Bob Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart

The Right Honourable
The Lord Maclennan of Rogart
PC
President of the Liberal Democrats
In office
1 January 1995  31 December 1998
Leader Paddy Ashdown
Preceded by Charles Kennedy
Succeeded by Diana Maddock
Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Acting
In office
3 March 1988  16 July 1988
Served with David Steel
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Paddy Ashdown
Leader of Social Democratic Party
In office
28 August 1987  16 July 1988
Preceded by David Owen
Succeeded by Position abolished
Undersecretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection
In office
4 March 1974  4 May 1979
Prime Minister Harold Wilson
James Callaghan
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Position abolished
Member of Parliament
for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Caithness and Sutherland (1966–1992)
In office
31 March 1966  7 June 2001
Preceded by George Mackie
Succeeded by John Thurso
Personal details
Born (1936-06-26) 26 June 1936
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Political party Labour (Before 1981)
Social Democratic (1981–1988)
Liberal Democrats (1988–present)
Alma mater Balliol College, Oxford
Trinity College, Cambridge
Columbia University

Robert Adam Ross Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart, PC, known popularly as Bob Maclennan, (born 26 June 1936, Glasgow) is a British Liberal Democrat life peer. He was the last leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), serving during the negotiations that led to its merger with the Liberal Party in 1988. He then became joint interim leader of the new party, known as the Social and Liberal Democrats (SLD) before later becoming the Liberal Democrats.

Early life

MacLennan's father, Sir Hector MacLennan, was a renowned gynaecologist and obstetrician. His mother, Isobel Adam, was also a doctor and public health activist. He was educated at Glasgow Academy; Balliol College, Oxford; Trinity College, Cambridge; and Columbia University, New York City. He is the brother to David MacLennan, Elizabeth MacLennan, and Kenneth MacLennan.

In Parliament

He became Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Caithness and Sutherland in 1966, and serving until 1997; and for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross after boundary changes, from 1997 to 2001.

He was first elected as a member of the Labour Party and served as a junior minister in the Labour government of 1974–1979, but in 1981 defected to become a founder member of the SDP. He was one of the few SDP MPs to keep their seats in the 1983 general election. After his stint as SDP Leader in 1988, he served as a front bench spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, and as their president from 1994 until 1998.

He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1997.[1]

After his retirement at the 2001 General Election, he was raised to the House of Lords, elevated to a life peer as Baron Maclennan of Rogart, of Rogart in Sutherland.[2][3] He is now the party's Cabinet Office spokesman in the House of Lords.

Styles of address

References

  1. "Privy Counsellors". Privy Council Office. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  2. "No. 56285". The London Gazette. 25 July 2001. p. 8777.
  3. "No. 25054". The Edinburgh Gazette. 24 July 2001. p. 1673.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
George Mackie
Member of Parliament
for Caithness and Sutherland

19661997
Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament
for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

19972001
Succeeded by
John Thurso
Party political offices
Preceded by
David Owen
Leader of the Social Democratic Party
1987–1988
Position abolished
New office Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Acting

1988
Served alongside: David Steel
Succeeded by
Paddy Ashdown
Preceded by
Charles Kennedy
President of the Liberal Democrats
1994–1998
Succeeded by
Diana Maddock
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