David Cameron is one of the "most dangerous Prime Ministers" in living memory and the administration he runs "has all the makings of one of the worst Governments of our time," Paddy Ashdown has said.
The former Liberal Democrat leader said Mr Cameron was a "decent man with broadly decent instincts" but said that in the space of "just 70 days" he had unintentionally put the future of the UK in jeopardy.
He had done so through his plans to hold an in-out referendum on the EU, his proposals to exclude Scottish MPs from English-only laws and accused him of putting a "noose around the neck of the BBC". "He does it all unwittingly," he said. "But that does not lessen the damage."
Lord Ashdown, who was leader of the Lib Dems from 1988 to 1999, is a close friend of Nick Clegg and served as chair of the party's general election campaign earlier this year.
Read more:
Paddy Ashdown calls the Tories 'b**tards' seven times in four minutes during un-dubbed BBC lunchtime broadcast
Paddy Ashdown handed chocolate hat on Question Time
Paddy Ashdown's hat becomes the unlikely star of election night
Unlike Charles Kennedy, his successor as Lib Dem leader, Lord Ashdown was supportive of the party entering into coalition with the Conservatives in 2010 and was consulted on the decision. But giving answers in a Q&A on the Reddit website, Lord Ashdown was scathing of his party's former coalition partner.
"I really believe this has all the makings of one of the worst Governments of our time," he said. "I think Mr Cameron is one of the most dangerous Prime Minsters I can remember.
"Not because he is not a decent man. He is a decent man with broadly decent instincts. Nor because he does not believe in anything (except that Britain would be better run by people like him - though that is true too). Nor because he intends to do damage.
"He does it all unwittingly. But that does not lessen the damage. He is so short term, casual and unthinking about the things he grabs hold of.
"And the consequences? In 70 days (just 70 days) he has put the Union at risk, ditto our future in Europe, placed a charge of dynamite under our constitution with EVOL and put a noose around the neck of the BBC. Not bad considering all has been done by accident."
The 74-year-old former Royal Marine Commando has been an influential voice on foreign affairs inside and outside Parliament and a year after stepping down as an MP in 2001 he was appointed as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
