Democracy is Precious - Ashdown at Hay Festival

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th May 2009

Sarah Carr & Paddy Ashdown at the Hay Festival

Paddy Ashdown, former Liberal Democrat party leader, Royal Marine Commando and international peacekeeper delivered one of the most prestigious lectures of the Hay Festival - The Joseph Rotblat Lecture 2009 on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May.

Sarah Carr, Hereford and South Herefordshire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, was on hand to met with Paddy and his wife before the lecture and as a member of the audience Sarah questioned Paddy on the vital importance of voting in the European elections on Thursday 4th June.

Following the event Sarah commented,

"I am a big fan of Paddy Ashdown. He is a true statesman with the most fascinating career from Commando, diplomat, MP, Liberal Democrat leader to international peacekeeper.

"At the Hay Festival to a packed auditorium, Paddy really brought home to people how important political-decision making is to all our lives and that democracy is precious."

Paddy Ashdown's inspirational lecture at the Hay Festival was entitled 'Ashdown's Third Law' and was based on his many years in the military and politics. He spoke about the shifting of power across the world and the truth that countries are now more interdependent upon one another whether they want to be or not - especially on issues which do not respect national borders such as international crime, terrorism or viruses such as Swine Flu.

"Everything is connected to everything" he said. Based on such globalisation and interdependence Paddy's 'Third Law' he said was "the most important thing you can do is what you can do with others".

On Sunday 31st May, Vince Cable MP, the sage of the credit crunch and highly respected Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor will be at the Hay Festival to speak about the world economic crisis and what it means.