Leader of the Liberal Party

The **Leader of the Liberal Party** is the head of the Liberal Party of Panem. The incumbent is Chris Evans MA who was elected in April 2011, succeeding John Green.

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party serves alongside the leader and traditionally serves as Chair of the Liberal Party, responsible for party administration and overseeing the federal election campaigns of the Liberal Party. Since September 2005, the position of Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party has been held by Anne Haigh MA.

## History

The post of Leader of the Liberal Party was officially created in 1919. Before this, between when Liberal MAs were first elected in 1905 and the federal election in 1919, when substantial gains were made, the post was known as Chairman of the Assembly Liberal Party. In 1970, the positions of leader of the Liberal Party and Chairman of the Assembly Liberal Party were separated.

In 1920, R. B. Chambers became the first leader of the Liberal Party to have been born outside of Wales; prior to this, all party leaders had been born in south Wales. In 1927, James Emerson became the first ever Liberal chancellor, leading a minority government which lasted four years; thirteen months as a single-party government and two years and eleven months as a coalition government with the National Democrats. Vernon Douglass would become the first Liberal leader to lead a majority government in 1945. The first to be born in London was Daniel Thelen, who was elected in 1992 and represented the London constituency of West Ham in the National Assembly. The most electorally successful leaders of the Liberal Party to date are: Vernon Douglass, who won three consecutive electoral victories in 1945, 1950, and 1952 (the first and last being landslide victories), and Jack Gallagher, who won three federal elections out of four contested, in 1966, 1972, and 1977.

## Selection

Unlike other Panem political party leaders, the Liberal leader does not have the power to dismiss or appoint their deputy. Both the leader and deputy leader are elected by an alternative vote system. From 1920 to 1970, the leader was elected solely by the Assembly Liberal Party. From 1970 to 2000, an electoral college was used, with a third of the votes allocated to the Party's MAs, a third to individual members of the Liberal Party, and a third to individual members of all affiliated organisations, including socialist societies and trade unions. The 2001 leadership election used a "one member, one vote" system, in which the votes of party members and members of affiliated organisations are counted equally. MAs votes are not counted separately, although a candidate needs to receive the support of 10% of Liberal MAs (or 10% of CLPs) in order to appear on the ballot.

## Role

When the Liberal Party is in opposition, as it currently is, the leader of the Liberal Party usually acts as the Leader of the Opposition, and appoints and chairs the shadow cabinet. Concordantly, when the Party is in government, the leader would usually become the chancellor of the Panem and Minister for the Civil Service, as well as appointing and chairing the federal cabinet. The leader is responsible for the overall direction and policies of the party and acts as the party's chief spokesperson and figurehead.