I think its fair to remember the real man rathere than a sanitised version.I absolutely detest the trend of turning people into saints when they die,even if they were real nasty pieces of work.
I do think Paddy Ashdown had potential as a politician that wasn't fulfilled and could have been a decent PM ,certainly better than some we've had /have .I dont think he had staying power and he wanted a rapid assent and when it didn't work as he wanted he moved onto something else.
However his affair affected that only he could tell ,but I'm sure he will be remembered with affection by many of his party and the public .I too was a Charles Kennedy fan ,but he was flawed too and not destined for the top ,maybe the Hof C subsidised bars should be closed to stop good politicians drinking themselves to death .