Frontbench Team of Paddy Ashdown

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.

• Leader of the Liberal Democrats – Paddy Ashdown
• Deputy Leader with responsibility for the strategic direction of the Party in Parliament – Alan Beith
• Chief Whip and Shadow Leader of the House – Paul Tyler
• Deputy Whip – Andrew Stunell
• Whips –
  • Ed Davey
  • Donald Gorrie
  • Adrian Sanders
• Party President – Robert Maclennan
• Agriculture and Rural Affairs – Charles Kennedy
• Food – Paul Tyler
• Fisheries – Andrew George
• Constitution – Robert Maclennan
• Spokesman for English Regions – Nick Harvey
• Scotland – Jim Wallace
• Wales – Richard Livsey
• Culture, Media and Sport/Civil Service – Robert Maclennan
• Arts and Broadcasting – Robert Maclennan
• Tourism – Ronnie Fearn
• Sport – Nigel Jones
• Disabled People – Paul Burstow
• Education and Employment – Don Foster
• Nursery Education and Schools; Labour market statistics – Don Foster
• Further, higher and adult education – Phil Willis
• Employment and training – Paul Keetch
• Environment and Transport –
  • Matthew Taylor
  • Norman Baker
  • Tom Brake
  • Sir Robert Smith
  • Andrew Stunell
• Foreign Affairs, Defence and Europe – Menzies Campbell
• Foreign and Commonwealth, Europe and Defence – Menzies Campbell
• Defence – Mike Hancock
• Europe – David Heath
• International Development – Jenny Tonge
• Health – Simon Hughes
• Future of the NHS – Simon Hughes
• Public Health – Peter Brand
• NHS Staff, organisation and planning – Evan Harris
• Home and Legal Affairs – Alan Beith
• Home Affairs – Alan Beith
• Community relations and urban affairs – Richard Allan
• Legal Affairs (Attorney General; Solicitor General; Lord Chancellor) –
  • John Burnett
  • Bob Russell
• Local Government and Housing – Paul Burstow
• Local Government (Social Services and Community Care) – Paul Burstow
• Local Council Liaison – Paul Burstow
  • Jackie Ballard
  • Adrian Sanders
• Trade and Industry – David Chidgey
• Employment, Social Chapter and Minimum Wage – David Chigley
• Science and Technology – David Chigley
• Competition – Nigel Jones
• Small Business –
  • Colin Breed
  • Brian Cotter
• Treasury –
  • Malcolm Bruce
  • Ed Davey
  • Vince Cable
• Wales –
  • Richard Livsey
  • Lembit Öpik
• Women – Jackie Ballard
• Young People – Lembit Öpik

• Leader in the Lords – The Lord Jenkins of Hillhead
• Chief Whip – The Lord Rodgers of Quarrybank

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