Generous tributes were paid yesterday to the popular Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Michie of Gallanach, who died suddenly at her home in Oban on Tuesday night (Melanie Reid writes). Baroness Michie, a former MP, had endured a period of bad health following a hip replacement two years ago which went wrong, followed by the discovery of cancer. She was 74.

The former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy said that she had a “first-class political brain” and Alex Salmond, the First Minister, described her as someone who was incredibly highly regarded across the parties and said: “We will miss her very much.”

Baroness Michie, a mother of three, was first elected as the MP for Argyll and Bute in 1987, and held the seat until she stood down from Parliament in 2001. She then became a member of the House of Lords, and was the first peer to pledge the oath of allegiance in Gaelic.

Mr Kennedy said: “Ray Michie was one of my closest friends and professional confidantes in politics. The very sad news of her passing leaves public life much the poorer.”

“Alongside her personal charm and tremendous sense of humour and fun was a first-class political brain which was able to judge individuals and issues with great shrewdness.

“She was never taken in by exaggeration and had a knack of getting right to the genuine heart of the matter. Her advice was always worth having.

“I was sorry when she decided to retire from the Commons but delighted when she accepted - after a little persuasion - my offer of a life peerage.”

And he added: “We have all lost a true friend of principle and of people.”

Lady Michie is a former Lib Dem spokeswoman on Scottish affairs and was chairperson of Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1991 to 1993.

Last year she was appointed to the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, set up to investigate the state of television production and broadcasting in Scotland, and continued to serve despite her illness.

Nicol Stephen, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said that Lady Michie, the daughter of the late Lord and Lady Bannerman of Kildonan, had been one of the leading figures in the party for many years.

Mr Stephen said: “I can still remember the huge excitement when she was first elected as MP for Argyll and Bute. She always fought tirelessly for her constituents and for Scotland.

“We shared an office in the House of Commons and she always gave the very best of advice.”