Ronald Leslie Bailey QSO JP (15 December 1926 – 16 April 2015) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

He grew up in various public works camps during the Great Depression and attended four different primary schools in the central North Island.

[3] When Phil Holloway unexpectedly retired from the Heretaunga electorate,[1] Bailey contested the Labour Party nomination for the seat which resulted in a deadlock in the selection committee between himself and Jim Bateman, a Wellington City Councillor.

[6] Labour spent all but one of those terms in opposition, a situation he described in his valedictory speech as a "brick wall of frustration".

Prime Minister Norman Kirk regretted two friends being pitted against one another and was relieved when Bailey took the defeat graciously.

[9] As Chairman of Committees he deputised for the Speaker and notably chaired the session that saw the passing of Labour's short-lived compulsory superannuation scheme.

[13] In opposition after the unexpected defeat of the Third Labour Government Bailey initially retained a frontbench seat and from 1975 to 1979 he was Shadow Minister of Works and Development.

At the 1980 local-body elections he stood for the position of Mayor of Upper Hutt, but lost to incumbent Rex Kirton by the unexpectedly wide margin of 4,666 votes.

Bailey attributed his loss to low voter turnout and local newspapers criticising his intention to do two jobs at once by remaining in parliament until the end of the term.

[1] Bailey remained politically active after exiting parliament and during the Fourth Labour Government he was the Auckland convenor of the Backbone club, a party ginger group, formed to support Roger Douglas against Jim Anderton.