in June's referendum.

Keetch, who sat for Hereford between 1997 and 2010, also announced that he has joined with other party members and supporters to set up the Liberal Leave campaign group.

He makes some valid points in the article:

Why should African countries be forced to pay 30 – 60 per cent import tariffs if they want to sell cocoa products to British chocolate factories? Are they not entitled, especially given Europe’s terrible legacy of colonialism, to a fair deal and an equal footing? 

Thousands of refugees are fleeing the Middle East and North Africa yet the ‘free movement of peoples’ inside the European Union has in effect become a closed door to the rest of the world.

The trouble is that a vote to leave the EU would strengthen the hand of politicians who oppose the policies Keetch favours.

Few of his new allies in the Out movement will agree with him about Britain's colonial past or want to see more immigrants from beyond Europe. Nor is public opinion likely to move in that direction if Out triumphs.

It is hard to agree that a fight for a more liberal Britain should start with our cutting ourselves off from our closest political and geographical allies.

I also note Paul Keetch's comment about "those of us who fought for our membership in the 1970s". 

Paul was born in 1961. Britain agreed an accession treaty to the European Economic Community on 22 January 1972.

If he did any campaigning for British membership of the EEC he was in short trousers at the time - or at least in flared jeans as a precocious 13-year-old for the 1975 referendum campaign.

Paul Keetch out of hospital

It has not made the Hereford Times yet, but Colin Ross reported on Friday that Paul has been discharged from hospital.

Paul Keetch latest

From the Hereford Times:

Doctors at the London Chest Hospital have today confirmed that Hereford MP Paul Keetch suffered a ventricular arrhythmia, a rhythm disturbance of the heart, whilst on a transatlantic flight to the USA on Sunday, 8 July.

Having undergone a number of tests, doctors are now planning to fit Mr Keetch with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator ICD, which is similar to a pacemaker.

While Mr Keetch may never suffer another abnormal heart rhythm again, he will be safe in the knowledge that he has a built in life saver, should he do so, his constituency office said this morning.

Colin Ross reads the Hereford Times too.

Keetch: "My heart stopped for at least a minute"

More news on Paul Keetch's recovery from the newspaper of the moment - the Hereford Times:

Hereford's MP says he's recovering by the hour from the mystery illness that struck him down on a trans-Atlantic flight on Sunday.

Speaking from his hospital bed this evening (Friday) he told the Hereford Times: "I am a very lucky man, twice over.

"If I had been asleep when it happened I would probably be dead.

"If I hadn't been on a flight with a defibrillator and medically trained staff, I would probably be dead.

"Tests are still going on to find out what is wrong with me but I know my heart stopped for at least a minute.

Paul Keetch out of intensive care

The Hereford Times reports:

Hereford MP Paul Keetch has been moved out of an intensive care unit at the London Chest Hospital.

The Liberal Democrat politician fell seriously ill while on board a flight to the USA on Sunday.

The Virgin 747 was turned back to Heathrow and Mr Keetch was rushed to the Royal London Hospital before being transferred to the chest hospital.

The Liberal Democrat constituency office in Hereford this morning confirmed that Mr Keetch had been moved out from intensive care, but said he remained in hospital where his condition was described as stable.

Paul Keetch taken ill

This morning's papers are reporting that the Lib Dem MP for Hereford was taken ill on a flight to America last night.

According to the Daily Telegraph:

Paul Keetch, 46, MP for Hereford, was rushed to hospital on his return, a party spokesman confirmed.

He said the MP’s flight was one and a half hours out of Britain when he was taken ill. Army medics who happened to be on board decided Mr Keetch was in “some considerable distress” and that the best option was to head back to Britain.

I am sure we all wish him a swift recovery.

Paul Keetch to leave the Commons

Liberal Democrat Voice tells us that Paul Keetch is to stand down as MP for Hereford at the next election. As the site adds:

Keetch’s seat will be a prime target for ambitious PPCs - with a majority of just 962, Hereford is winnable next time, but needs a lot of attention. Paul Keetch has pledged to work closely with his successor.

As a service to those ambitious PPCs, here is a link to the Hereford tourism site and a picture of the catherdral.