    catherine ashton, baroness ashton of upholland, pc (born 20 march 1956) 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. her political career began in 1999 when she was created a life peer as baroness ashton of upholland by the labour government. she became the parliamentary under-secretary of state in the department for education and skills in 2001 and subsequently in the ministry of justice in 2004. she was appointed as a privy councillor in may 2006. ashton became leader of the house of lords and lord president of the council in gordon brownâs first cabinet in june 2007. she was instrumental in steering the eu's treaty of lisbon through the uk's upper chamber. in 2008, she was appointed as the british european commissioner and became the commissioner for trade in the european commission. in december 20
1956_births Alumni_of_Bedford_College_(London) British_European_Commissioners Female_life_peers Female_members_of_the_Cabinet_of_the_United_Kingdom Labour_Party_(UK)_life_peers Leaders_of_the_House_of_Lords Living_people Lord_Presidents_of_the_Council Members_of_the_Privy_Council_of_the_United_Kingdom People_from_Hertfordshire People_from_St_Albans People_from_Upholland