Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election, 1988

The 1988 Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election was called in the United Kingdom following the formation of the then Social and Liberal Democrats (later shortening 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.

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.

Paddy Ashdown was elected as the Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Alan Beith was a candidate for the Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Results

Candidate		Votes	%
	Paddy Ashdown	41,401	72
	Alan Beith	16,202	28

References

• Issue 24 of the Journal of Liberal History contains an article by Harriet Smith about the campaign
• Colin Rosenstiel. "All-member ballot results". Liberal Democrats' election results 1998-2004. http://www.cix.co.uk/~rosenstiel/ldelections/all-member.htm. Retrieved 2006-01-10. 

Liberal, Social Democrat and Liberal Democrat leadership elections
Liberals: 1967 | 1976                         SDP: 1982
Liberal Democrats: 1988 | 1999 | 2006 | 2007