Lib Dem peer Lord Jones of Cheltenham dies aged 74

Liberal Democrat adjacent and erstwhile MP Nigel Jones has died astatine the property of 74.

He entered the House of Commons successful 1992, taking the spot from the Conservatives. He was elevated to the House of Lords successful 2005.

Lord Jones survived a sword onslaught by a mentally sick constituent Robert Ashman successful 2000.

The onslaught claimed the beingness of Andrew Pennington - a Liberal Democrat councillor - who had been successful his constituency offices astatine the time.

During the consequent tribunal case, Lord Jones described however Mr Pennington had tried to get Ashman disconnected him.

He told Bristol Crown Court: "Pennington was live but helium chose to enactment to effort to get the suspect disconnected me.

"It was the bravest enactment I person ever experienced and helium saved my life."

Lord Jones told of however the tendons of his manus had been "filleted" arsenic helium tried to prehend the Samurai-style sword from Ashman, requiring 57 stitches.

Before entering politics, Lord Jones spent twenty-five years successful the IT industry, spending clip moving successful the Middle East, Scandinavia, Hong Kong and Jamaica.

During his parliamentary career, helium served arsenic the Liberal Democrat spokesperson connected lodging and section government, and aboriginal arsenic spokesperson for subject and technology.

He besides served successful the Select Committee connected Standards and Privileges.

The assemblage was acceptable up by John Major successful 1994 aft a fig of scandals rocked his government, that came to beryllium known arsenic the "sleaze-busters".

Lord Jones of Cheltenham passed distant connected 7 November during bosom surgery. He is survived by his woman Katy, lad Sam and duplicate daughters Lucy and Amy.

Fellow Liberal Democrat adjacent Don Foster, Baron Foster of Bath, paid tribute to Lord Jones, saying helium "was ever there, ever bully fun".

Baron Foster told BBC West that Lord Jones was a truly hard moving constituency MP, I cognize helium was precise good loved.

"His bulk utilized to spell up predetermination aft predetermination until helium retired successful 2005 and went into the House of Lords.

"But of people the shadiness implicit everything was erstwhile that onslaught happened successful 2000."

Baron Foster continued: "It's a large loss, helium was conscionable 1 twelvemonth and 1 time younger than me, and helium was loved by truthful galore people."

He added that helium had been successful interaction with Lord Jones via WhatsApp close up until helium went into operating theatre.