British and Irish History: Biographies

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History World Encyclopedia Further reading

Ashdown, Jeremy John Durham

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History | 2004 | | Copyright

Ashdown, Jeremy John Durham ( ‘Paddy’) (b. 27 Feb. 1941). Leader of the Liberal Democrats (UK) 1988–99 Born in New Delhi, he grew up in Northern Ireland, thus acquiring an accent that earned him the nickname ‘Paddy’ when he went to Bedford School in England. He served in the Royal Marine Commandos from 1959 to 1971, and was then a British diplomat at the United Nations until 1976. He returned to the UK to work in industry and embarked on a political career, which led to his election to Parliament in 1983 for the Liberal Party. He made his name as a radical, through his support for unilateral disarmament (CND), but later changed his position. As leader of the newly created Social and Liberal Democrats, he had a shaky start, but he gradually managed to overcome the party's strong internal divisions through the establishment of a firm personal following, among both the party faithful and the general electorate. He was personally committed to increase British efforts to pacify war-torn Bosnia. Despite strong opposition from sections of his party, he advocated tacit cooperation with Blair's Labour Party to end more than fifteen years of Conservative rule under Thatcher and Major.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Ashdown, Jeremy John Durham." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Ashdown, Jeremy John Durham." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-AshdownJeremyJohnDurham.html

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Ashdown, Jeremy John Durham." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-AshdownJeremyJohnDurham.html

Learn more about citation styles

Ashdown, Paddy

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

Ashdown, Paddy ( Jeremy John Durham) (1941– ) British politician, first leader of the Social and Liberal Democrats (1988–99), b. India. Ashdown was a commander in the Royal Marines (1960–72), before becoming a diplomat. In 1983 he was elected to Parliament for the Liberal Party and quickly became a leading spokesman for the party. He succeeded David Steel, who stood down as Liberal leader when the merger with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was formalized. Ashdown led the party into a closer relationship with the Labour Party. He was succeeded by Charles Kennedy.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Ashdown, Paddy." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Ashdown, Paddy." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-AshdownPaddy.html

"Ashdown, Paddy." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-AshdownPaddy.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Paddy's big power play; Capt Ashdown deploys his shock troops.(News) Newspaper article from: Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland); 3/29/1996
	PADDY ASHDOWN blushed to his ginger; BLACK DOG... Newspaper article from: The Mail on Sunday (London, England); 5/3/2009
	IT'S JUDGE MENT DAY ON Thursday, the people of the Midlands go to the polls... Newspaper article from: Birmingham Evening Mail (England); 5/5/1998