Frontbench team of Paddy Ashdown

Frontbench team of Paddy Ashdown
1988–1999
Date formed	16 July 1988
Date dissolved	9 August 1999
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Leader	Paddy Ashdown
Deputy Leader	Russell Johnston Alan Beith
Member party	Liberal Democrats
Status in legislature	Third party 19 / 651 (3%) (1988-1992) Opposition 20 / 651 (3%) (1992-1997) 46 / 651 (7%) (1997-1999)
History
Incoming formation	1988 Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election
Outgoing formation	1999 Liberal Democrats leadership election
Successor	Frontbench Team of Charles Kennedy

Frontbench Teams since 1997
Ashdown Team (1997–1999)
Kennedy Team (1999–2006)
Campbell Team (2006–2007)
First Cable Team (2007)
Clegg Team (2007–2010)
General Election Cabinet (2015)
Farron Team (2015–2017)
Second Cable Team (2017–2019)
Swinson Team (2019)
Davey Team (2020–present)

The list that follows is the Liberal Democrats frontbench team led by Paddy Ashdown, who was party leader from 1988 to 1999. Initially known as a frontbench team, the Lib Dems began to refer to their Frontbench Team as a "Shadow Cabinet" during the leadership of Ashdown's successor, Charles Kennedy, although the use of the term is controversial.

Liberal Democrat Frontbench team

Shadow Cabinet

Portfolio	Holder
Leader of the Liberal Democrats		The Rt. Hon. Paddy Ashdown MP
Deputy Leader with responsibility for the strategic direction of the Party in Parliament		The Rt. Hon. Alan Beith MP
Home Affairs
Chief Whip Shadow Leader of the House of Commons		Paul Tyler MP
Treasury		Malcolm Bruce MP
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Europe		Menzies Campbell MP
Agriculture and Rural Affairs		Charles Kennedy MP
Party President Constitution Culture, Media and Sport Civil Service		The Rt. Hon. Robert Maclennan MP
Education and Employment		Don Foster MP
Environment and Transport		Matthew Taylor MP
Health		Simon Hughes MP
Disabled People Local Government		Paul Burstow MP
Social Security and Wellfare		David Rendel MP
Trade and Industry		David Chidgey MP
Scotland		Jim Wallace MP
Wales		Richard Livsey MP
Northern Ireland Young People		Lembit Opik MP
Women		Jackie Ballard MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords		The Rt. Hon. Lord Jenkins of Hillhead (until December 1997)
		The Rt. Hon. Lord Rodgers of Quarrybank (from December 1997)

Roles by Department

	Sits in the House of Commons
	Sits in the House of Lords
	Privy Counsellor
Shadow Cabinet full members in bold
Shadow Cabinet attendees in bold italics

Whips office
	Chief Whip and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons	Paul Tyler
	Shadow Leader of the House of Lords		Lord Jenkins of Hillhead (until December 1997)
			Lord Rodgers of Quarrybank
	Deputy Whip	Andrew Stunell
	Whips	Ed Davey
		Donald Gorrie
		Adrian Sanders

Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Rural Affairs
	Agriculture & Rural Affairs	Charles Kennedy
	Food	Paul Tyler
	Fisheries	Andrew George

Constitution
	Constitution		Robert Maclennan
	English Regions	Nick Harvey
	Scotland	Jim Wallace
	Wales	Richard Livsey
	Northern Ireland	Lembit Opik

Culture, Media and Sport and Civil Service
	Arts & Broadcasting		Robert Maclennan
	Tourism	Ronnie Fearn
	Sport	Nigel Jones

Education and Employment
	Nursery Education & Schools; Labour market statistics	Don Foster
	Further, higher and adult education	Phil Willis
	Employment and training	Paul Keetch

Environment and Transport
	Environment and Transport	Matthew Taylor
		Norman Baker
		Tom Brake
		Sir Robert Smith
		Andrew Stunell

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Europe
	Foreign and Commonwealth, Europe and Defence		Menzies Campbell
	Defence	Mike Hancock
	Europe	David Heath
	International Development	Jenny Tonge

Health
	Future of the NHS	Simon Hughes
	Public Health	Peter Brand
	NHS Staff, organisation and planning	Evan Harris

Home and Legal Affairs
	Home Affairs		Alan Beith
	Community relations and urban affairs	Richard Allan
	Attorney General	John Burnett
	Lord Chancellor	Bob Russell

Local Government and Housing
	Local Government (Social Services and Community Care)	Paul Burstow
	Local Council Liaison	Jackie Ballard
	Housing	Adrian Sanders

Social Security and Wellfare
	Social Security and Wellfare	David Rendel
		Steve Webb

Trade and Industry
	Employment, Social Chapter & Minimum Wage	David Chidgey
	Science and Technology	Nigel Jones
	Competition	Colin Breed
	Small Business	Brian Cotter

Treasury
	Treasury	Malcolm Bruce
		Ed Davey
		Vince Cable

Scotland
	Scotland	Jim Wallace
		Ray Michie
		Donald Gorrie
		Michael Moore

Wales
	Wales	Richard Livsey
		Lembit Öpik (also Northern Ireland)

External links

• Weekly Information Bulletin: 28 November 1998, www.parliament.uk