Catherine Ashton

Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton o Upholland, PC (born 20 Mairch 1956) is a Breetish Labour politeecian who in 2009 acame the Heich Representative o the Union for Foreign Affairs an Security Policy for the European Union. Unner the Treaty o Lisbon, this post is combined wi the post o Vice-Preses o the European Commission. She held this poseetion until November 2014.


The Baroness Ashton o Upholland

Catherine Ashton 2012.jpg
Heich Representative o the Union for Foreign Affairs an Security Policy
In office
1 December 2009 – 1 November 2014
Precedit biJavier Solana (Heich Representative for CFSP)
Benita Ferrero-Waldner (Commissioner for External Relations)
Succeedit biFederica Mogherini
First Vice Preses o the European Commission
In office
9 Februar 2010 – 1 November 2014
PresesJosé Manuel Barroso
Precedit biMargot Wallström
Succeedit biFrans Timmermans
European Commissioner for Trade
In office
3 October 2008 – 1 December 2009
PresesJosé Manuel Barroso
Precedit biPeter Mandelson
Succeedit biBenita Ferrero-Waldner
Leader o the Hoose o Lords
Lord Preses o the Cooncil
In office
27 Juin 2007 – 3 October 2008
Prime MeenisterGordon Brown
Precedit biThe Baroness Amos
Succeedit biThe Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Personal details
Born (1956-03-20) 20 Mairch 1956 (age 66)
Upholland, United Kingdom
Poleetical pairtyLabour
Spoose(s)Peter Kellner (1988–present)
Bairns2
ResidenceSt Albans, Unitit Kinrick
Alma materBedford College

Her poleetical career began in 1999 when she wis creatit a Life Peer (Baroness Ashton o Upholland) bi the Labour Govrenment. Unner this govrenment she acame the Parliamentary Unner-Secretar o State in the Depairtment for Eddication an Skills in 2001 an subsequently in the Depairtment for Constitutional Affairs an Meenistry o Justice in 2004. She scame a Privy Councillor (PC) in Mey 2006.

Catherine Ashton wis appyntit Leader o the Hoose o Lords an Lord Preses o the Cooncil in Gordon Brown’s first Cabinet in Juin 2007. She wis instrumental in steerin the EU's Treaty o Lisbon through the UK's upper chamber. In 2008, she succeedit Peter Mandelson as Commissioner for Trade in the European Commission.

In December 2009, she acame the first person tae tak on the role o Heich Representative o the Union for Foreign Affairs an Security Policy that wis creatit bi the Treaty o Lisbon. As Heich Representative, Baroness Ashton serves as the EU's foreign policy chief.[1]

Ashton teuk a central negotiatin role in the P5+1 talks wi Iran which led tae the 2013 Geneva interim agreement on Iranian nuclear program.[2]

ReferencesEedit

  1. "Low-Profile Leaders Chosen for Top European Posts". The New York Times. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 12 Februar 2013.
  2. Ian Traynor (24 November 2013). "Iran nuclear talks: Lady Ashton's Geneva triumph takes centre stage". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 November 2013.