Former marine commando and proEuropean campaigner
PADDY Ashdown was the face of centrist politics in Britain for more than a decade and a onetime marine commando who sought to secure peace in the former Yugoslavia.
He died last Saturday from cancer, aged 77.
Ashdown led the Liberal Democrats for 11 years until 1999, steering it to become a campaigning force in British politics against the Conservatives and the Labour Party.
The party said Ashdown died after a short illness. He had recently been hospitalised with bladder cancer.
It said he would be remembered as someone who made an immeasurable contribution to furthering the cause of liberalism.
Tributes came in from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Theresa May said Ashdown served his country with distinction. ‘‘He dedicated his life to public service and he will be sorely missed,’’ she said.
Calling Ashdown a ‘‘true patriot’’, former Conservative prime minister John Major said: ‘‘In government, Paddy Ashdown was my opponent. In life, he was a muchvalued friend.’’
Jeremy John Ashdown was born in India on February 27, 1941, the eldest son of an Indian army colonel.
When he was 5, his father became a pigfarmer in Northern Ireland.
He was educated at an English private school where he earned the nickname Paddy because of his strong Irish accent.
He spent years in the Royal Marines, and was deployed on active service as a commando in the jungles of Borneo. He entered Parliament in 1983 and was virtually unknown when he became leader of the proEuropean party five years later.
However his craggy good looks — he had short sandy hair — and an earnest expression swiftly helped him to become one of his country’s most popular leaders and for a time the ‘‘Mr Clean’’ of British politics.
He also gained in stature during the 1991 Gulf War, which allowed him to display his military experience and diplomatic skills.
Ashdown’s image as a family man above the sniping of mainstream politics took a hit in February 1992 when he was forced to admit to a brief extramarital affair with his secretary.
Having stood down in 1999, he went on to become the United Nations high representative and European Union special representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ashdown described himself as having few gifts other than strong willpower.
‘‘People said I couldn’t learn Chinese, they said I couldn’t run 30 miles in six hours. This sounds extraordinarily arrogant but I can’t remember a thing upon which I’ve set my mind that I didn’t succeed in doing,’’ he said in early 1992.
He was replaced as head of the party by Charles Kennedy who enjoyed further electoral success when he opposed Tony Blair’s decision to invade Iraq, and the party under Nick Clegg entered power in a coalition with David Cameron’s Conservatives in 2010.
It has since been decimated at the polls.
Ashdown, the author of several books, had two children with his wife, Jane.
He had in recent years campaigned alongside Cameron and other leaders for Britain to remain within the European Union.
He warned that chaos could ensue if it voted to leave and described Brexit as ‘‘a sense of personal bereavement’’. —
❛ In government, Paddy Ashdown was my opponent. In life, he was a much valued friend.
John Major