Rt Hon Lord “Paddy” Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon KBE

Paddy’s last appointment was as the High Representative and European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Paddy has had a wide experience both in the public and private sector starting as a young Royal Marine officer. Paddy finished his military career as an officer in the Special Forces, when he left to join the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. After four years participating in various international conferences and negotiations in Geneva, he returned to the UK to pursue his political ambitions. Working in local business Paddy stood at the 1979 General Election as a Liberal candidate in the Yeovil Constituency, winning the seat in 1983. After the merging of the Liberal Party and the Social Democrats in 1988 Paddy was elected their Leader, a position he held until he stood down in 1999. Paddy retired from the House of Commons at the following General Election in 2001, when he was made a Peer.