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Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland is a British Labour politician who served as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and First Vice President of the European Commission in the Barroso Commission from 2009 to 2014.
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politics · British politician (born 1956) · politician · diplomat · also Catherine Ashton, Catherine Margaret Ashton, Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Ashton
Born 20 March 1956 · Q105667
36 published statements · 0 followers
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When we think of what happened in Toulouse today, when we remember what happened in Norway a year ago, when we know what is happening in Syria, when we see what is happening in Gaza and Sderot and in different parts of the world – we remember young people and children who lose their lives.
“When we think of what happened in Toulouse today, when we remember what happened in Norway a year ago, when we know what is happening in Syria, when we see what is happening in Gaza and Sderot and in different parts of the world – we remember young people and children who lose their lives.”
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MTV Lebanon: Catherine Ashton: Iran and World powers are way "far apart"
Awarded honorary doctorate (2025).
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nytimes.com: Catherine Ashton
Awarded Lady of the Garter (2023).
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And represented the order at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023
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Was appointed King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George
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Career landmark: Chancellor of the University of Warwick (2017).
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Awarded Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (2015).
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Awarded Grand Officer of the Order of the White Double Cross presented by Andrej Kiska (2014).
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When the security forces killed over 1000 people during the violent dispersal of mass anti-government sit-ins at Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda squares
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Which led to the Geneva interim agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme (November 2013)
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“determination of Ukrainians demonstrating for the European perspective of their country”
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That criticism of Ashton was "a lot of hot air" and that "she has an impossible job to do and she is doing it well
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Career landmark: vice-president of the European Commission (2010–2014).
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Career landmark: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2009–2014).
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Career landmark: High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (2009–2010).
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About her role as national treasurer in the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the 1980s, amid claims by its opponents that it may have had financial links to the Soviet Union
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Was appointed as the British European Commissioner and became the Commissioner for Trade in the European Commission
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Career landmark: European Commissioner for Trade (2008–2009).
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Career landmark: Leader of the House of Lords (2007–2008).
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Career landmark: Lord President of the Council (2007–2008).
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Won the "Politician of the Year" award at the annual Stonewall Awards, made to those who had a positive impact on the lives of British LGBT people
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And she became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the new Ministry of Justice in May 2007
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Career landmark: Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom (2006).
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Was voted "Minister of the Year" by The House magazine and "Peer of the Year" by Channel 4
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Became Minister responsible for Sure Start in the same department, and in September 2004 she was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, with responsibilities including t
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And subsequently in the Ministry of Justice in 2004
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When she was created a life peer as Baroness Ashton of Upholland, of St Albans in the County of Hertfordshire, by Tony Blair's Labour government
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Career landmark: member of the House of Lords (1999).
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Ashton and Kellner have been married since 1988.
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By Lord Cockfield and took a leave of absence from the House of Lords on 14 October 2008, retaining her peerage but not her seat
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Was elected as its national treasurer and subsequently as one of its vice-chairs
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Studied at Bedford College, Bachelor of Science (1977).
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From Bedford College, London (now part of Royal Holloway, University of London)
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Born 1956-03-20.
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