Rick Lowe, who founded The Guernsey Party, has died.
Mr Lowe was a candidate in this year's general election but pulled out because of ill health.
Mr Lowe was born and educated in Guernsey. He spent a number of years in Australia before returning to the island where he ran a group of small companies.
In a post on social media, Deputy Mark Helyar, who leads the Guernsey Party, said that he was "the inspiration for a new way of doing politics in Guernsey" and adds that Mr Lowe will be "much missed".
The Guernsey Party posted that: "We are devastated by this evening’s news that our inspiration and founder, Rick Lowe, has passed away after a valiant battle against illness. Rick will be sorely missed by his loving family and by his many friends. Our thoughts are with them all. RIP Rick."


Prominent Guernsey man appointed Commissioner for Standards
Record festive parcel delivery for Guernsey Post
Channel Islands Ferry Operators Working Group expands
Sculpture to remember the Alderney evacuees
Channel Islands could technically have a White Christmas
Flu cases in Guernsey 'creeping up'
CI ferry operators to work together to improve inter-islands travel
Talks ongoing to enable Guernsey ferries to access St Malo