Liberal Democrats form bulk of cabinet resignations after UK general election

The British government has been hit by a series of high- and low-profile resignations, in the wake of the general election, held on 7 May.

Many of the resignations were members of the Liberal Democrats who were appointed cabinet ministers as part of the deal to form the coalition.

High-profile resignations

Nick Clegg MP
The most senior scalp was that of Nick Clegg. While he managed to be re-elected as an MP, the massive losses the Liberal Democrat party saw in the election led to his resignation as party leader. Also, as the Conservatives hold a majority in the House of Commons, the Tory-LibDem coalition was not renewed, leading to Clegg resigning as deputy prime minister.

William Hague MP
After serving as Foreign Secretary in the coalition, William Hague resigned from the post to take up the largely administrative, and unpaid, role as Leader of the House of Commons. As leader, Hague is responsible for scheduling government business within the House of Commons. Hague is reported to have taken up the role in preparation for retiring from Parliament. The 56 year-old has served in Parliament for 26 years.

Tom Brake MP
Tom Brake, one of the eight LibDem MPs now left in the House of Commons, resigned his position as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons.Vince Cable

Vince Cable
Possibly the highest-profile loss to the Liberal Democrats, the now former secretary of state of business, innovation and skills and ex-LibDem leader, has left the cabinet after being voted out of his office as MP for Twickenham by the Conservative Tania Mathias. Cable retained a high media profile during the Coalition through frequently clashing with Conservative colleagues and fellow Liberal Democrats within the cabinet, including Nick Clegg. It was widely speculated that Cable would return as LibDem leader in the event of Nick Clegg's resignation after the general election.

Danny Alexander
Danny Alexander held the role of Chief Secretary to the Treasury, during the Coalition's administration. However, in the he was voted out of office by Drew Hendry MSP of the Scottish National Party during the general election.

Lynne Featherstone
Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone, a junior minister with responsibility for international development under the coalition, left her post after losing her seat in Hornsey and Wood Green to Labour's Catherine West MP.

Simon Hughes
Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, was Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice under the coalition. After being voted out of his Bermondsey and Old Southwark seat, in favour of Labour's Neil Coyle MP, Hughes resigned from the cabinet. He has said he will remain as LibDem deputy leader until an election can be held.

Jo Swinson
Another Liberal Democrat MP who had been appointed into the cabinet, Jo Swinson resigned from her post as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment relations, consumer and postal affairs. In the general election, Swinson was voted out in favour of the SNP's John Nicolson.

Steven Webb
Pensions Minister and Liberal Democrat Steve Webb was voted out of his office in Thornbury and Yate for 13 years, in favour of the Conservative Luke Hall MP.

Norman Lamb MP
Norman Lamb was one of the few LibDems to retain his position as an MP in the general election. Since 2012 he was the coalition's Minister of State for Care and Support; a position he no longer holds.

Stephen Williams
Another victim of the LibDem rout of 2015, Stephen Williams has left his position as parliamentary undersecretary of state in the department of communities and local government.

David Laws
Formerly a minister of state for schools and the cabinet office, Laws was removed from office by his electorate in the general election, in favour of the conservative Marcus Fysh. Laws was one of the senior members of the Libdems who forged the deal which saw the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

Alistair Carmichael
One of the few who was not unseated by the Scottish National Party, Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has nevertheless left his position as secretary of state for Scotland, held under the coalition.

Low-profile leavers

Department for International Development
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Northover

Scotland Office
Department of Energy and Climate Change
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change – Rt Hon Edward Davey

Department for Transport
Minister of State – Baroness Kramer

Wales Office
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Randerson

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Dan Rogerson

Office of the Advocate General for Scotland
Advocate General for Scotland, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords – Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC

Whips – House of Commons
Deputy Chief Whip – Rt Hon Don Foster
Assistant Government Whip – Lorely Burt

Whips – House of Lords
Deputy Chief Whip – Lord Newby OBE
Baroness in Waiting – Baroness Garden of Frognal
Baroness in Waiting – Baroness Jolly
Lord in Waiting – Lord Wallace of Saltaire