# President of the Liberal Democrats

The president of the Liberal Democrats chairs the Federal Board of the Liberal Democrats of the United Kingdom.
The responsibilities of the president are similar to that of chairman of the Conservative Party or chairman of the Labour Party, although the role is elected by the membership for a fixed term.
They are elected in an all-member ballot by Liberal Democrat party members for a three-year term (previously two-year terms). They may serve a maximum of two three-year terms. The next scheduled contest will occur in Autumn 2025 with the winner beginning their term of office on 1 January 2026. The election is conducted using the single transferable vote.
The current president is Mark Pack, Baron Pack, who was elected in 2019 and took office on 1 January 2020.

## 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

| Term | Name(s) | Constituency (where applicable) |
| 1989–90 | Ian Wrigglesworth | N/A (served as MP 1974–1987) |
| 1991–94 | Charles Kennedy | Ross, Cromarty and Skye |
| 1995–98 | Bob Maclennan | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
| 1999–00 | Baroness Maddock | N/A |
| 2001–04 | Lord Dholakia | N/A |
| 2005–08 | Simon Hughes | North Southwark and Bermondsey |
| 2009–10 | Baroness Scott of Needham Market | N/A |
| 2011–14 | Tim Farron | Westmorland and Lonsdale |
| 2015–19 | Baroness Brinton | N/A |
| 2020– | Lord Pack | Non-parliamentarian until appointed to the Lords in 2025. |
* Member of the House of Commons
* Member of the House of Lords
* Non-parliamentarian

## Election results
### Elections in the 2020s
#### 2022

Mark Pack was re-elected president of the Liberal Democrats.
| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Mark Pack | 4,968 | 54.5% |
| Lucy Nethsingha | 2,194 | 24.2% |
| Liz Webster | 1,936 | 21.3% |
| Turnout/Total | 9,099 | 14.05% |

### Elections in the 2010s
#### 2019

Mark Pack was elected president of the Liberal Democrats.
| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Mark Pack | 14,381 | 58.6% |
| Christine Jardine | 10,164 | 41.4% |
| Turnout/Total | 24,545 | 23.1% |

#### 2016

Sal Brinton was returned unopposed.

#### 2014

| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % | Transfers | Votes | % |
| Sal Brinton | 7,865 | 46.86 | +2,323 | 10,188 | 62.40 |
| Daisy Cooper | 4,530 | 26.98 | +1,608 | 6,138 | 37.59 |
| Liz Lynne | 4,389 | 26.14 | | | |
| Turnout/Total | 16,784 | 38.9 | | | |
There were 25 spoilt/rejected ballots.

#### 2012

Tim Farron was returned unopposed.

#### 2010

| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Tim Farron | 14,593 | 52.98 |
| Susan Kramer | 12,950 | 47.01 |
| Turnout/Total | 27,543 | 41.9 |
There were 64 spoilt/rejected ballots.

### Elections in the 2000s
#### 2008

| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Ros Scott | 20,736 | 72.04 |
| Lembit Öpik | 6,247 | 21.70 |
| Chandila Fernando | 1,799 | 6.25 |
| Turnout/Total | 28,782 | 47.8 |
There were 49 spoilt/rejected ballots.

#### 2006

Simon Hughes was returned unopposed.

#### 2004

| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Simon Hughes | 24,333 | 70.86 |
| Lembit Öpik | 10,002 | 29.13 |
| Turnout/Total | 34,335 | 29.13 |
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

| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Bob Maclennan | 18,080 | 53.77 |
| Don Foster | 8,979 | 26.61 |
| Martin Thomas | 6,561 | 19.51 |
| Turnout/Total | 33,620 | 33.4 |
There were 114 spoilt/rejected ballots.

#### 1992

| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Charles Kennedy | 25,956 | 70.45 |
| Martin Thomas | 10,813 | 29.35 |
| Turnout/Total | 36,840 | 36.2 |
There were 71 spoilt/rejected ballots.

#### 1990

| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Charles Kennedy | 24,648 | 84.24 |
| Tim Clement-Jones | 4,818 | 16.11 |
| Brian Grocott | 436 | 1.45 |
| Turnout/Total | 29,902 | 36.3 |
There were 55 spoilt/rejected ballots.

### Elections in the 1980s
#### 1988

| Candidate | First round | First round |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Ian Wrigglesworth | 28,638 | 50.22 |
| Des Wilson | 21,906 | 38.41 |
| Gwynoro Jones | 6,479 | 11.36 |
| Turnout/Total | 57,023 | 71.2 |
There were 448 spoilt/rejected ballots.