List of United Kingdom Liberal Democrat leaders
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Democrat members elect the United Kingdom Liberal Democrat Leader and the Members of Parliament
elect the Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader. Under the federal constitution of the Liberal Democrats the leader is required to be a member of the House of Commons.
Before the election of the first federal leader of the party (the Liberal Democrats having a federal structure in their internal party organisation), the leaders of the two parties which merged to form the Liberal Democrats, the Liberal Party
and the SDP
, served as joint interim leaders.
In the event that the leader dies, resigns or loses his or her seat in Parliament, the deputy leader serves as interim leader until a leadership election takes place. This has occurred twice, with Menzies Campbell
serving as interim leader following the resignation of Charles Kennedy
(Campbell was elected leader in the ensuing election) and Vince Cable serving as interim leader following Campbell's resignation.
Notes:-
who left to form the Social Democratic Party
in 1981 before merging with the Liberal Party
in 1988.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
elect the Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader. Under the federal constitution of the Liberal Democrats the leader is required to be a member of the House of Commons.
Before the election of the first federal leader of the party (the Liberal Democrats having a federal structure in their internal party organisation), the leaders of the two parties which merged to form the Liberal Democrats, 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...
and the SDP
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...
, served as joint interim leaders.
In the event that the leader dies, resigns or loses his or her seat in Parliament, the deputy leader serves as interim leader until a leadership election takes place. This has occurred twice, with Menzies Campbell
Menzies Campbell
Sir Walter Menzies "Ming" Campbell, CBE, QC, MP is a British Liberal Democrat politician and advocate, and a retired sprinter. He is the Member of Parliament for North East Fife, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.Campbell held the British record...
serving as interim leader following the resignation of Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
(Campbell was elected leader in the ensuing election) and Vince Cable serving as interim leader following Campbell's resignation.
List of Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the Liberal Democrats
| Leader | Deputy Leader | Prime Minister | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name Constituency |
Portrait | Term of Office | # | Name Constituency |
Portrait | Term of Office | ||
| 1 | David Steel David Steel David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT, KBE, PC is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 until its merger with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats... 1 MP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (UK Parliament constituency) Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983... and Robert Maclennan Robert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart Robert Adam Ross "Bob" Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart PC is a British Liberal Democrat life peer. He was the last leader of the Social Democratic Party , serving during the negotiations that led to its merger with the Liberal Party in 1988... 2 MP for Caithness and Sutherland Caithness and Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency) Caithness and Sutherland was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.... |
 |
3 March 1988 –16 July 1988 |
Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990... 1979–1990 |
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| 2 | Paddy Ashdown Paddy Ashdown Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC , usually known as Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician and diplomat.... MP for Yeovil |
 |
16 July 1988 –9 August 1999 |
1 | Russell Johnston Russell Johnston, Baron Russell-Johnston David Russell Russell-Johnston, Baron Russell-Johnston, usually known as Russell Johnston, was a leading Scottish Liberal Democrat politician.-Early life:... MP for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (UK Parliament constituency) Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.-History:... |
16 July 1988 –13 April 1992 |
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| John Major John Major Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997... 1990–1997 |
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| 2 | Alan Beith Alan Beith Sir Alan James Beith is a British Liberal Democrat politician and Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed.-Early life:Alan Beith was born in 1943 in Poynton, in Cheshire... MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency) Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:... |
 |
13 April 1992 –12 February 2003 |
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| Tony Blair Tony Blair Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007... 1997–2007 |
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| 3 | Charles Kennedy Charles Kennedy Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency.... MP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West Ross, Skye and Inverness West (UK Parliament constituency) Ross, Skye and Inverness West was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2005. The constituency elected one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.... until 2005 MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber Ross, Skye and Lochaber (UK Parliament constituency) Ross, Skye and Lochaber is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.... from 2005 |
 |
9 August 1999 –7 January 2006 |
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| 3 | Menzies Campbell Menzies Campbell Sir Walter Menzies "Ming" Campbell, CBE, QC, MP is a British Liberal Democrat politician and advocate, and a retired sprinter. He is the Member of Parliament for North East Fife, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.Campbell held the British record... MP for North East Fife North East Fife (UK Parliament constituency) North East Fife is a county constituency in Fife, Scotland, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom currently held by Sir Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats... |
 |
12 February 2003 –2 March 2006 |
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| 4 | Sir Menzies Campbell Menzies Campbell Sir Walter Menzies "Ming" Campbell, CBE, QC, MP is a British Liberal Democrat politician and advocate, and a retired sprinter. He is the Member of Parliament for North East Fife, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.Campbell held the British record... 3 MP for North East Fife North East Fife (UK Parliament constituency) North East Fife is a county constituency in Fife, Scotland, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom currently held by Sir Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats... |
|
2 March 2006 –15 October 2007 |
4 | Vincent Cable MP for Twickenham Twickenham (UK Parliament constituency) Twickenham is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:... |
29 March 2006 –26 May 2010 |
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| Vincent Cable (interim4) MP for Twickenham Twickenham (UK Parliament constituency) Twickenham is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:... |
15 October 2007 –18 December 2007 |
Gordon Brown Gordon Brown James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007... 2007–2010 |
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| 5 | Nick Clegg Nick Clegg Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister... 5 MP for Sheffield Hallam |
18 December 2007 – |
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| David Cameron David Cameron David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament .... 2010– |
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| 5 | Simon Hughes Simon Hughes Simon Henry Ward Hughes is a British politician and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. He is Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark. Until 2008 he was President of the Liberal Democrats... MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark Bermondsey and Old Southwark (UK Parliament constituency) Bermondsey and Old Southwark is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons, electing one Member of Parliament using the first past the post system.The seat was created for the 2010 general election... |
9 June 2010 – |
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Notes:-
- 1 Joint interim leader, as the last leader of the Liberal PartyLiberal 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...
before the merger. - 2 Joint interim leader, as the last leader of the Social Democratic PartySocial 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...
before the merger. - 3 Interim leader between the resignation of Charles Kennedy on 7 January 2006 and his own election as leader on 2 March 2006.
- 4 Interim leader between the resignation of Menzies Campbell on 15 October 2007 and the election of a new leader on 18 December 2007.
- 5 Deputy Prime MinisterDeputy Prime MinisterA deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
as part of the Liberal - Conservative CoalitionCameron MinistryDavid Cameron is Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a new government after the resignation as Prime Minister of Gordon Brown on 11 May 2010. Leading a coalition government formed by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, the coalition...
.
Liberal Democrat Leaders in the House of Lords
The Liberal Democrat peers elect the Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords. All leaders to date were members of Labour PartyLabour 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.
| Leader in the House of Lords | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Leader | Took office | Left office | |
| 1 | Lord 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... (Roy Jenkins) |
16 July 1988 | 1997 | |
| 2 | Lord 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... (William Rodgers) |
1997 | 2001 | |
| 3 | 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... (Shirley Williams) |
2001 | 24 November 2004 | |
| 4 | Lord McNally (Tom McNally) |
24 November 2004 | present | |
See also
- List of United Kingdom Whig and allied Party Leaders 1801-1859
- List of United Kingdom Liberal Party Leaders
- Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of LordsLiberal Democrat Leader in the House of LordsThe 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....
- Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election, 1988Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election, 1988The 1988 Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election was called in the United Kingdom following the formation of the then Social and Liberal Democrats...
- Liberal Democrats leadership election, 1999Liberal Democrats leadership election, 1999The 1999 Liberal Democrats leadership election was called following the resignation of Paddy Ashdown as leader. There were five candidates and all members of the party were balloted using the Alternative Vote preference system...
- Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2006Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2006In the 2006 Liberal Democrats leadership election, Sir Menzies Campbell was elected to succeed Charles Kennedy as Leader of the Liberal Democrats, the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom....
- Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2007Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2007The 2007 Liberal Democrats leadership election was held following the resignation of Sir Menzies Campbell as leader on 15 October 2007, after 19 months as leader of the Liberal Democrats, the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom. Vincent Cable, the deputy leader of the parliamentary...