Former Lib Dem leader and Far North MP Lord Robert Maclennan dies
Lord Robert Maclennan of Rogart, who served as an MP for the Far North for over three decades, has died at the age of 83, it has been announced.
Lord Maclennan was a former leader of the Social Democrat Party and joint interim leader of the Liberal Democrats.
He served as an MP, first for Caithness and Sutherland and then after boundary changes, for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross from 1966 until 2001.
After his retirement at the 2001 general election, he was raised to the House of Lords, elevated to a life peer as Baron Maclennan of Rogart. He was the party's Cabinet Office and Scotland spokesman in the House of Lords until 2015.
Tributes have been made for the "honest and hardworking" politician.
Jamie Stone, who has succeeded Lord Maclennan as a Lib Dem MP for the Far North constituency, said: "It is desperately sad to hear of the death of Bob Maclennan, former MP for Caithness and Sutherland and Easter Ross.
"I owe him nearly everything in terms of my political career. He was a fantastic MP who would go to the ends of the earth and back to help a constituent.
"He was dearly loved in the Far North for that. My heart goes out to his family - he was a truly great man, an example to us all."
Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey said: "It is with great sadness that we learn our friend and colleague Bob Maclennan has died.
"Bob was the kind of politician we all strive to be.
"Considerate, honest and hardworking with an uncanny ability to reach out across the political spectrum to find common ground.
"He was also a great servant, over many decades, to his Highland constituents. A passionate advocate of devolution, he campaigned tirelessly for the creation of the Scottish parliament and wider constitutional reform."
