Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats

Last updated

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party
Official portrait of Daisy Cooper MP crop 2.jpg
Incumbent
Daisy Cooper
since 13 September 2020
Reports to Leader of Liberal Democrats
Appointer Liberal Democrats
Term length Four years
Inaugural holder Russell Johnston
Formation3 March 1988

The office of deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats (officially deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party) is a position within the Liberal Democrats, a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. The position of Deputy Leader has never formally existed in the party constitution, however since the party's foundation, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary group in the House of Commons have usually elected a Deputy Leader. Although often referred to as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, this post is actually only Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat parliamentary group in the House of Commons and not Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems as a whole.

Contents

Daisy Cooper was elected by her fellow MPs to the post of Deputy Leader following Ed Davey's election to the post of leader in September 2020.

List of Deputy Leaders of the Liberal Democrats

#NamePortraitConstituencyTerm beganTerm endedConcurrent Office(s)Leader(s)
1 Sir Russell Johnston
(1932–2008)
RussellJohnston2 cropped.jpg Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber 16 July 198813 April 1992President of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Ashdown
2 Sir Alan Beith
(1943–)
Official portrait of Lord Beith 2020 crop 2.jpg Berwick-upon-Tweed 13 April 199212 February 2003 Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman
Shadow Leader of the Commons
Kennedy
3 Sir Menzies Campbell
(1941–)
Official portrait of Lord Campbell of Pittenweem crop 2.jpg North East Fife 12 February 2003 2 March 2006 Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Campbell 1
4 Sir Vince Cable
(1943–)
Vince Cable closeup.jpg Twickenham 2 March 2006 26 May 2010 Spokesperson for the Treasury
Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
President of the Board of Trade
Cable 2
Clegg
5 Sir Simon Hughes
(1951–)
Simon Hughes MP Liverpool cropped.jpg Bermondsey and Old Southwark 9 June 2010 28 January 2014 Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties
6 Sir Malcolm Bruce
(1944–)
Official portrait of Lord Bruce of Bennachie crop 2, 2019.jpg Gordon 28 January 2014 8 May 2015Chair of the International Development Committee
Office not in use 8 May 2015 – 20 June 2017
Farron
7 Jo Swinson
(1980–)
Jo Swinson (cropped).jpg East Dunbartonshire 20 June 2017 22 July 2019 Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Cable
8 Sir Ed Davey
(1965–)
Official portrait of Rt Hon Sir Edward Davey MP crop 2.jpg Kingston and Surbiton 3 September 2019 27 August 2020 Spokesperson for the Treasury
Spokesperson for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Swinson
Himself and Pack (acting)3
9 Daisy Cooper
(1981–)
Official portrait of Daisy Cooper MP crop 2.jpg St Albans 13 September 2020 Incumbent Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education Davey

Notes:

See also

References