The president of the Liberal Democrats chairs the Federal Board of the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom.
According to the Liberal Democrat constitution, the president is the principal public representative of the Party and chairs the Federal Board. The role is elected by the membership for a fixed term of three years. They may serve a maximum of two terms. The next scheduled contest will occur in Autumn 2028 with the winner beginning their term of office on 1 January 2029. The election is conducted using the single transferable vote.
In the event of the Leader resigning prior to the end of their term, the Deputy Leader and President take on the role of joint Acting Leaders. This last occurred following the resignation of Jo Swinson after she lost her seat in the 2019 General Election; Ed Davey MP and Mark Pack took on the role until the culmination of the subsequent leadership election.
The current president is Josh Babarinde, who took office on 1 January 2026, replacing The Lord Pack, who had held the office from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2025.
Eligibility to stand
In order to be a candidate for president, the candidate must be a member of the Liberal Democrats and secure the nomination of not less than 200 members in not less than 20 local parties (including, for this purpose, the specified associated organisations representing youth or students).
List of party presidents to date Member of the House of Commons Member of the House of Lords Non-parliamentarian PresidentTerm of OfficeTerm LengthElectionsLeaderIan Wrigglesworth1 January 198931 December 19902 years—Paddy AshdownCharles Kennedy1 January 199131 December 19944 years1992Bob Maclennan1 January 199531 December 19984 years1997Diana MaddockBaroness Maddock1 January 199931 December 20002 years—Paddy AshdownCharles KennedyNavnit DholakiaBaron Dholakia1 January 200131 December 20044 years2001Charles KennedySimon Hughes1 January 200531 December 20084 years2005Charles KennedyMenzies CampbellNick CleggRosalind ScottBaroness Scott of Needham Market1 January 200931 December 20102 years2010Nick CleggTim Farron1 January 201131 December 20144 years—Sal BrintonBaroness Brinton1 January 20151 January 20205 years201520172019Nick CleggTim FarronVince CableJo SwinsonMark PackBaron Pack1 January 20201 January 20266 years2024Ed DaveyJosh Babarinde1 January 2026Incumbent—
Timeline
Election results
Elections in the 2020s
2025 CandidateFirst RoundVotes%Josh Babarinde3,74268.79%Prue Bray1,69831.21%Turnout/Total5,4409.1%
2022 Mark Pack was re-elected president of the Liberal Democrats.
CandidateFirst roundVotes%Mark Pack4,96854.5%Lucy Nethsingha2,19424.2%Liz Webster1,93621.3%Turnout/Total9,09914.05%
Elections in the 2010s
2019 Mark Pack was elected president of the Liberal Democrats.
CandidateFirst roundVotes%Mark Pack14,38158.6%Christine Jardine10,16441.4%Turnout/Total24,54523.1%Based on party membership reported as 106,575 - https://www.markpack.org.uk/143767/liberal-democrat-membership-figures/
2016 Sal Brinton was returned unopposed.
2014 CandidateFirst roundVotes%TransfersVotes%Sal Brinton7,86546.86 +2,32310,18862.40Daisy Cooper4,53026.98 +1,6086,13837.59Liz Lynne4,38926.14Turnout/Total16,78438.9 There were 25 spoilt/rejected ballots.
2012 Tim Farron was returned unopposed.
2010 CandidateFirst roundVotes%Tim Farron14,59352.98Susan Kramer12,95047.01Turnout/Total27,54341.9 There were 64 spoilt/rejected ballots.
Elections in the 2000s
2008 CandidateFirst roundVotes%Ros Scott20,73672.04Lembit Öpik6,24721.70Chandila Fernando1,7996.25Turnout/Total28,78247.8 There were 49 spoilt/rejected ballots.
2006 Simon Hughes was returned unopposed.
2004 CandidateFirst roundVotes%Simon Hughes24,33370.86Lembit Öpik10,00229.13Turnout/Total34,33529.13 There were 144 spoilt/rejected ballots.
2002 Navnit Dholakia was returned unopposed.
2000 Navnit Dholakia was returned unopposed.
Elections in the 1990s 1998 Diana Maddock was returned unopposed.
1996 Bob Maclennan was returned unopposed.
1994 CandidateFirst roundVotes%Bob Maclennan18,08053.77Don Foster8,97926.61Martin Thomas6,56119.51Turnout/Total33,62033.4 There were 114 spoilt/rejected ballots.
1992 CandidateFirst roundVotes%Charles Kennedy25,95670.45Martin Thomas10,81329.35Turnout/Total36,84036.2 There were 71 spoilt/rejected ballots.
1990 CandidateFirst roundVotes%Charles Kennedy24,64884.24Tim Clement-Jones4,81816.11Brian Grocott4361.45Turnout/Total29,90236.3 There were 55 spoilt/rejected ballots.
Elections in the 1980s
1988 CandidateFirst roundVotes%Ian Wrigglesworth28,63850.22Des Wilson21,90638.41Gwynoro Jones6,47911.36Turnout/Total57,02371.2 There were 448 spoilt/rejected ballots.
Vice President
The Vice President's role was created to increase engagement with ethnic minority communities; the first Vice President was first elected in 2019. The role was also known as the "Vice President for BaME" prior to 2021. Prior to 2021, the vice president was elected by the Federal Board rather than by party members, and did not have a vote at the Federal Board.
List of party vice presidents to date
PresidentTerm of OfficeElectionsLeader Isabelle Parasram 20 March 2019 2021 2019Vince CableJo SwinsonEd Davey Amna Ahmad 2021 31 December 2025 2024Ed DaveyVictoria Collins 1 January 2026Incumbent–Ed Davey
Member of the House of Commons Member of the House of Lords Non-parliamentarian
Timeline
Elections 2025 CandidateVotesVictoria Collins 2788Kamran Hussain2102
2022 Amna Ahmad was reelected unopposed. 2021 CandidateVote stage1234Amna Ahmad1814189020172123Roderick Lynch1154119212771684Marisha Ray672702792Rabi Martins407436473Julliet Makhapila354373Tahir Maher221
See also Leader of the Liberal Democrats Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats
Notes and references NotesReferences