Honour for Lord Ashdown

3.00.00pm GMT Sat 31st Dec 2005

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown is among the figures from the world of politics to be named in the 2006 New Year Honours list.

Lord Ashdown - until recently the UN's High Representative in Bosnia - has become Knight Grand Cross (GBE) of the Order of St Michael and Saint George.

Lord Ashdown, who quit as leader of the Lib Dems in 1999 after more than a decade at the helm, recently stood down as the UN's chief administrator in Bosnia after three years.

Lord Ashdown and his team have been praised for their dynamic and reforming leadership in Bosnia, which has recovered sufficiently to be considered for European Union membership