Alan Beith
October 2014
March 2010
June 2009
January 2008
April 2005
March 2001
- Andrew Roth's parliament profilesAlan BeithMy most vivid memory of Alan Beith, the cuddly, waddling Liberal Democrat MP is of meeting him on Victoria street in Westminster, London, sporting a broad-brimmed black fedora worthy of a Mafia don. It was during his 1988 campaign against Paddy Ashdown for the party leadership. But the black fedora was not enough to overcome his often noted 'charisma bypass'. He lost, and became a loyal deputy to Mr Ashdown and later Charles Kennedy.