Frontbench Team of Paddy Ashdown

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 list that follows is the Lib Dem Frontbench Team/Shadow Cabinet led by Paddy Ashdown, who was Party leader from 1988 to 1999. The Party formed a Shadow Cabinet following the 1997 general election having doubled its number of MPs at that election. Initially known as a Frontbench Team, the Lib Dems began to refer to their Frontbench Team as a Shadow Cabinet during the leadership of Ashdown's successor, Charles Kennedy, although some controversy exists over whether or not it should be referred to as a Shadow Cabinet.

Liberal Democrat Frontbench team

• Leader of the Liberal Democrats - Paddy Ashdown
• Deputy Leader with responsibility for the strategic direction of the Party in Parliament - Alan Beith
• Chief Whip and Shadow Leader of the House - Paul Tyler
• Deputy Whip - Andrew Stunell
• Whips -
  • Edward Davey
  • Donald Gorrie
  • Adrian Sanders
• Party President - Robert Maclennan
• Agriculture and Rural Affairs - Charles Kennedy
• Food - Paul Tyler
• Fisheries - Andrew George
• Constitution - Robert Maclennan
• Spokesman for English Regions - Nick Harvey
• Scotland - Jim Wallace
• Wales - Richard Livsey
• Culture, Media and Sport/Civil Service - Robert Maclennan
• Arts and Broadcasting - Robert Maclennan
• Tourism - Ronnie Fearn
• Sport - Nigel Jones
• Disabled People - Paul Burstow
• Education and Employment - Don Foster
• Nursery Education and Schools; Labour market statistics - Don Foster
• Further, higher and adult education - Phil Willis
• Employment and training - Paul Keetch
• Environment and Transport -
  • Matthew Taylor
  • Norman Baker
  • Tom Brake
  • Sir Robert Smith
  • Andrew Stunell
• Foreign Affairs, Defence and Europe - Menzies Campbell
• Foreign and Commonwealth, Europe and Defence - Menzies Campbell
• Defence - Mike Hancock
• Europe - David Heath
• International Development - Jenny Tonge
• Health - Simon Hughes
• Future of the NHS - Simon Hughes
• Public Health - Peter Brand
• NHS Staff, organisation and planning - Evan Harris
• Home and Legal Affairs - Alan Beith
• Home Affairs - Alan Beith
• Community relations and urban affairs - Richard Allan
• Legal Affairs (Attorney General; Solicitor General; Lord Chancellor) -
  • John Burnett
  • Bob Russell
• Local Government and Housing - Paul Burstow
• Local Government (Social Services and Community Care) - Paul Burstow
• Local Council Liaison - Paul Burstow
  • Jackie Ballard
  • Adrian Sanders
• Trade and Industry - David Chidgey
• Employment, Social Chapter and Minimum Wage - David Chigley
• Science and Technology - David Chigley
• Competition - Nigel Jones
• Small Business -
  • Colin Breed
  • Brian Cotter
• Treasury -
  • Malcolm Bruce
  • Edward Davey
  • Vince Cable
• Wales -
  • Richard Livsey
  • Lembit Opik
• Women - Jackie Ballard
• Young People - Lembit Opik

Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords

• Leader in the Lords - Roy Jenkins, Lord Jenkins of Hillhead
• Chief Whip - Lord Rodgers of Quarrybank

External links

• Weekly Information Bulletin: 28 November 1998, www.parliament.uk