| Election Name: | 2006 Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2003 Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election |
| Previous Year: | 2003 |
| Next Election: | 2010 Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Election Date: | 29 March 2006 |
| 1Blank: | First round |
| 2Blank: | Second round |
| Image1: | Sir Vince Cable at Essex Book Festival 2016 (cropped).jpg |
| Image1 Size: | 150x150px |
| Candidate1: | Vince Cable |
| 1Data1: | 21 (33.3%) |
| 2Data1: | 31 (51.7%) |
| Image2 Size: | 150x150px |
| Candidate2: | Matthew Taylor |
| 1Data2: | 25 (39.7%) |
| 2Data2: | 29 (48.3%) |
| Image3: | David Heath Minister.jpg |
| Image3 Size: | 150x150px |
| Candidate3: | David Heath |
| 1Data3: | 17 (27.0%) |
| 2Data3: | Eliminated |
| Deputy Leader | |
| Before Election: | Menzies Campbell |
| After Election: | Vince Cable |
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]
| First round | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| Matthew Taylor | 25 | 39.7 | ||
| Vince Cable | 21 | 33.3 | ||
| 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 | % | ||
| Vince Cable | +10 | 31 | 51.7 | ||
| Matthew Taylor | +4 | 29 | 48.3 | ||
| Not transferable | +3 | 3 | |||
| Turnout | 63 | 100 | |||
| Vince Cable elected | |||||