1988 Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election

Last updated

1988 Social & Liberal Democrats
leadership election
  1976 (Liberal)
  1982 (SDP)
28 July 1988 (1988-07-28) 1999  
Turnout71.9%
  ASHDOWN Paddy.jpg Alan Beith (2008).jpg
Candidate Paddy Ashdown Alan Beith
First pref.41,40116,202
Percentage71.9%28.1%

Leader before election

David Steel & Bob Maclennan

Elected Leader

Paddy Ashdown

The 1988 Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election was called following the formation of the then Social and Liberal Democrats (later changing their name to Liberal Democrats). It was intended to replace the two interim leaders, David Steel and Robert Maclennan, with a single figurehead better able to represent both the former members of the Liberal Party and of the Social Democratic Party.

Contents

There were two candidates and all members of the party were balloted using the Alternative Vote preference system. The election was won by Paddy Ashdown, who served as leader until his stepping down in 1999. The campaign occurred in a party which was still coping with the merger and saw a vituperative attack on Ashdown in a letter written by Alex Carlile, a Beith-supporting MP. [1]

Candidates

At the close of nominations on the 24 June 1988, the following had been successfully nominated.

Paddy Ashdown

Supporters included:

Alan Beith

Supporters included:

Results

CandidateVotes %
Paddy Ashdown Green check.svg41,40171
Alan Beith 16,20229
Turnout57,79071.9

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References

  1. "1988 Leadership Campaign" (PDF). liberalhistory.org.uk.
  2. Hurst, Greg (2006). Charles Kennedy (First ed.). Politicos. p. 71. ISBN   1-84275-176-X.

Bibliography