Baroness Ashton of Up Holland appointed European Commission Foreign Affairs spokesman

Nov 26 2009 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

A POLITICIAN who grew up in Up Holland has been appointed to one of the top jobs with the European Commission.

Baroness Ashton, 53, is the first High Representative on foreign affairs for Europe.

She will be in charge of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the name of the European Union’s new diplomatic service.

Baroness Ashton was born Caroline Ashton in 1956 and attended Up Holland Grammar School.

She is still a regular visitor to the area as she has a friends and family there. In 2007 she attended the 700th anniversary service for St Thomas the Martyr Parish Church in Up Holland along with the Archbishop of York John Sentamu.

She also went to the Up Holland Community Pageant in the same year.

Baroness Ashton’s past political roles have included Minister for SureStart and Parliamentary Under-Sceretary in the Department for Education and Skills.

In October 2008 she replaced Peter Mandelson as the UK's European Commissioner in Brussels.

Her new role starts on December 1.

Baroness Ashton said: “It is a challenge. I was the first female UK Commissioner, the first female trade Commissioner and now the first female High Representative. I will make sure I represent our values across the world.”

Maggie Skilling, a member of Up Holland Parish Council , said: “I’m sure the people of Up Holland are proud to know that someone from the area has such a prominent position.”