President of the Liberal Democrats

The president of the Liberal Democrats chairs the Federal Board of the Liberal Democrats of the United Kingdom.

President of the Liberal Democrats
Incumbent
Mark Pack
since 1 January 2020
Member ofFederal Board
Reports toLiberal Democrats
AppointerLiberal Democrats
Term lengththree-year
Formation1988
First holderSir Ian Wrigglesworth
DeputyVacant

The responsibilities of the president are similar to that of chairman of the Conservative Party, although the role is elected by the membership for a fixed term.

They are elected in an all-member ballot by Liberal Democrat party members for a three-year term, updated from two-year terms. They may serve a maximum of two three-year terms. The next scheduled contest will occur in Autumn 2022 with the winner beginning their term of office on 1 January 2023.

The current president is Mark Pack, who was elected in 2019 and took office on 1 January 2020.

Eligibility to stand

In order to be a candidate for president, the candidate must be a member of the Liberal Democrats and secure the nomination of not less than 200 members in not less than 20 local parties (including, for this purpose, the specified associated organisations representing youth and/or students).[1]

List of party presidents to date
Term Name(s) Constituency (where applicable)
1988–90 Sir Ian Wrigglesworth N/A (served as MP 1974–1987)
1991–94 Charles Kennedy Ross, Cromarty and Skye
1995–98 Bob Maclennan Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
1999–00 Diana Maddock N/A
2001–04 Navnit Dholakia N/A
2005–08 Simon Hughes North Southwark and Bermondsey
2009–10 Ros Scott N/A
2011–14 Tim Farron Westmorland and Lonsdale
2015–19 Sal Brinton N/A
2020–22 Mark Pack N/A
Member of the House of Commons
Member of the House of Lords
Non Parliamentarian

Election results

Elections in the 2010s

2019

Mark Pack was elected president of the Liberal Democrats.[2]

Candidate First round
Votes %
Mark Pack14,38158.6%
Christine Jardine10,16441.4%
Turnout/Total24,54523.1%[3]

2016

Sal Brinton was returned unopposed.[4][5]

2014
Candidate First round
Votes % Transfers Votes %
Sal Brinton7,86546.86+2,32310,18862.40
Daisy Cooper4,53026.98+1,6086,13837.59
Liz Lynne4,38926.14
Turnout/Total16,78438.9

There were 25 spoilt/rejected ballots.[6]

2012

Tim Farron was returned unopposed.[7]

2010
Candidate First round
Votes %
Tim Farron14,59352.98
Susan Kramer12,95047.01
Turnout/Total27,54341.9

There were 64 spoilt/rejected ballots.

Elections in the 2000s

2008
Candidate First round
Votes %
Ros Scott20,73672.04
Lembit Opik6,24721.70
Chandila Fernando1,7996.25
Turnout/Total28,78247.8

There were 49 spoilt/rejected ballots.[8]

2006

Simon Hughes was returned unopposed.

2004
Candidate First round
Votes %
Simon Hughes24,33370.86
Lembit Opik10,00229.13
Turnout/Total34,33529.13

There were 144 spoilt/rejected ballots.[9]

2002

Navnit Dholakia was returned unopposed.

2000

Navnit Dholakia was returned unopposed.

Elections in the 1990s

1998

Diana Maddock was returned unopposed.

1996

Bob Maclennan was returned unopposed.

1994
Candidate First round
Votes %
Bob Maclennan18,08053.77
Don Foster8,97926.61
Martin Thomas6,56119.51
Turnout/Total33,62033.4

There were 114 spoilt/rejected ballots.

1992
Candidate First round
Votes %
Charles Kennedy25,95670.45
Martin Thomas10,81329.35
Turnout/Total36,84036.2

There were 71 spoilt/rejected ballots.

1990
Candidate First round
Votes %
Charles Kennedy24,64884.24
Tim Clement-Jones4,81816.11
Brian Grocott4361.45
Turnout/Total29,90236.3

There were 55 spoilt/rejected ballots.

Elections in the 1980s

1988
Candidate First round
Votes %
Ian Wrigglesworth28,63850.22
Des Wilson21,90638.41
Gwynoro Jones6,47911.36
Turnout/Total57,02371.2

There were 448 spoilt/rejected ballots.

See also

References
  1. "The Federal Constitution of the Liberal Democrats" (PDF). September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  2. http://www.libdems.org.uk (2019-12-14). "Meet our new party president". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  3. Based on party membership reported as 106,575 - https://www.markpack.org.uk/143767/liberal-democrat-membership-figures/
  4. "Lib Dems publish timetable for 2016 Party President election". 19 September 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  5. "Sal Brinton re-elected unopposed as Lib Dem President". 10 November 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  6. "Lib Dems elect new party president". 29 November 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. http://www.libdems.org.uk/ (10 May 2017). "Tim Farron". Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  8. Summers, Deborah (10 November 2008). "Defeated Öpik vows to back Lib Dem president". the Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  9. "Hughes is new Lib Dem president". 2 September 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
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