Former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell, whose popularity plummeted following the introduction of the harmonized sales tax, has been appointed Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced Campbell's new post, which is among the country's highest diplomatic positions, Monday morning with 10 other appointments.

Campbell spent 26 years in politics before stepping down as premier last November, including three terms as Mayor of Vancouver and 18 years as leader of the provincial Liberal Party.

During his nine years as premier, Campbell pursued a business-friendly agenda but saw the province's minimum wage move from the highest in Canada to the lowest.

But it was the surprise unveiling of the HST that made his career in provincial politics untenable.

In the weeks before his Nov. 3 resignation, polls suggested Campbell had the support of only nine per cent of voters, the lowest popularity rating Angus Reid pollsters had seen in four decades for any Canadian politician.

The commissioner's office is located in London, with a mandate to to foster political, economic, academic and cultural ties between Canada and Britain.

Campbell replaces James Wright, who previously worked in Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's office and was appointed high commissioner in August 2006.