2006 Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election

The 2006 Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election began on 2 March 2006, when the sitting Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, was elected leader of the party. Campbell had been deputy leader since February 2003.

The post was elected by and from the party's 63 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, who voted on 29 March 2006. Vince Cable was elected as deputy leader in the second round. There were three candidates: Vince Cable, David Heath and Matthew Taylor. Three further MPs, Susan Kramer, Phil Willis and Ed Davey, canvassed support from colleagues but did not enter nominations.^[1]

Result

First round
Candidate		Votes	%
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color" \|	Matthew Taylor	25	39.7
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color" \|	Vince Cable	21	33.3
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color" \|	David Heath	17	27.0
Turnout		63	100
Second ballot required

David Heath was eliminated after the first round, and his second preferences were redistributed.^[2]

Second round
Candidate		Change	Votes	%
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color" \|	Vince Cable	+10	31	51.7
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color" \|	Matthew Taylor	+4	29	48.3
style="background-color: Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color" \|	Not transferable	+3	3	—
Turnout			63	100
Vince Cable elected

^ Celia Walden (14 March 2006). "Spy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 March 2006. ^{[dead link]}
^ "Cable elected Lib Dem deputy leader". ePolitix.com. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2006.