Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats


The Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats is responsible for administering the whipping system in the party which ensures that members attend and vote in parliament when the party leadership requires a majority vote. Whips, of which two are appointed in the party, a member of the House of Commons and a member of the House of Lords, also help to organise their party’s contribution to parliamentary business. On some occasions, the party leadership may allow MP's to have a free vote based on their own conscience rather than party policy, of which the chief whip is not required to direct votes.
This is a list of people who have served as Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and of its predecessor parties. The Liberal Party was formed in 1859, but through its roots in the Whig Party dates back to the late 1670s. In 1988, the Liberals merged with the Social Democratic Party, formed by dissident Labour Party members in 1981, to create the Liberal Democrats.

House of Commons

Whigs

Liberal Party

Liberal Democrats

House of Lords

Whigs

Liberal Party

YearName
1981The Lord Kennet
1983The Lord Kilmarnock
1986The Baroness Stedman

Liberal Democrats

Chief Whips of the National Liberal Party (Coalition Liberals), 1916–1923

YearNameConstituency
1916Neil James Archibald PrimroseWisbech
1916Freddie GuestEast Dorset
1921Charles McCurdyNorthampton
1922Edward Hilton YoungNorwich

Chief Whips of the Liberal National Party (later National Liberal Party), 1931–1966