Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson

The Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson is the spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats on matters relating to the work of the Home Secretary and Home Office. The office holder is a member of the Liberal Democrat frontbench team. The post exists when the Liberal Democrats are in opposition, but not when they in government, for example during the Cameron–Clegg coalition.

The position is also sometimes called the Liberal Democrat shadow home secretary . ^{[1] [2]}

List of Home Affairs spokespersons

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office	Frontbench team
	Alan Beith		12 July 1994	29 August 1999	Ashdown
					Kennedy
	Simon Hughes		29 August 1999	12 June 2003
	Mark Oaten [3]		12 June 2003	21 January 2006 [4]
	Alistair Carmichael [5] (Oaten's deputy until Oaten's resignation, then Carmichael took-over as spokesman) [4]		10 May 2005	2 March 2006
	Nick Clegg [6]		5 March 2006	18 December 2007	Campbell
					Cable I
	Chris Huhne [7]		20 December 2007	6 May 2010	Clegg
	Vacant – Liberal Democrats part of the Cameron–Clegg coalition		7 May 2010	7 January 2015	–
	Lynne Featherstone [8]		7 January 2015	?	Clegg's General Election Cabinet
	Alistair Carmichael [5]		29 July 2015	28 October 2016 [9]	Farron
	Lord (Brian) Paddick [9]		28 October 2016	14 June 2017 [10]
	Sir Edward Davey [11]		16 June 2017	21 August 2019
					Cable II
	Christine Jardine [12]		21 August 2019	7 September 2020	Swinson
					Davey (acting)
	Alistair Carmichael [5]		7 September 2020	18 September 2024	Davey
	Lisa Smart [13]		18 September 2024	30 September 2025
	Max Wilkinson [14]		30 September 2025	Incumbent

Spokespersons for Home Affairs in the House of Lords

Spokespersons for the Liberal Democrats on Home Affairs in the House of Lords:

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office
	Lord (Brian) Paddick [15]		1 June 2015	9 October 2023
	Baroness Hamwee [16]		17 June 2017	Incumbent

See also

• Liberal Democrat frontbench team

References

1. "Metal detectors to fight knife crime in schools". Reuters. 20 January 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2022. Liberal Democrat shadow home secretary Chris Huhne said introducing the security measures was "sad" but "necessary".
2. "Lib Dems bid to widen law on revenge porn". The Guardian. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2022. Liberal Democrat shadow home secretary Brian Paddick says amendments to the policing and crime bill "are common sense measures that work for victims".
3. "Kennedy unveils new Lib Dem team". BBC News. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2022. home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten stay in their top posts.
4. Gaby Hinsliff (22 January 2006). "Leading Lib Dem quits over sex scandal". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2022. Alastair Carmichael, Oaten's deputy, will take over from him as home affairs spokesman temporarily.
5. "Mr Alistair Carmichael". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
6. "Mr Nick Clegg". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
7. "Chris Huhne". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
8. "Liberal Democrat General Election Cabinet". stonelibdems.org.uk. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2022. The Liberal Democrat General Election Cabinet comprises of:... Home Affairs - Lynne Featherstone
9. "Tim Farron announces new shadow cabinet". LibDemVoice. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2022. Alistair Carmichael MP Shadow First Secretary of State; Lord Brian Paddick Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department
10. "Lib Dem peer resigns over Farron's views on homosexuality". The Guardian. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2022. The Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman, Brian Paddick, has resigned from his post, citing concerns about the party leader's views.
11. "Ed Davey". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
12. "Christine Jardine". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
13. "Lisa Smart". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
14. "Max Wilkinson". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
15. "Lord Paddick". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
16. "Baroness Hamwee". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 April 2022.