Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team, 2007–2010
Encyclopedia
This article is about the Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team led by Nick Clegg
from December 2007 to May 2010, when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister
in the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government
led by David Cameron
.
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
from December 2007 to May 2010, when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a senior member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a permanent position, existing only at the discretion of the Prime Minister, who may appoint to other offices...
in the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government
Cameron Ministry
David Cameron is Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a new government after the resignation as Prime Minister of Gordon Brown on 11 May 2010. Leading a coalition government formed by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, the coalition...
led by David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet
| Name | Portfolio |
|---|---|
| The Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP Nick Clegg Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister... |
Leader of the Liberal Democrats |
| Dr Vince Cable MP Vincent Cable Dr. John Vincent "Vince" Cable is a British Liberal Democrat politician and economist who is currently the Business Secretary in the coalition cabinet of David Cameron. He has been Member of Parliament for Twickenham since 1997.... |
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Chancellor of the Exchequer The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the... |
| Edward Davey MP Edward Davey Edward Jonathan "Ed" Davey is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton since 1997, and in May 2010 was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State... |
| Chris Huhne MP Chris Huhne Christopher Murray Paul-Huhne, generally known as Chris Huhne is a British politician and cabinet minister, who is the current Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for the Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department |
| David Howarth MP David Howarth David Ross Howarth is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was Member of Parliament for Cambridge from 2005 to 2010.- Education and academic career :... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Justice |
| David Heath MP | Lib Dem Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Leader of the House of Commons The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons... |
| Simon Hughes MP Simon Hughes Simon Henry Ward Hughes is a British politician and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. He is Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark. Until 2008 he was President of the Liberal Democrats... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is a British government cabinet position currently held by Chris Huhne. The government department was created on 3 October 2008 when former Prime Minister Gordon Brown reshuffled his cabinet.... |
| Nick Harvey MP Nick Harvey Nicholas Barton "Nick" Harvey is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He is the Member of Parliament for North Devon and the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.-Early life and education:... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Secretary of State for Defence The Secretary of State for Defence, popularly known as the Defence Secretary, is the senior Government of the United Kingdom minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence, chairing the Defence Council. It is a Cabinet position... |
| Norman Lamb MP Norman Lamb Norman Peter Lamb is a British Liberal Democrat politician, and Chief Parliamentary and Political Adviser and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.He is the Member of Parliament for North Norfolk.... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Health Secretary of State for Health Secretary of State for Health is a UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health.The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November, and 21 November 1831. In 1848 a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and... |
| Prof. Steve Webb MP Steve Webb Steven John Webb, better known as Steve Webb , is an English Liberal Democrat politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Thornbury & Yate and the Minister of State for Pensions.-Background:... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Secretary of State for Work and Pensions The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a post in the British Cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. It was created on 8 June 2001 by the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security.The Ministry... |
| Tim Farron MP Tim Farron Timothy James Farron is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He is currently Member of Parliament for the constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is a UK cabinet-level position in charge of the Department for 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, Transport... |
| David Laws MP David Laws David Anthony Laws is a British politician. He is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Yeovil and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury.... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families is a Cabinet minister in the United Kingdom. The post was created on 28 June 2007 after the disbanding of the Department for Education and Skills by Gordon Brown. The first Secretary of State was Ed Balls, a former treasury aide to Brown... |
| Stephen Williams MP Stephen Williams (politician) Stephen Roy Williams is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Bristol West in the 2005 general election, being re-elected with an increased majority in May 2010... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills The Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills was a Cabinet minister in the United Kingdom, heading the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills . The post was created on 28 June 2007 from parts of the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Trade and... |
| Sarah Teather MP Sarah Teather Sarah Louise Teather is a British Liberal Democrat politician, Member of Parliament for Brent Central, Minister of State at the Department for Education, and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Guantanamo Bay.... |
Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Housing |
| Norman Baker MP Norman Baker Norman John Baker is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Lewes in East Sussex since 1997. Since May 2010 he has been Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department for Transport.... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Secretary of State for Transport The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors... |
| Don Foster MP | Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport is a United Kingdom cabinet position with responsibility for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The role was created in 1992 by John Major as Secretary of State for National Heritage... |
| Julia Goldsworthy MP Julia Goldsworthy Julia Anne Goldsworthy is a Special Adviser in HM Treasury to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander. She was the Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Camborne from 2005 until she lost her seat by 66 votes to George Eustice, the Conservative candidate in the 2010 general election in... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is a Cabinet position heading the UK's Department for Communities and Local Government.... |
| John Thurso MP | Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform |
| Danny Alexander MP Danny Alexander Daniel Grian Alexander is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 2010. He has been the Member of Parliament for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey constituency since 2005.... |
Party Leader's Chief of Staff Chief of Staff (United Kingdom) The Downing Street Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a senior aide to the Prime Minister and a powerful, non-ministerial position within the British Government... and Chairman of the Manifesto group |
| Jenny Willott Jenny Willott Jennifer Nancy Willott is a British politician and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central since the 2005 general election. She is the first woman and the first Liberal Democrat to represent her seat.... MP |
Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster... |
| Michael Moore MP Michael Moore (UK politician) Michael Kevin Moore is a British Liberal Democrat politician, currently the Secretary of State for Scotland in the UK coalition government, and the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk.... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for International Development Secretary of State for International Development In the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State for International Development is a Cabinet minister responsible for the Department for International Development and for promoting development overseas, particularly in the third world... |
| Roger Williams MP Roger Williams (UK politician) Roger Hugh Williams is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire since the 2001 general election.-Early life:... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Secretary of State for Wales The Secretary of State for Wales is the head of the Wales Office within the British cabinet. He or she is responsible for ensuring Welsh interests are taken into account by the government, representing the government within Wales and overseeing the passing of legislation which is only for Wales... |
| Alistair Carmichael MP Alistair Carmichael Alexander Morrison "Alistair" Carmichael is a Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for the Scottish seat of Orkney and Shetland since the 2001 general election.-Early life:... |
Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Secretary of State for Scotland The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was... , Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Secretary of State for Northern Ireland The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of... |
| Jeremy Browne MP Jeremy Browne Jeremy Richard Browne is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane since 2005 and a Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 2010.-Early life and education:... |
Lib Dem Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Chief Secretary to the Treasury The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is the third most senior ministerial position in HM Treasury, after the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer . In recent years, the office holder has usually been given a junior position in the British Cabinet... |
| Lynne Featherstone MP Lynne Featherstone Lynne Choona Featherstone , is a British Liberal Democrat politician, and the Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green.... |
Lib Dem Spokesperson for Youth and Equality |
| Paul Burstow MP Paul Burstow Paul Kenneth Burstow , British politician, is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam. In May 2010 he was appointed Minister of State for the Department of Health.-Early life:... |
Lib Dem Chief Whip Chief Whip 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.-The Whips Office:... |
| Mark Hunter MP Mark Hunter (politician) Mark James Hunter is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is the current Member of Parliament for Cheadle.-Education and background:... |
Parliamentary Private Secretary Parliamentary Private Secretary A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by... to the Leader |
| Lorely Burt MP Lorely Burt Lorely Jane Burt is a British politician and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Solihull.-Early life:She went to University College, Swansea, achieving a BSc in Economics... |
Chairman of the Parliamentary Party |
| Willie Rennie MP Willie Rennie William Cowan Rennie MSP is a Scottish politician and current Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.After college, Rennie spent most of his early career as a Liberal Democrat campaigner and official before working as a public relations consultant in the private sector... |
Chairman of Campaigns and Communications |
| The Rt. Hon. The Lord McNally PC | Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster.... |
Other Liberal Democrat Spokespeople
| Name | Portfolio |
|---|---|
| John Pugh MP John Pugh John David Pugh is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. He is Member of Parliament for Southport... and Colin Breed MP Colin Breed Colin Edward Breed is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for South East Cornwall from 1997 until he stood down at the 2010 general election.-Early life:... |
Treasury |
| Jo Swinson MP Jo Swinson Jo Swinson is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and Member of Parliament for East Dunbartonshire constituency, a suburban and semi-rural area to the north of Glasgow in Scotland, and is the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats... |
Foreign Affairs |
| Tom Brake MP Tom Brake Thomas Anthony Brake, known as Tom Brake, British Liberal Democrat politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington.-Early life:Tom Brake was born in Melton Mowbray, moving to France when he was eight... |
Home Affairs |
| Martin Horwood MP Martin Horwood Martin Charles Horwood is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He is the Member of Parliament for the Cheltenham constituency. He is the founder and current Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tribal Peoples.-Early life:He was born in St. Paul’s, Cheltenham, in 1962. His parents... and Roger Williams MP Roger Williams (UK politician) Roger Hugh Williams is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire since the 2001 general election.-Early life:... |
DEFRA Team |
| Greg Mulholland MP Greg Mulholland Gregory Thomas Mulholland is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom, and is the Member of Parliament for Leeds North West. He was first elected at the 2005 general election, winning the seat from Labour and was re-elected with an increased majority at the 2010 general election. Before... and Sandra Gidley MP Sandra Gidley Sandra Julia Gidley is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. She was the Member of Parliament for Romsey in Hampshire from 2000 to 2010, when she lost her seat to Conservative MP Caroline Nokes.-Biography:... |
Health |
| Sir Robert Smith Bt. Sir Robert Smith, 3rd Baronet Sir Robert Hill Smith, 3rd Baronet is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician who has been the Member of Parliament for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine since 1997.-Early life:... |
House of Commons |
| John Leech MP John Leech (politician) John Sampson Macfarlane Leech is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Manchester Withington since 2005... and Mark Hunter MP Mark Hunter (politician) Mark James Hunter is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is the current Member of Parliament for Cheadle.-Education and background:... |
Transport |
| Lorely Burt MP Lorely Burt Lorely Jane Burt is a British politician and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Solihull.-Early life:She went to University College, Swansea, achieving a BSc in Economics... |
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform |
| Bob Russell MP and Willie Rennie MP Willie Rennie William Cowan Rennie MSP is a Scottish politician and current Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.After college, Rennie spent most of his early career as a Liberal Democrat campaigner and official before working as a public relations consultant in the private sector... |
Defence |
| Paul Rowen MP Paul Rowen Paul John Rowen is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Rochdale from 2005 until the 2010 general election, when he was defeated by Labour Party candidate Simon Danczuk.-Early life and career:... and John Barrett MP |
Work and Pensions |
| Alan Reid MP | Northern Ireland and Scotland |
| Mark Williams MP Mark Williams (politician) Mark Fraser Williams is a British Welsh Liberal Democrat politician and the Member of Parliament for the Ceredigion constituency, a seat he gained from Plaid Cymru in 2005... |
Wales |
| Dan Rogerson MP Dan Rogerson Daniel John Rogerson is a Cornish Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for North Cornwall since the 2005 General election.-Early life:... |
Communities and Local Government |
| Richard Younger-Ross MP Richard Younger-Ross Richard Alan Younger-Ross is a politician in England. He was the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Teignbridge from 2001 to 2010, having contested the seat in 1992 and 1997, finally winning in the 2001 election... |
Culture, Media and Sport |
| Annette Brooke MP Annette Brooke Annette Lesley Brooke is a British Liberal Democrat politician. She has been the Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole since 2001.-Early life:... |
Children, Schools and Families |
| Dr Evan Harris MP Evan Harris Evan Leslie Harris is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon from 1997 to 2010, losing his seat in the 2010 general election by 176 votes to Conservative Nicola Blackwood.... |
Innovation, Universities and Skills |
| Adrian Sanders MP Adrian Sanders Adrian Mark Sanders is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. He is the Member of Parliament for Torbay in Devon.-Personal life:... |
Deputy Whips |
| Tom Brake MP Tom Brake Thomas Anthony Brake, known as Tom Brake, British Liberal Democrat politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington.-Early life:Tom Brake was born in Melton Mowbray, moving to France when he was eight... |
London and the Olympics |
Liberal Democrats House of Lords Frontbench Team
Liberal Democrat peers are also organised into teams broadly corresponding to the areas of Government departments:| Name | Portfolio |
|---|---|
| Rt. Hon. Lord McNally PC | Leader in the House of Lords |
| Lord Dholakia OBE Navnit Dholakia, Baron Dholakia Navnit Dholakia, Baron Dholakia OBE PC DL is a British Liberal Democrat politician and the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. Lord Dholakia is one of the most senior Asian politicians in Britain.-Education:... and The Lord Wallace of Saltaire William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire William John Lawrence Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire is a British academic, writer, politician and Lord in Waiting.-Early life:... |
Deputy Leaders in the House of Lords |
| Lord Shutt of Greetland David Shutt, Baron Shutt of Greetland David Trevor Shutt, Baron Shutt of Greetland, OBE, PC is a British Liberal Democrat politician, currently serving as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard and Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords.-Career:... |
Chief Whip in the House of Lords |
| Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer Susan Miller, Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer Susan Elizabeth Miller, Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords.She married firstly John Miller and secondly Humphrey Temperley, both of whom were active in political life as Liberal Democrats... |
Home Affairs |
| Rt. Hon. Lord McNally PC | Constitutional Affairs |
| Lord Maclennan of Rogart | Cabinet Office and Scotland |
| Lord Wallace of Saltaire William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire William John Lawrence Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire is a British academic, writer, politician and Lord in Waiting.-Early life:... |
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs |
| Lord Lee of Trafford John Lee, Baron Lee of Trafford John Robert Louis Lee, Baron Lee of Trafford is a British Liberal Democrat politician.He was Conservative MP for Nelson and Colne from 1979 to 1983, and then for Pendle from 1983 until he lost his seat to the Labour candidate Gordon Prentice in 1992... |
Defence |
| Baroness Northover Lindsay Northover, Baroness Northover Lindsay Patricia Northover, Baroness Northover is a Liberal Democrat British politician and currently a Government Whip in the House of Lords with responsibilities covering health, Law Officers, Ministry of Justice, Wales Office and for Women and Equalities and under the new coalition government,... and Lord Roberts |
International Development |
| Lord Clement-Jones CBE Timothy Clement-Jones, Baron Clement-Jones Timothy Francis Clement-Jones, Baron Clement-Jones CBE, is a Liberal Democrat Peer and their spokesman for Culture, Media and Sport in the House of Lords.-Political career:... and Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury is a British Liberal Democrat politician.-Education:Bonham Carter was educated at St... |
Culture, Media and Sport |
| Baroness Walmsley | Children, Schools and Families |
| Baroness Sharp of Guildford | Innovation, Universities and Skills |
| Baroness Barker | Health |
| Lord Burnett | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
| Lord Teverson | Climate Change and Energy |
| Baroness Hamwee | Communities and Local Government |
| Baron Smith of Clifton Trevor Arthur Smith, Baron Smith of Clifton Trevor Arthur Smith, Baron Smith of Clifton Kt is a British politician who is currently the Liberal Democrat spokesman in the House of Lords on Northern Ireland and constitutional affairs... |
Northern Ireland |
| Lord Razzall Tim Razzall, Baron Razzall Edward Timothy Razzall, Baron Razzall, CBE is a British Liberal Democrat politician.-Early life:Razzall studied at the University of Oxford in the early 1960s, where he also played cricket for the university in 1964.... |
Trade and Industry |
| Lord Bradshaw William Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw William Peter Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw , commonly known as Bill Bradshaw, is a British academic and politician... |
Transport |
| Lord Newby | Treasury |
| Lord Livsey of Talgarth | Wales |
| Lord Oakeshott | Work and Pensions |