Liberal Democrat frontbench team

Frontbench Teams since 1997
Ashdown Team (1997–1999)
Kennedy Team (1999–2006)
Campbell Team (2006–2007)
Cable Team (2007)
Clegg Team (2007–2010)
Farron Team (2015-present)

The Liberal Democrats are a political party in the United Kingdom. While in opposition, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats appoints a frontbench team of Members of Parliament (MPs), Peers, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and Members of the National Assembly for Wales (AMs), to speak for the party on different issues. Their areas of responsibility broadly corresponded to those of Government ministers. The shadow ministerial team is divided into departmental sub-units, the principle ones being the economy, foreign policy and home affairs. Sometimes the frontbench team consists of more than just the principle positions.

Status

Formerly, the Liberal Democrats frontbench team did not use the term 'Shadow Cabinet', with a number of front bench spokespeople covering areas (e.g., Defence and Foreign Affairs) rather than directly shadowing specific Cabinet portfolios. Under Charles Kennedy's leadership, and with the increase in numbers of Liberal Democrat MPs, the senior members of the front bench team referred to themselves as a Shadow Cabinet.

This was controversial, because in the two-party political system that dominated UK politics in the 20th century, the term 'Shadow Cabinet' referred to senior members of the frontbench team of the largest opposition party in the House of Commons. This party, known as the Official Opposition, has constitutional status, although its Shadow Cabinet does not. Following Charles Kennedy's decision to change the nomenclature, the UK Parliament's website now uses the term 'Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet' and does not use the old term 'Frontbench Team'.[1][2]

This is not without contention, and was disputed by the Conservative Party, who were then the Official Opposition. However, the official listing at the Parliament website is very explicit to use the term 'Shadow Cabinet'.[3] Gordon Brown made a notable remark that in the House of Commons in 2001:

The House of Commons is in the unique position of having two shadow Chancellors: one sits in Folkestone and the other in Truro. It is rather like the mediaeval papacy: two hon. Members claim to hold the position of shadow Chancellor. I shall organise a play-off during the year.[4]

This is a theme to which then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown returned, comparing and contrasting his frosty relationship with the official Shadow Chancellor George Osborne with his apparently warm relationship with Vince Cable (whom he has referred to as "the Shadow Chancellor from Twickenham").[5]

The Official Opposition receives support for its official function which is denied to smaller opposition parties, although they, along with every parliamentary party, do receive Short Money. Salaries are paid to the Opposition Leader and the Chief Whips but not to smaller opposition parties. Moreover, the Official Opposition has the exclusive use of facilities within Parliament.

Following the 2010 general election and the confirmation of Conservative David Cameron as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010, a coalition cabinet was formed that included Liberal Democrat ministers. The team was updated again during a September 2012 reshuffle.

Following the 2015 general election the Liberal Democrats were reduced to just 8 seats in the House of Commons, falling into fourth place behind the Scottish National Party for the first time. As a result of this, the UK Parliament website no longer lists the Liberal Democrat frontbench team at all and now lists the SNP frontbench team instead.

Current Liberal Democrat frontbench team

Member of the House of Commons Member of the House of Lords
Member of the Scottish Parliament Member of the Welsh Assembly
Member of local government Privy Counsellor

Attending Frontbench meetings

Tim Farron revealed his frontbench team on 29 July 2015.[6] The shadow ministers are as follows:

Portfolio Name
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron
MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale
Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords Jim Wallace
Baron Wallace of Tankerness
Queen's Counsellor
Privy Councellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Economics Susan Kramer
Baroness Kramer
Privy Councellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Tom Brake
MP for Carshalton and Wallington
Privy Councellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Defence Judith Jolly
Baroness Jolly
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael
MP for Orkney and Shetland
Privy Councellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health Norman Lamb
MP for Norfolk North
Privy Councellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education John Pugh
MP for Southport
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Work and Pensions Zahida Manzoor
Baroness Manzoor
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Business, Innovation and Skills Lorely Burt
Baroness Burt of Solihull
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change Lynne Featherstone
Baroness Featherstone
Privy Councellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Communities and Local Government Dorothy Thornhill
Baroness Thornhill
Member of the Order of the British Empire
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport Jenny Randerson
Baroness Randerson
Privy Councellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Deputy Leader in the House of Lords
Kate Parminter
Baroness Parminter
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for International Development Lindsay Northover
Baroness Northover
Privy Councellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport Jane Bonham-Carter
Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Women and Equalities Meral Hussein-Ece
Baroness Hussein-Ece
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Justice
Liberal Democrat Shadow Attorney General
Jonathan Marks
Baron Marks of Henley-on-Thames
Queen's Counsellor
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Northern Ireland John Alderdice
Baron Alderdice
Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Scotland
Willie Rennie
MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife
Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Wales
Mark Williams
MP for Ceredigion
Chairman of Campaigns and Communications Greg Mulholland
MP for Leeds North West
Chief Executive of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Grassroots Campaigns
Tim Pickstone
Councillor for Holyrood, Bury

    Not attending Frontbench meetings

    Portfolio Name
    President of the Liberal Democrats Sal Brinton, Baroness Brinton
    Spokesperson for Constitutional and Political Reform Paul Tyler, Baron Tyler
    Spokesperson for Mental Health Claire Tyler, Baroness Tyler of Enfield
    Spokesperson for Europe Sarah Ludford, Baroness Ludford
    Spokesperson for Special Educational Needs Dominic Hubbard, 6th Baron Addington
    Spokesperson for Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprise Elizabeth Barker, Baroness Barker
    Spokesperson for Creative Industries Timothy Clement-Jones, Baron Clement-Jones
    Spokesperson for Welfare Archy Kirkwood, Baron Kirkwood of Kirkhope
    Spokesperson for Sport, Tourism and Cultural Participation Dee Doocey
    Spokesperson for Children Kath Pinnock, Baroness Pinnock
    Spokesperson for Civil Service and Public Sector Tim Razzall, Baron Razzall
    Spokesperson for Communities, Decentralisation and the Northern Powerhouse John Shipley, Baron Shipley
    Spokesperson for Disability Celia Thomas, Baroness Thomas of Winchester
    Liberal Democrat Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales Martin Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gresford

    Previous Frontbench Teams

    Previous team key-members in summary:

    Party Date Leader Economy Foreign affairs Home affairs
    Liberal April 1966 Jo Grimond Richard Wainwright James Davidson
    January 1967 Jeremy Thorpe Richard Wainwright James Davidson
    June 1970 Jeremy Thorpe John Pardoe Russell Johnston
    1975 Jeremy Thorpe John Pardoe David Steel
    May 1976 Jo Grimond John Pardoe David Steel
    July 1976 David Steel John Pardoe Jeremy Thorpe
    1977 David Steel John Pardoe Jeremy Thorpe Emlyn Hooson
    May 1979 David Steel Richard Wainwright Russell Johnston
    October 1981 David Steel Richard Wainwright Russell Johnston Bill Pitt
    June 1983 David Steel Richard Wainwright Russell Johnston
    1985 David Steel David Penhaligon Alan Beith
    January 1987 David Steel Alan Beith
    June 1987 David Steel Alan Beith Russell Johnston
    Liberal
    Democrats
    March 1988 David Steel and
    Robert Maclennan
    (co-leaders)
    Alan Beith Russell Johnston Robert Maclennan
    July 1988 Paddy Ashdown Alan Beith Russell Johnston Robert Maclennan
    July 1989 Paddy Ashdown Alan Beith David Steel Robert Maclennan
    July 1994 Paddy Ashdown Malcolm Bruce Menzies Campbell Alan Beith
    August 1999 Charles Kennedy Matthew Taylor Menzies Campbell Simon Hughes
    June 2003 Charles Kennedy Vince Cable Menzies Campbell Mark Oaten
    January 2006 Menzies Campbell
    (acting)
    Vince Cable Menzies Campbell Mark Oaten
    January 2006 Menzies Campbell
    (acting)
    Vince Cable Menzies Campbell Alistair Carmichael
    March 2006 Menzies Campbell Vince Cable Michael Moore Nick Clegg
    October 2007 Vince Cable
    (acting)
    Vince Cable Michael Moore Nick Clegg
    December 2007 Nick Clegg Vince Cable Ed Davey Chris Huhne
    May 2010 Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister) David Laws (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) Jeremy Browne (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs) Tom McNally (Minister of State for Justice)
    May 2010 Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister) Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) Jeremy Browne (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs) Tom McNally (Minister of State for Justice)
    September 2012 Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister) Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) Lynne Featherstone (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development) Jeremy Browne (Minister of State for Home Affairs)
    October 2013 Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister) Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) Lynne Featherstone (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development) Norman Baker (Minister of State for Home Affairs)
    November 2014 Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister) Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) Lynne Featherstone (Minister of State for Home Affairs)
    January 2015 Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister) Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) Tim Farron Lynne Featherstone (Minister of State for Home Affairs)
    May 2015 Nick Clegg Norman Lamb Tim Farron Tom McNally
    July 2015 Tim Farron Susan Kramer Tom Brake Alistair Carmichael

    See also

    References

    1. "Directory of MPs, Peers, Offices and Overseas Delegations". House of Commons Information Office. Archived from the original on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
    2. "Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet and Parliamentary Team". House of Commons Information Office. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
    3. "UK Parliament". House of Commons Information Office – libdems. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
    4. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 27 Nov 2001 (pt 8)". The Stationery Office Ltd. 27 November 2001. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
    5. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 16 Oct 2003 (pt 2)". 16 October 2003.
    6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33700930

    External links

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