Catherine Ashton: Difference between revisions
Not current and not an election. |
m moved Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland to Catherine Ashton over redirect: WP:NC: "Use names and terms most commonly used" |
(No difference)
| |
Revision as of 21:53, 19 November 2009
The Baroness Ashton of Upholland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Designate | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2009 | |
| President | Herman van Rompuy |
| European Commissioner for Trade | |
| Assumed office 3 October 2008 | |
| President | José Manuel Barroso |
| Preceded by | Peter Mandelson |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord President of the Council | |
| In office 27 June 2007 – 3 October 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | The Baroness Amos |
| Succeeded by | The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1956 Upholland, Lancashire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Peter Kellner |
| Residence(s) | St Albans, Hertfordshire |
Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland (born 20 March 1956) is a British Labour politician who is currently serving as the European Trade Commissioner; formerly, she served both as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council.
On 19th November 2009, it was reported that Ashton had been appointed as the first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.[1] She has never held elected office.[2]
She has two children and three stepchildren.[citation needed]
Career
In the United Kingdom
Ashton studied a broad degree in economics at Bedford College, University of London, graduating with a BSc in sociology in 1977.[3][4][5] Between 1977 and 1979 Ashton worked at the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and was later elected as its national treasurer and subsequently as one of its vice-chairs. As of 1983 she worked for the Social Work Training Council.[6]
From 1983-89 she was Director of Business in the Community working with business to tackle inequality, and established the Employers’ Forum on Disability, Opportunity Now, and the Windsor Fellowship.
She chaired the Health Authority in Hertfordshire from 1998 to 2001, and her children's school governing body, and became a Vice President of the National Council for One Parent Families. She briefly advised the producers of several American television shows, most notably 'Boston Legal' on sensitive storylines.[7]
She was made a life peer as Baroness Ashton of Upholland in 1999. In June 2001 she was made a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education and Skills. In 2002 she was appointed minister for Sure Start in the same department. In September 2004, she was made a Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, with responsibilities including the National Archives and the Public Guardianship Office. Ashton was sworn of the Privy Council in 2006, and became Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the new Ministry of Justice in May 2007.
In 2006 she won the "Politician of the Year" award at the annual Stonewall Awards.
On 28 June 2007 the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, appointed her to the Cabinet as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council.[8]
Ashton's 2007 biography at the Department for Constitutional Affairs does not include any instance of her standing for election to public office.[9]
In the European institutions
European Commission
On 3 October 2008, she was nominated to replace Peter Mandelson as the UK's European Commissioner in Brussels. Under Article 213 of the Treaty establishing the European Community as amended, Commissioners must not engage in any other occupation during their term of office, whether gainful or not.[10] To enable Ashton to take up her position legally, she used the procedural device used in 1984 for Lord Cockfield[11] and took a leave of absence from the House of Lords on 14 October 2008,[12] retaining the peerage but not the position.[13]
Her appointment as Trade Commissioner was scrutinised by the European Parliament. She was criticised by Daniel Hannan, a Conservative MEP, on the basis that she "has no background in trade issues at a time when the EU is engaged in critical negotiations with Canada, Korea and the WTO".[14] However, following her public confirmation hearing by the Trade Committee of the European Parliament, Ashton was approved by the Parliament on 22 October 2008 with 538 to 40 votes, and 63 abstentions.[15]
Ashton's appointment as European Commissioner was subject to Council approval by qualified majority under Article 215 of the Treaty establishing the European Community as amended.[10]
EU High Representative
On November 19th 2009 it was announced that Ashton was to become the European Union's first Foreign Minister. Her appointment was agreed by a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels.[16]
Personal life
Ashton lives in St Albans with her husband, Peter Kellner, the President of YouGov, and their children.[17]
References
- ^ Neuger, James G. (2009-11-19). "Van Rompuy, Ashton Chosen for Top EU Posts, EU Official Says". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ Herman Van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton land top EU jobs, The Daily Telegraph, November 19, 2009.
- ^ The House Magazine, Issue 1233, Monday 15th October 2007, "Baroness of the barricades", URL:http://www.housemag.co.uk/index.php?id=344&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=7004&cHash=1. Accessed: 2009-11-19. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5lPUvRO7N)
- ^ Dept of Politics & International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London, "Movers and Shakers among the Department's former students", URL:http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Politics-and-IR/For-Alumni/. Accessed: 2009-11-19. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5lPUkBua9)
- ^ Development & Alumni Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London, "Alumni in the Media", URL:http://www.rhul.ac.uk/For-Alumni/alumnimedia.html. Accessed: 2009-11-19. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5lPUqoSxa)
- ^ John Minnion and Philip Bolsover (eds.) The CND Story, Alison and Busby, 1983, ISBN 0 85031 487 9
- ^ http://insideworld.com/?morestories=1059
- ^ "New Cabinet appointments". 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ^ Department for Constitutional Affairs 2007 biography of The Rt Hon the Baroness Ashton of Upholland
- ^ a b Rome Treaty (TEC): PART IV Title I Chapter 1 Section 3: The Commission, Articles 211 to 219
- ^ HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1980s → 1984 → December 1984 → 12 December 1984 → Written Answers (Commons) → PRIME MINISTER, from HC Deb 12 December 1984 vol 69 c493W
- ^ Lords Hansard text for 14 Oct 2008 (pt 13)
- ^ European Parliament Focus briefing "Ashton backs Doha rescue in Q&A with MEPs"
- ^ Hannan, Daniel (2008-10-10). "Why I shall be voting against Peter Mandelson's replacement". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ^ "European Parliament approves new EU trade chief". People's Daily Online. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ^ {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8367589.stm |title=Belgian PM named as EU president |date=2009-10-19 |publisher=[BBC New]]
- ^ "Person Page - 12633". thepeerage.com. 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
External links
- Biography from the Department for Constitutional Affairs
- Announcement of her introduction at the House of Lords House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 10 October 1999
- European Commission Catherine Ashton profile