1999 Liberal Democrats leadership election

none January 2014 January 2014 1999 Liberal Democrats leadership election presidential no 1988 Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election 1988 2006 Liberal Democrats leadership election 2006 9 August 1999 First round Second round Charles Kennedy MP (cropped).jpg 150x150px Charles Kennedy 22,724 (44.6%) 28,425 (56.6%) Simon Hughes MP Liverpool cropped.jpg Simon Hughes 16,233 (31.8%) 21,833 (43.4%) Malcolm Bruce, September 2009 cropped.jpg Malcolm Bruce 4,643 (9.1%) Eliminated 3x4.svg Jackie Ballard 3,978 (7.8%) Eliminated David Rendel - Newbury declaration (cropped).jpg David Rendel 3,428 (6.7%) Eliminated Leader Paddy Ashdown Charles Kennedy 51,006 (62%) 10.1% The 1999 Liberal Democrats leadership election was called following the resignation of Paddy Ashdown as Leader of the Liberal Democrats. There were five candidates and all members of the party were balloted using the Alternative Vote preference system. The election was won by Charles Kennedy, who served as leader until his resignation in 2006. The chief issue in the election was whether the party should continue its partial collaboration with the Labour Party, which had seen Ashdown and other senior Liberal Democrats appointed to a joint Cabinet committee on electoral reform. Most of the candidates were to various degrees sceptical about this approach, with Simon Hughes the most hostile and Charles Kennedy the strongest defender of Ashdown. The campaign was almost entirely free of bitterness and outspoken comments. Kennedy was generally favoured by the press because of his name recognition, which derived from his frequent appearances on light-hearted panel games on television. Candidates Jackie Ballard Supporters included: MPs: Peter Brand, Jenny Tonge. Peers: Eric Avebury, Liz Barker, Sally Hamwee, Angie Harris, Sarah Ludford, Susan Miller, Conrad Russell, Susan Thomas. MEPs: Sarah Ludford. MSPs: Iain Smith, Margaret Smith. Other: Cllr Tony Greaves. Malcolm Bruce Supporters included: MPs: Ed Davey, Evan Harris Simon Hughes Supporters included: MPs: Tom Brake, Steve Webb. Peers: Tim Beaumont, Margaret Sharp. MEPs: Graham Watson. MSPs: Robert Brown. Welsh AMs: Peter Black. Former MPs: Cyril Smith. Charles Kennedy Supporters included: MPs: Colin Breed, John Burnett, Vince Cable, Menzies Campbell, David Chidgey, Brian Cotter, Ronnie Fearn, Don Foster, Andrew George, Mike Hancock, Nick Harvey, Nigel Jones, Paul Keetch, Archie Kirkwood, Richard Livsey, Robert Maclennan, Ray Michie, Michael Moore, Mark Oaten, Lembit Öpik, Matthew Taylor (campaign manager), Paul Tyler, Phil Willis, Jim Wallace. Peers: Dominic Addington, John Alderdice, William Bradshaw, Navnit Dholakia, William Goodhart, Tim Clement-Jones, Richard Holme, Roy Jenkins, Russell Johnston, Anthony Lester, Veronica Linklater, Tom McNally, Emma Nicholson, Dick Newby, Tim Razzall, Rupert Redesdale, Dick Taverne, George Thomson, John Thurso, Alan Watson, Shirley Williams. MEPs: Nick Clegg, Andrew Duff, Chris Huhne, Emma Nicholson, Diana Wallis. MSPs: Ian Jenkins, George Lyon, John Farquhar Munro, Keith Raffan, Tavish Scott, Nicol Stephen, Jamie Stone, Jim Wallace. Welsh AMs: Kirsty Williams. Other: Jane Bonham Carter, Richard Grayson, Gordon Lishman, Lindsay Granshaw, Matthew Oakeshott, Cllr Mike Storey. David Rendel Supporters included: MPs: Donald Gorrie, Adrian Sanders. Other: Cllr Sal Brinton, Cllr Dave Hodgson. Withdrew from the contest The following Liberal Democrat politicians initially stood but subsequently withdrew from the election: Don Foster Supporters included: MPs: Mark Oaten (Campaign manager),Hurst Greg Chales Kennedy: A Tragic Flaw 2006 Politicos 1-84275-176-X 104 First Lembit Öpik. Results First roundCandidateChangeVotes% Charles Kennedy style="width: 50px" 22,724 44.6 Simon Hughes style="width: 50px" 16,233 31.8 Malcolm Bruce style="width: 50px" 4,643 9.1 Jackie Ballard style="width: 50px" 3,978 7.8 David Rendel style="width: 50px" 3,428 6.7 Turnout 51,006 62 Rendel eliminated, second count required As a result of the first round, Rendel was eliminated. Those of his votes that includes further preferences were redistributed (transferred) to the remaining four candidates. Second roundCandidateChangeVotes% Charles Kennedy +895 23,619 46.5 Simon Hughes +1,145 17,378 34.2 Malcolm Bruce +598 5,241 10.3 Jackie Ballard +627 4,605 9.1 David Rendel −3,428 align="right" align="right" Not transferable +163 163 align="right" Ballard eliminated, third count required As a result of the second round, Ballard was eliminated. Those of her votes that includes further preferences were redistributed to the remaining three candidates. Third roundCandidateChangeVotes% Charles Kennedy +1,545 25,164 49.7 Simon Hughes +1,982 19,360 38.3 Malcolm Bruce +827 6,068 12.0 Jackie Ballard −4,605 align="right" align="right" Not transferable +251 414 align="right" Bruce eliminated, fourth count required As a result of the third round, Bruce was eliminated. Those of his votes that includes further preferences were redistributed to the remaining two candidates. Final roundCandidateChangeVotes% Charles Kennedy +3,261 28,425 56.6 Simon Hughes +2,473 21,833 43.4 Malcolm Bruce −6,068 align="right" align="right" Not transferable +334 748 align="right" Charles Kennedy elected References Colin Rosenstiel http://www.cix.co.uk/~rosenstiel/ldelections/all-member.htm All-member ballot results Liberal Democrats' election results 1998-2004 2006-01-10 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060220065739/http://www.cix.co.uk/~rosenstiel/ldelections/all-member.htm 20 February 2006 David Boothroyd http://www.election.demon.co.uk/libleaders.html Liberal Party Leaders United Kingdom Election Results 2006-01-11 David Boothroyd 12 January 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060112011529/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/libleaders.html dead External links https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/9/newsid_2493000/2493023.stm Kennedy wins Lib Dem leadership 9 August 1999 BBC News On This Day Liberal Democrat leadership election Leadership election 1999 Liberal Democrats leadership election