FORMER Hereford MP Paul Keetch has died aged 56.

Mr Keetch, a Lib Dem MP for Hereford from 1997 to 2010, died yesterday in London, his family announced in a statement today.

First elected to Hereford City Council at the age of 21, Mr Keetch was the then youngest City Councillor in the UK. 

He became the MP for Hereford at his first attempt in 1997, defending the seat twice in 2001 and 2005, before standing down prior to the 2010 election.

As well as being an assiduous constituency MP, his work in Parliament focused on Foreign Affairs and Defence, serving as the Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson from 1999 – 2005, a period that included the attack on the World Trade Centre and the 2003 war in Iraq.

Paul was a close friend and supporter of former Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy, serving as an usher at his wedding, and, along with Kennedy and the Party's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Menzies Campbell, was instrumental in taking and defending the Liberal Democrats’ decision to oppose the war in Iraq in 2003.

As well as politics, Mr Keetch was a knowledgeable military historian and championed military welfare causes throughout his time in Parliament, which included the rights of unmarried partners of military personnel and the quality of equipment and accommodation.

In a statement, Mr Keetch's wife and son, William, said: "Paul frequently said that some of his most satisfying achievements were as a constituency MP in Herefordshire.

"He took pride in the part he played in getting flood defences for Hereford and Ross on Wye, securing the future of the County Hospital in Hereford and campaigning for more beds and staff whilst securing funding for the A&E and maternity departments locally; he secured an Education Action Zone working with business and the community to provide funding and facilities to improve schools, as well as supporting bids for funding new school buildings and projects throughout the constituency.

"He ensured that every school was invited to tour the Houses of Parliament and did his utmost to meet them and conduct part of the tour personally, encouraging young people to enjoy and understand politics and history; he also held a Christmas Card competition for schools and was delighted so many participated, allowing him to produce the winning entry as his annual Christmas Card which would be distributed all over the world eventually, such was the breadth of contact and friendship he made in his career."

Lucy Hurds, who is the Liberal Democrat's parliamentary candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire in next month's General Election, said Mr Keetch was a "fantastic constituency MP".

"We are all devastated," she added.

Mr Keetch suffered a major health scare in 2007 after suffering a cardiac arrest on a transatlantic flight caused by a heart arrhythmia.

He made a strong recovery and returned to Parliament to serve as both a local MP and a Party Whip.