Paddy Ashdown to speak at BMF All Industry Conference

Builders merchants trade organisation the Builders Merchants Federation has announced that Lord Paddy Ashdown,will speak at its BMF All Industry Conference 2017, in Budapest next June.
A former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Lord Ashdown now sits in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat peer. His experience extends far beyond the bounds of domestic politics. Before entering Parliament in 1983 he served as a Special Forces Commando in the Royal Marines, then joined the Foreign Office where he was posted to the British Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, taking part in the negotiation of several international treaties.

Lord Ashdown retired from the House of Commons in 2001, the same year he was made a Life Peer. After stepping down as an MP his detailed understanding of the Balkans led to his appointment as UN High Representative and European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the conflict in that country in the 1990s he was one of the leading advocates for decisive action by the international community, arguing that it would help bring the war to an early close.

John Newcomb, BMF MD said: “We are delighted that Paddy Ashdown will address BMF’s All Industry Conference next year. The current political landscape reflects our Conference theme of ‘Change, Challenge and Opportunity’. As a leading international political strategist Lord Ashdown is well placed to speak on the future of the UK outside the EU. I’m sure everyone will be keen to hear his thoughts on this and other issues and I have no doubt that his session will be one of the highlights of the Conference.

“Paddy Ashdown follows in the footsteps of two leading political speakers at previous Conferences, Michael Portillo in 2013 and Alastair Campbell in 2015, which means that we will have had all three major parties, Conservative, Labour and now Liberal Democrat, represented at the BMF Conference.”

The BMF All Industry Conference takes place in Budapest from 15 to 18 June 2017 at the five star Intercontinental Hotel. Broadcaster and TV personality, Gethin Jones, will host the event, which has already sold out. Further details are available on the Conference website, www.bmfconference2017.co.uk