The Liberal Democrats are the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom. The Liberal Democrat leader appoints a team of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Peers to speak for the party on different issues. Their areas of responsibility broadly correspond to those of Government ministers. The party calls its frontbench the Liberal Democrat shadow ministerial team. The shadow ministerial team are divided into departmental sub-units, such as Education, Health and Foreign Affairs. The leader of each departmental team is a member of the Liberal Democrat 'Shadow Cabinet'. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party based in the United Kingdom. ... A political party is an organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Shadow Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition (or the leader of other smaller opposition parties) form an alternative cabinet to the governments, whose...

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, although (in UK politics) this is a constitutional body appointed by the Crown, whose membership comprises senior members of the front bench team of the largest opposition party in the House of Commons. Rt. ... The Crown is a term which is used to separate the government authority and property of the state in a kingdom from any personal influence and private assets held by the current Monarch. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

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]

However, this is not without contention and is disputed by the Conservative Party. Gordon Brown also made a notable remark that in the House of Commons: The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative & Unionist Party) is currently the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), and the largest in terms of public membership. ... Dr James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom and a Labour Party politician. ...

"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."^[3]

This is a theme to which Gordon Brown has returned recently, comparing and contrasting his frosty relationship with the official Shadow Chancellor George Osborne with his apparently warm relationship with Vince Cable (whom he refers to as 'the Shadow Chancellor from Twickenham'). George Gideon Oliver Osborne (born 23 May 1971 in London) is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom, and has been Member of Parliament for Tatton since 2001. ... Vincent Cable Dr (John) Vincent Cable (born 9 May 1943, York) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and economist. ...

The official Shadow Cabinet (currently formed by the Conservative Party) receives support for its official function which are denied to the Liberal Democrats, 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 the leader of the Liberal Democrats. Moreover, the constitutionial Shadow Cabinet has the exclusive use of facilities within Parliament (including the use of a Shadow Cabinet block of offices, Shadow Cabinet meeting rooms and a suite of offices for the Opposition Leader). There is a great deal of resistance within Parliament to conferring 'Shadow' titles to the third party^{[citation needed]}. Short Money is the common name given to the annual payment to Opposition parties in the United Kingdom House of Commons to help them with their costs. ...

Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team

Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet

• Leader of the Liberal Democrats - Sir Menzies Campbell
• Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Shadow Chancellor - Vincent Cable
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary - Michael Moore
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary - Nick Clegg
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary - Nick Harvey
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House and Minister for the Cabinet Office - David Heath
• Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords - Lord McNally
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment & Rural Affairs Secretary - Chris Huhne
• Liberal Democrat Party President, Shadow Attorney General and Department for Constitutional Affairs - Simon Hughes
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary - Edward Davey
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary - Steve Webb
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Education and Skills Secretary - Sarah Teather
• Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary - Susan Kramer
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Transport - Alistair Carmichael
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions - David Laws
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary - Don Foster
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Welsh Secretary and Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary - Lembit Öpik
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Scottish Secretary - Jo Swinson
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Treasury Secretary - Julia Goldsworthy
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary - Andrew Stunell
• Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the Lords - Lord Shutt
• Chief of Staff - Norman Lamb

• Chair of the Parliamentary Party - Paul Holmes
• Chief Whip - Paul Burstow

It should be noted that while these are the positions defined by the Liberal Democrats, many sections of the media, and political opponents continue to refer to members of the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet as spokespeople (for example Defence spokesperson rather than Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary) Sir Walter Menzies Campbell, CBE, QC (born 22 May 1941, Glasgow), also known as Ming Campbell, is a British politician. ... The 2006 Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election began on March 2, 2006 when the sitting Deputy Leader Sir Menzies Campbell was elected leader of the party. ... The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British cabinet minister responsible for all financial matters. ... Vincent Cable Dr (John) Vincent Cable (born 9 May 1943, York) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and economist. ... The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (commonly referred to as Foreign Secretary) is a member of the British Government responsible for relations with foreign countries, heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (often called simply the Foreign Office). ... This page is about the UK politician. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department (the Home Secretary) is the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order in England and Wales; his or her remit includes policing, the criminal justice system, the prison service, internal security, and matters of citizenship and immigration. ... Nicholas Clegg (born 1967) is the British Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam. ... The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ... Nicholas Barton Harvey (born 3 August 1961) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the politician. ... Leader of the House of Lords is a function in the British government that is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, most often Lord President of the Council, Lord Privy Seal or Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. ... The Right Honourable Thomas McNally, Baron McNally (born 20 February 1943) is a British politician and the current Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. ... The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is a UK cabinet-level position in charge of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the successor to the positions of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Secretary of State for the Environment. ... Christopher Murray Paul Huhne (born 2 July 1954) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and the current Member of Parliament for the Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire. ... Simon Hughes. ... The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. ... Edward Davey Edward Jonathan Ed Davey (born 25 December 1965) British politician He is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton. ... Minister of Health redirects here. ... Steven John Webb MP (born 18 July 1965) is a United Kingdom politician and Member of Parliament for Northavon for the Liberal Democrats, and was first elected in 1997. ... The Secretary of State for Education and Skills is the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government. ... Sarah Teather Sarah Louise Teather (born 1 June 1974, London) is a British politician who is the Member of Parliament for Brent East. ... In the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State for International Development is a Cabinet minister responsible for promoting development overseas, particularly in the third world. ... Susan Kramer Susan Kramer (born 22 July 1950) is a London businesswoman and Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Richmond Park. ... The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. ... Alistair Morrison Carmichael (born July 15, 1965) is a Liberal Democrat politician, and Member of Parliament for the Scottish seat of Orkney and Shetland. ... The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a position in the UK cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. ... David Anthony Laws (born 30 November 1965) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is a UK cabinet position with responsibility for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. ... Don Foster This page is about the British politician. ... The post of Secretary of State for Wales came into existence in October of 1964, the first incumbent being Jim Griffiths, MP for Llanelli. ... The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is the British cabinet minister who has responsibility for the government of Northern Ireland. ... Lembit Öpik Lembit Öpik (born 2 March 1965 in Bangor, County Down, (IPA: lembit œpik) is a British politician of Estonian origin. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... Jo Swinson MP Jo Swinson (born 5 February 1980) is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Dunbartonshire East constituency near Glasgow in Scotland. ... Julia Goldsworthy MP Julia Anne Goldsworthy (born September 10, 1978) is a British politician. ... Andrew Stunell Robert Andrew Stunell OBE (born 24 November 1942) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Norman Lamb MP Norman Peter Lamb (born 16 September 1957) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Paul Holmes MP Paul Robert Holmes (born 16 January 1957) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires. ... Paul Burstow Paul Kenneth Burstow (born May 13, 1962), British politician. ...

Other members of the House of Commons Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team

• Treasury - Colin Breed
• Foreign Affairs - Jeremy Browne
• Home Affairs - Lynne Featherstone, Mark Hunter
• DEFRA Team - Martin Horwood (Environment), Roger Williams (Rural Affairs)
• Health - John Pugh, Sandra Gidley
• Transport - Paul Rowen, John Leech
• Trade and Industry - Lorely Burt (Small Business), David Howarth (Energy)
• Women and Equality - Lorely Burt
• Defence - Bob Russell, Willie Rennie
• Work and Pensions - Danny Alexander
• Northern Ireland and Wales Team - Alan Reid
• Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Dan Rogerson
• Scotland Team - John Barrett
• Education - Stephen Williams (Further and Higher Education), Greg Mulholland (Schools)
• Deputy Whips - Adrian Sanders, Jenny Willott
• Children and the Family - Annette Brooke
• Young People - Jenny Willott
• Disability Issues - Danny Alexander
• Science - Dr Evan Harris
• London - Lynne Featherstone
• Leader's Parliamentary Private Secretary - Tim Farron

Colin Edward Breed (born May 4, 1947) British politician. ... Jeremy Browne Jeremy Richard Browne (born 17 May 1970) is a British politician. ... Lynne Choona Featherstone (born December 20, 1951) is a British politician, being the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone was born in North London and educated at the Highgate Primary School, South Hampstead High School and Oxford Polytechnic. ... Mark James Hunter (born 1956) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is the current Member of Parliament for Cheadle. ... The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities. ... Martin Charles Horwood (born 12 October 1962, Cheltenham) is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for the Cheltenham constituency. ... Roger Williams could mean: Roger Williams University Roger Williams (theologian), co-founder of Rhode Island Roger Williams (soldier) Roger Williams (pianist), American pianist Roger Williams (UK politician), British politician Roger Williams (US politician), US Texas politician Roger Williams (hepatologist), a British liver specialist Roger Williams (trombonist) Roger Williams (activist) This... John David Pugh (b. ... Sandra Gidley Sandra Julia Gidley (born 26 March 1957) is a British politician and the current Member of Parliament for the Romsey constituency. ... Paul Rowen is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Rochdale. ... John Leech (born 1 April 1971) is a British politician and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Manchester Withington. ... Lorely Jane Burt (born August 10, 1954) British politician. ... David Howarth David Ross Howarth (born November 10, 1958) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and Member of Parliament for Cambridge. ... Lorely Jane Burt (born August 10, 1954) British politician. ... Bob Russell MP Robert Edward Russell (born 31 March 1946, London) is a British politician known to his constituents as Bob. He has been Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Colchester since 1997 (re-elected 2001 and 2005). ... Willie Rennie is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Dunfermline and West Fife, winning the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election held on February 9, 2006. ... Daniel Grian Alexander (born 15 May 1972) is a politician in the United Kingdom and Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey. ... Alan Reid (born 7 August 1954) is a politician in Scotland. ... Dan Rogerson is the Liberal Democrat MP for Cornwall North, first elected at the 2005 General election. ... John Andrew Barrett (February 11, 1954), Scottish politician, is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Edinburgh West. ... Stephen Williams Stephen Roy Williams (born 11 October 1966) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was elected Member of Parliament for Bristol West in the 2005 election. ... Gregory Thomas Mulholland (born 31 August 1970) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom, and is Member of Parliament for Leeds North West. ... Adrian Mark Sanders (born 25 April 1959) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Jennifer Nancy Willott (born 29 May 1974) is a British politician and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central since the 2005 general election. ... Annette Lesley Brooke (born June 7, 1942) British politician. ... Jennifer Nancy Willott (born 29 May 1974) is a British politician and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central since the 2005 general election. ... Daniel Grian Alexander (born 15 May 1972) is a politician in the United Kingdom and Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey. ... Evan Harris Dr Evan Leslie Harris MP (born 21 October 1965) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. ... Lynne Choona Featherstone (born December 20, 1951) is a British politician, being the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone was born in North London and educated at the Highgate Primary School, South Hampstead High School and Oxford Polytechnic. ... Tim Farron Timothy James Tim Farron (born May 27, 1970) British politician He is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale. ...

Liberal Democrat House of Lords Frontbench Team

Liberal Democrat peers are also organised into teams broadly corresponding to the areas of Government departments.

• Leader - Lord McNally
• Deputy Leaders - Lord Dholakia and Lord Wallace of Saltaire
• Chief Whip - Lord Shutt of Greetland
• Home Office - Lord Dholakia
• Shadow Lord Chancellor - Lord Goodhart
• Foreign Office - Lord Wallace of Saltair
• Europe - Lord Dykes
• Defence - Lord Garden
• International Development - Baroness Northover, Lord Roberts of Llandudno
• Culture, Media & Sport - Lord Clement-Jones, Baroness Bonham-Carter
• Health - Baroness Barker
• Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
• Northern Ireland - Lord Smith of Clifton
• Trade and Industry - Lord Razzall

The Right Honourable Thomas McNally, Baron McNally (born 20 February 1943) is a British politician and the current Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. ... Lord Navnit Dholakia, Baron Dholakia of Waltham Brooks Lord Dholakia is a Liberal Democrat life peer in the House of Lords. ... William Wallace is a British academic, writer and politician. ... Lord Navnit Dholakia, Baron Dholakia of Waltham Brooks Lord Dholakia is a Liberal Democrat life peer in the House of Lords. ... William Howard Goodhart, Baron Goodhart QC (born 18 January 1933) is a Liberal Democrat politician, a leading human rights lawyer and a member of the United Kingdom House of Lords. ... William Wallace is a British academic, writer and politician. ... Hugh John Maxwell Dykes, The Lord Dykes, born 17 May 1939 to Richard and Doreen Dykes is a British politician. ... Tim Garden was born in 1944, educated at the Kings School, Worcester, and joined the Royal Air Force as a university cadet while at St Catherines College, Oxford University reading Physics. ... Reverend (John) Roger Roberts, Baron Roberts of Llandudno (b. ... The Honourable Jane Bonham Carter (born 20 October 1957) is a Liberal Democrat politician. ... Elizabeth Jean Barker, Baroness Barker (b. ... Susan Elizabeth Miller, Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (1 January 1954) is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords. ... Edward Timothy Razzall, Baron Razzall (born 12 June 1943 in Ealing, London) is a British Liberal Democrat politician. ...

References

1. ^ Directory of MPs, Peers, Offices and Overseas Delegations (en). House of Commons Information Office. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
2. ^ Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet and Parliamentary Team (en). House of Commons Information Office. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
3. ^ House of Commons Hansard Debates for 27 Nov 2001 (pt 8) (en). The Stationery Office Ltd (2001). Retrieved on 2006-09-04.

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ...

See also

• Cabinet of the United Kingdom
• Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (UK)

In the Politics of the United Kingdom, the Cabinet is a formal body comprised of government officials chosen by the Prime Minister. ... The Official Loyal Opposition Shadow Cabinet (normally referred to simply as The Shadow Cabinet) is, in British parliamentary practice, a group of members from Her Majestys Loyal Opposition whose job it is to scrutinise their opposite numbers in government and come up with alternative policies. ...

External links

• Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team
• Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet
• Campbell fills top Lib Dem posts (BBC)