The Liberal Democrats are the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom, and they have a team that acts, and styles itself, as a shadow cabinet. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a social liberal political party based in the United Kingdom. ... The Elections and Parties Series Democracy Representative democracy History of democracy Referenda Liberal democracy Representation Voting Voting systems Ideology Elections Elections by country Elections by calender Electoral systems Politics Politics by country Political campaigns Political science Political philosophy Related topics Political parties Parties by country Parties by name Parties by... The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Opposition 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...

The Liberal Democrat frontbench team used to be just called that. Under Charles Kennedy's leadership, and the increase of Lib Dem MPs, they now claim to be the "effective opposition". They therefore style themselves as a Shadow Cabinet, contrasted with the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet. This change is recognised by the Palace of Westminster. Charles Kennedy, current leader of the UK Liberal Democrat Party The Right Honourable Charles Peter Kennedy (born 25 November 1959) is a British politician, who has been leader of the Liberal Democrats (the third largest political party in the United Kingdom) since 1999. ... The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Opposition 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...

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet consists of the following:

• Leader of the Liberal Democrats - Charles Kennedy
• Shadow Leader of the House of Lords - Lord McNally
• Deputy Leader and Shadow Foreign Secretary - Menzies Campbell
• Shadow Chancellor - Vincent Cable
• Shadow Home Secretary - Mark Oaten
• Shadow Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary - Norman Baker
• Shadow Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Simon Hughes
• Shadow Scotland Secretary - The Viscount Thurso
• Shadow Transport Secretary - Tom Brake
• Shadow Trade Secretary - Norman Lamb
• Shadow Education Secretary - Edward Davey
• Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary - David Laws
• Shadow Health Secretary - Steve Webb
• Shadow Minister for Women and Spokesperson for Older People - Sandra Gidley
• Shadow International Development Secretary - Andrew George
• Shadow Culture Secretary - Don Foster
• Shadow Defence Secretary - Michael Moore
• Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary - Sarah Teather
• Shadow Welsh and Northern Ireland Secretary - Lembit Opik
• Liberal Democrat Chief Whip - Andrew Stunell
• Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the Lords - Lord Shutt
• Chair of the Parliamentary Party - Paul Holmes

Charles Kennedy, current leader of the UK Liberal Democrat Party The Right Honourable Charles Peter Kennedy (born 25 November 1959) is a British politician, who has been leader of the Liberal Democrats (the third largest political party in the United Kingdom) since 1999. ... 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. ... Thomas McNally (born February 20, 1943) was created a life peer as Baron McNally in 1995. ... The position of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was created in the United Kingdoms governmental reorganization of 1782, in which the Northern and Southern Departments became the Home and Foreign Offices. ... Menzies Campbell The Right Honourable Sir Walter Menzies Campbell CBE QC (born 22 May 1941) is a Scottish barrister and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for North East Fife. ... The Right Honourable Gordon Brown, MP, current Chancellor of the Exchequer The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the ancient title held by the British cabinet minister whose responsibilities are akin to the posts of Minister for Finance or Secretary of the Treasury in other jurisdictions. ... Vincent Cable Dr Vincent Cable (born 9 May 1943) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and economist. ... 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. ... Mark Oaten Mark Oaten (born 8 March 1964) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom, and Member of Parliament for Winchester constituency. ... The Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position. ... Norman John Baker (born 26 July 1957) is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Lewes, in the United Kingdom. ... The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is a department of the British government. ... Simon Hughes Simon Henry Ward Hughes, born 17 May 1951, is a British politician and Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for North Southwark and Bermondsey. ... 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). ... John Archibald Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso (born September 10, 1953), known as John Thurso, is a British businessman and Liberal Democrat politician. ... The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. ... Tom Brake Thomas Anthony Brake (born 6 May 1962) is a British politician. ... The President of the Board of Trade the title of a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. ... Norman Peter Lamb (born 16 September 1957) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... The Secretary of State for Education and Skills is the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government. ... Edward Davey Edward Davey (born 25 December 1965) is a British politician with the Liberal Democrats. ... The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a position in the UK cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. ... David Laws (born 30 November 1965) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Minister of Health redirects here. ... Professor Steve 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 Minister of Women and Equality is a member of the United Kingdom Cabinet. ... Sandra Gidley Sandra Julia Gidley (born 26 March 1957) is a British politician and the current Member of Parliament for the Romsey constituency. ... 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. ... Andrew George Andrew Henry George (born 2 December 1958) is a British politician. ... 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 Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ... This page is about the UK politician. ... The Secretary of State for Community and Local Government is a Cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. ... Sarah Teather Sarah Teather (born 1 June 1974) is the British Member of Parliament for Brent East. ... 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 (born March 2, 1965) is a British politician in the Liberal Democrat Party. ... 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. ... Andrew Stunell Andrew Stunell OBE (born 24 November 1942) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Paul Robert Holmes (born 16 January 1957) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ...

External link

• Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet