“GRANT SHAPPS is a fine man and has never done anything dodgy,” Lib Dem campaign chief Paddy Ashdown has declared.

Mr Ashdown lavished Mr Shapps with praise after the Tory chairman was accused of editing his own Wikipedia entry under an pseudonymous profile named Contribsx.

The Lib Dem particularly singled out his rival, who wrote Stinking Rich Three under the soubriquet Michael Green, for his literary talent.

“Grant is a wonderful guy — he is a credit to the Conservative Party, a fine sportsman and reads a book a day,” said Mr Ashdown in a statement.

“We could all learn a lot from him.

“He has led the Tories with exemplary skill and if, like me, you have been lucky enough to meet him — you know you have been touched by greatness.

“Quite simply, a colossus.”

The only addition to the statement was in “notes to editors.”

It said: “This press release has been edited by Wikipedia user Contribsx.”