Simon Hughes - Deputy Leadership Election, 2010

Deputy Leadership Election, 2010

The 2010 general election, held on 6 May 2010, resulted in the first hung parliament for 36 years – with the Tories having the most votes and seats but no party having an overall majority. On 11 May 2010, Labour Party leader and prime minister Gordon Brown announced his resignation and paved the way for David Cameron to become the new prime minister, with the Tories promptly forming a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. Among the Liberal Democrat MPs to be given roles in the cabinet was the deputy party leader Vince Cable, who became Business Secretary and resigned from his role as deputy party leader.

This paved the way for a deputy leadership election, with Hughes being declared the winner. He beat the only other candidate, Tim Farron, by 38–18.

Although the post is usually called "Deputy Leader", strictly speaking the role is Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons. The Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party in the House of Lords has its own leader and deputy leader.

On 9 December 2010, Hughes was one of 8 Liberal Democrat MPs abstain from the vote on Government proposals to increase university tuition fees. The vote was particularly controversial for Liberal Democrats as many Lib Dem MPs had previously signed an NUS pledge promising to vote against tuition fee increases.