Graham Watson mourns the death of political mentor and friend Russell Johnston

11.45.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 28th Jul 2008

Russell Johnston

Following the death last night in Paris of Lord Russell Johnston, Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson who represents the South West and Gibraltar and who is leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament commented on the loss of his friend and political mentor;

"Russell Johnston's incisive thinking was often ahead of its time and as Leader of the Scottish Liberal Party he inspired a generation of young Liberals in his native land. He will be remembered equally however as a consummate Westminster politician whose work on the ratification of the EU's Maastricht Treaty was testimony to his considerable skills; and as a committed Liberal Internationalist and believer in the importance of supranational institutions who served in the pre-1979 European Parliament but left his mark indelibly on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which he presided and on which he led the Liberal Group.

Russell's gaelic-english bilingualism and his love of language and literature made him a lyrical and forceful communicator on the political platform and in prolific postcards to his friends. A remarkable energy powered a political career spanning half a century, throughout which his playful sense of humour endeared him to many. I am proud to have had Russell Johnston as a political mentor and a friend."