Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Democrat peers elect the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. All leaders to date were members of Labour Party
who left to form the Social Democratic Party
in 1981 before merging with the Liberal Party
in 1988.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
who left to form the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
in 1981 before merging with the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
in 1988.
List of Liberal Democrat Leaders in the House of Lords
| Leader | Entered office | Left office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roy Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead Roy Jenkins Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in... (1920–2003) |
16 July 1988 | 4 May 1997 |
| 2 | William Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank William Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank William Thomas Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank, PC , usually known as William Rodgers but also often known as Bill Rodgers, was one of the "Gang of Four" of senior British Labour Party politicians who defected to form the Social Democratic Party... (b. 1928) |
4 May 1997 | 13 June 2001 |
| 3 | Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby PC is a British politician and academic. Originally a Labour Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, she was one of the "Gang of Four" rebels who founded the Social Democratic Party in 1981... (b. 1930) |
13 June 2001 | 22 June 2004 |
| 4 | Tom McNally, Baron McNally (b. 1943) | 22 June 2004 | present |
See also
- List of United Kingdom Whig and allied Party Leaders 1801-1859
- List of United Kingdom Liberal Party Leaders
- List of United Kingdom Liberal Democrat leaders