Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats

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.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party
Incumbent
Daisy Cooper
since 13 September 2020
Reports toLeader of Liberal Democrats
AppointerLiberal Democrats
Term lengthFour years
Inaugural holderRussell Johnston
Formation3 March 1988

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

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# Name Portrait Constituency Term began Term ended Concurrent Office(s) Leader(s)
1 Sir Russell Johnston
(1932–2008)
  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber 16 July 1988 13 April 1992 President of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Ashdown
2 Sir Alan Beith
(1943–)
  Berwick-upon-Tweed 13 April 1992 12 February 2003 Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman
Shadow Leader of the Commons
Kennedy
3 Sir Menzies Campbell
(1941–)
  North East Fife 12 February 2003 2 March 2006 Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Campbell1
4 Sir Vince Cable
(1943–)
  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
Cable2
Clegg
5 Sir Simon Hughes
(1951–)
  Bermondsey and Old Southwark 9 June 2010 28 January 2014 Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties
6 Sir Malcolm Bruce
(1944–)
  Gordon 28 January 2014 8 May 2015 Chair of the International Development Committee
Office not in use 8 May 2015 – 20 June 2017
Farron
7 Jo Swinson
(1980–)
  East Dunbartonshire 20 June 2017 22 July 2019 Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Cable
8 Sir Ed Davey
(1965–)
  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–)
  St Albans 13 September 2020 Incumbent Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education Davey

Notes:

See also

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References

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  • Federal Constitution of the Liberal Democrats
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