Ed Davey was appointed as Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats following the resignation of Jo Swinson. Davey announced his first frontbench team as Acting Leader in January 2020.
Davey was elected permanent Leader on 27 August 2020 and assembled a new frontbench team in the following days. After the 2024 general election, Davey's frontbench team became the second largest opposition party to the governing Labour Party, behind the Sunak shadow cabinet.
On 18 September 2024, following the party conference, Davey announced a new 33-member frontbench team, with new members taking frontbench roles. This left 39 backbench MPs, more than twice the number of Liberal Democrat MPs prior to the election. This was also subsequent to former frontbench members Layla Moran, Alistair Carmichael, and Jamie Stone standing down from the frontbench after being elected to chair parliamentary select committees.
The frontbench was reshuffled in September 2025 following the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth.
Frontbench team history
January 2020 – August 2020
PortfolioHolderActing Leader of the Liberal DemocratsEconomy and Social JusticeSir Ed DaveyHome AffairsWomen and EqualitiesChristine JardineForeign AffairsBrexitChief WhipAlistair CarmichaelClimate Emergency, Energy and the EnvironmentWera HobhouseHousing, Local Government, Food and Rural AffairsNorth of EnglandTim FarronEducationLayla MoranHealth, Wellbeing & Social CareTransportMunira WilsonDefenceJamie StoneBusiness and TradeSarah OlneyJusticeDigital, Culture, Media and SportDaisy CooperPolitical & Constitutional ReformScotlandWales Northern IrelandInternational DevelopmentWendy Chamberlain Changes from Swinson's final Team
Chuka Umunna (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) lost his seat and was replaced by Alistair Carmichael in the former and Sarah Olney in the latter Sam Gyimah (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) lost his seat and was replaced by Wera Hobhouse (Climate Emergency, Energy and the Environment) and Sarah Olney (Business and Trade) Angela Smith (International Development) lost her seat and was replaced by replaced by Wendy Chamberlain Phillip Lee (Justice) lost his seat and was replaced by Daisy Cooper Tom Brake (Brexit and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) lost his seat and was replaced in the former by Alistair Carmichael, the latter remained vacant Luciana Berger (Health and Social Care) lost her seat and was replaced by Munira Wilson Sir Vince Cable (Cabinet Office) retired from the commons and was not replaced, although Wendy Chamberlain took on a similar role called Political & Constitutional Reform spokesperson Jane Dodds (Wales and Food and Rural Affairs) lost her seat and was succeeded in the former by Wendy Chamberlain and by Tim Farron in the latter. In addition to Justice, Daisy Cooper also took over as Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson from Layla Moran who continued as Education spokesperson In addition to International Development and Wales, Wendy Chamberlain also took over Northern Ireland from Alistair Carmichael
September 2020 – July 2022 Following Davey's election as party leader, he reshuffled his frontbench team. PortfolioHolderLeader of the Liberal DemocratsSir Ed DaveyDeputy Leader of the Liberal DemocratsEducation (until October 2021)Health, Wellbeing & Social Care (from October 2021)Daisy CooperTreasuryChristine JardineHome AffairsPolitical and Constitutional ReformNorthern IrelandAlistair CarmichaelForeign AffairsInternational DevelopmentLayla MoranHousing, Communities and Local GovernmentFood and Rural AffairsNorth of EnglandTim FarronHealth, Wellbeing & Social Care (until October 2021)Education (from October 2021)Munira WilsonBusiness and TradeTransportSarah OlneyClimate Emergency and EnergyJusticeWomen and EqualitiesWera HobhouseDefenceDigital, Culture, Media and SportJamie StoneScotlandWalesWork and PensionsChief WhipWendy Chamberlain Changes
Christine Jardine took over as Treasury spokesperson from Davey Alistair Carmichael took over Jardine's role of Home Affairs spokesperson and also replaced Chamberlain as Northern Ireland spokesperson. Layla Moran replaced Carmichael as Foreign Affairs spokesperson and as International Development spokesperson from Chamberlain Daisy Cooper replaced Moran as Education spokesperson, she also became Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sarah Olney replaced Munira Wilson as Transport spokesperson while remaining Business and Trade spokesperson Wera Hobhouse replaced Cooper as Justice spokesperson and as Women and Equalities spokesperson from Jardine Jamie Stone replaced Cooper as Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson while remaining Defence spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain replaced Carmichael as Chief Whip, while remaining Scotland and Wales spokesperson and becoming Work and Pensions spokesperson.
Later changes
In October 2021, Munira Wilson (Health and Social Care) and Daisy Cooper (Education) swapped portfolios
July 2022 – October 2024 Following several by-election victories, Davey reshuffled his frontbench team to include the party's new MPs. PortfolioHolderLeader of the Liberal DemocratsSir Ed DaveyDeputy Leader of the Liberal DemocratsHealth and Social CareDaisy CooperTreasuryBusiness and Industrial StrategySarah OlneyHome AffairsJusticeNorthern IrelandAlistair CarmichaelForeign AffairsInternational DevelopmentLayla MoranWork and PensionsChief WhipWendy ChamberlainEducationMunira WilsonEnvironment, Food and Rural AffairsTim FarronCabinet OfficeWoman and EqualitiesScotlandChristine JardineHousing, Communities and Local GovernmentHelen MorganCulture, Media and SportDefence (until October 2022)Jamie StoneEnergy and Climate ChangeTransportLeader of the House of CommonsWera HobhouseInternational TradeWalesSarah GreenDefence (from October 2022)Richard Foord Changes
Sarah Olney took over Treasury from Christine Jardine, while remaining Business spokesperson Alistair Carmichael took over Justice from Wera Hobhouse, while remaining Home Affairs and Northern Ireland spokesperson Helen Morgan took over Housing, Communities and Local Government from Tim Farron while the latter remained Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine took over Women and Equalities from Hobhouse and Scotland from Chamberlain while also becoming Cabinet Office spokesperson Sarah Green took over Wales from Chamberlain and International Trade from Olney Wera Hobhouse took over Transport from Olney and became Leader of the House of Commons spokesperson Richard Foord took over Defence from Jamie Stone while the latter remained Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson.
October 2024 – September 2025 Following significant gains at the 2024 general election, Davey reshuffled his frontbench team to "champion the people’s priorities". It included the departures of Layla Moran (Foreign Affairs), Alistair Carmichael (Home Affairs) and Jamie Stone (Culture, Media and Sport) who became Select Committee Chairs. PortfolioHolderLeader of the Liberal DemocratsSir Ed DaveyDeputy Leader of the Liberal DemocratsTreasuryDaisy CooperHome AffairsLisa SmartForeign AffairsCalum MillerChief WhipWendy ChamberlainHealth and Social CareHelen MorganEducation, Children and Families Munira WilsonEnvironment, Food and Rural AffairsTim FarronCabinet OfficeSarah OlneyWoman and EqualitiesScotlandChristine JardineJusticeJosh BabarindeBusinessSarah GibsonEnergy Security and Net ZeroPippa HeylingsHousing, Communities and Local GovernmentVikki SladeTransportPaul KohlerScience, Innovation and TechnologyVictoria CollinsCulture, Media and SportMax WilkinsonDefence Helen MaguireWork and PensionsSteve DarlingWalesDavid ChadwickNorthern IrelandAl PinkertonLondon Luke TaylorHospitals and Primary Care Jess Brown-FullerCare and CarersAlison BennettMental Health Danny ChambersUniversities and Skills Ian SollomTrade Clive JonesInternational DevelopmentMonica HardingEurope James MacClearyHousing and PlanningGideon AmosLeader of the House of CommonsMarie GoldmanAttorney GeneralBen MaguireDeputy Chief WhipTom Morrison Changes
Daisy Cooper took over Treasury from Sarah Olney Helen Morgan took over Health and Social Care from Cooper Sarah Olney took over Cabinet Office from Christine Jardine while the latter remained Women and Equalities and Scotland spokesperson Calum Miller took over Foreign Affairs from Layla Moran, who now chairs the Health and Social Care Select Committee Lisa Smart took over Home Affairs from Alistair Carmichael, who now chairs the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Josh Babarinde took over Justice from Carmichael Sarah Gibson took over Business from Olney Pippa Heylings took over Energy Security and Net Zero from Wera Hobhouse Vikki Slade took over Housing, Communities and Local Government from Morgan Paul Kohler took over Transport from Hobhouse Victoria Collins became Science, Innovation and Technology Spokesperson Max Wilkinson took over Culture, Media and Sport from Jamie Stone who now chairs the Petitions Committee Helen Maguire took over Defence from Richard Foord Steve Darling took over Work and Pensions from Wendy Chamberlain while the latter remained Chief Whip David Chadwick took over Wales from Sarah Green Al Pinkerton took over Northern Ireland from Carmichael Luke Taylor became London Spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller became Hospitals and Primary Care Spokesperson Alison Bennett became Mental Health Spokesperson Ian Sollom became Universities and Skills Spokesperson Clive Jones took over Trade from Green Monica Harding took over International Development from Moran James MacCleary became Europe Spokesperson Gideon Amos became Housing and Planning Spokesperson Marie Goldman became Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Ben Maguire became Shadow Attorney General Tom Morrison became Deputy Chief Whip
September 2025 – present PortfolioCurrent holderTermLeaderSir Ed Davey2020–presentDeputy LeaderDaisy Cooper 2020–presentTreasury2024–presentChief WhipWendy Chamberlain2020–presentHome AffairsMax Wilkinson2025–presentForeign AffairsCalum Miller2024–presentHealth and Social CareHelen Morgan 2024–presentEducation, Children and Families Munira Wilson 2021–presentEnvironment, Food and Rural AffairsTim Farron 2020–presentCabinet OfficeLisa Smart 2025–presentBusinessSarah Olney 2025–presentWork and PensionsSteve Darling 2024–presentInvestment & TradeJoshua Reynolds 2025–presentShadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryCharlie Maynard2025-presentJusticeJess Brown-Fuller2025–presentAttorney General's OfficeBen Maguire 2024–presentWomen and EqualitiesMarie Goldman2025-presentDefenceJames MacCleary2025–presentInternational DevelopmentMonica Harding 2024–presentEuropeAl Pinkerton 2025–presentPrimary Care and CancerHelen Maguire 2025–presentCare and CarersAlison Bennett 2024–October 2026Clive Jones October 2026–presentMental HealthDanny Chambers 2024–presentScience, Innovation, and TechnologyVictoria Collins 2024–presentUniversities and SkillsIan Sollom2024–presentCulture, Media and SportAnna Sabine2025–presentSchoolsCaroline Voaden2025-presentEnergy Security and Net ZeroPippa Heylings2024–presentTransportOlly Glover 2025–presentHousing and PlanningGideon Amos2024–presentLocal GovernmentZöe Franklin 2025–presentRural AffairsSarah Dyke 2025-presentNorthern IrelandPaul Kohler 2025–presentScotlandSusan Murray 2025–presentWalesDavid Chadwick 2024–presentLondonLuke Taylor 2024–presentDeputy Chief WhipTom Morrison 2024–presentShadow Leader of the House of CommonsBobby Dean 2025–presentChanges
Lisa Smart took over Cabinet Office from Sarah Olney Max Wilkinson took over Home Affairs from Smart Sarah Olney took over Business from Sarah Gibson Jess Brown-Fuller took over Justice from Josh Babarinde who later became President of the Liberal Democrats Gideon Amos took over Housing and Communities from Vikki Slade