Paddy Ashdown

As a leader he was a notable proponent of co-operation between the Liberal Democrats and the "New" Labour Party, holding regular secret meetings with Tony Blair to discuss the possibility of a coalition government. After Labour's 1997 victory, he was instrumental in establishing a "joint Cabinet committee,” the Jenkins Commission, to consider electoral reform. The plan to bring Liberal Democrats into the government continued, according to Ashdown's published diaries, but foundered on opposition from senior Labour ministers. Ashdown resigned the leadership in 1999. Knighted in 2000, he became a life peer in the House of Lords after retiring from the Commons in 2001.

After leaving British politics, he took up the post of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, reflecting his long-time advocacy of international intervention in that region and succeeded Wolfgang Petritsch in the position created under the Dayton Agreement.

Born in India, Lord Ashdown largely grew up in Northern Ireland where he earned the nickname "Paddy" and was educated in England. He served in the Royal Marines as an officer in the commandos and the Special Boat Service. After leaving the Marines, he worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and as a youth worker before being elected Liberal Member of Parliament.

In the House of Commons he was SDP-Liberal Alliance spokesman on trade and industry and education. He was elected the leader of the new party that became the Liberal Democrats and led the Liberal Democrats in two general elections, in 1992 and 1997.

Ashdown is a gifted linguist, and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and other languages. He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) in the New Year Honours 2006.