Important party elections, next steps on PR and growing our local government base (LDN#202)
Welcome to Lib Dem Newswire #202, a bumper edition including party election news, the latest on campaigning for electoral reform, analysis of how the Lib Dem local government base has grown and much more. Details are also included of continuing Lib Dem local government gains - a marked contrast from Labour, Conservatives and even the Greens.
Electronic ballots are due out to members in our internal elections later today (Tuesday 28 October), so please do take a read of the start of the newsletter before you vote.
(As I am mentioning internal elections, a reminder that this newsletter is run separately from the party’s records and is a publication from myself, an individual party member.)
Before we get to all that, congratulations to our councillors newly elected since the last edition and their agents: Connie Ramsay, Holly Davies, Alex Drage, Kevin Smith, Stuart Bridge, Jan Dobrucki, Sarah Hale, Ronan Hodgson, Alan Ashbery, Catherine Houston, Laura Barker, Tony Pearce, Mark Johnston, Philip Mills, Cara Strom, Ewan Cameron, Nigel Kenneally and Caroline Ward.
Finally, a reminder that you can get Lib Dem news updates 3-5 times a week via WhatsApp.
Happy reading,
Mark
P.S. If you haven’t had a chance to read the previous edition of Lib Dem Newswire it is online here: Beating Reform and the political quotes that people never said.
Party elections: don’t just let name recognition win the day
I am term-limited as Federal President and so safely exempt from the big round of internal party elections currently underway.
That means now is a good time to revive something I did prior to running for President: highlighting good candidates for party committees who are not as well known across the wider party but whose election both would bring relevant skills to their posts and also whose election would help improve our diversity in a variety of ways.
Too often, our internal election results are dominated by basic name recognition. I’ve often benefited from that in the past so draw your own verdict… More seriously, this is one of the ways that we hinder our desire to improve our diversity and to be better at including new talent. When name recognition is dominant it locks in our existing biases and risks making us a bit of a closed shop.
Faced with dozens and dozens of candidate names on a ballot paper, however, it’s very understandable why people revert to relying on name recognition.
So to help tackle that, here are some names for you to consider, all of whom I know from personal experience would do excellent jobs and all of whom would add in various ways to making the party more diverse in the broadest sense. I’ve not always agreed with them on everything, I don’t know if they’ve always voted for me - and that’s a good thing.
The selection of names is mine, and does not mean anyone necessarily supports anyone else nor that there are not other great people standing who I’ll also be giving very high preferences to.
Federal Board
Hannah Kitching: at the forefront of building up the party in a previously derelict, Labour-facing area, and knows what is needed to achieve more of the same.
Janey Little: an impressive colleague on the Board during the run-up to the 2024 general election, helping us focus on winning elections.
Federal Council
Victor Chamberlain: councillor for the ward where I used to work, and a great record at scrutinising the many local failings of the Labour council.
Hannah Perkin: has impressively led from the front personally in facing up to populism in her community, with a long record of supporting colleagues to win more often.
Federal Policy Committee
Rebecca Jones: a target ward candidate in my local party, she’ll help root our policymaking in what’s needed to be successful in new areas for the party.
Mohsin Khan: a real expert on health policy and ensuring our policy making is properly diverse, engaging with a broad range of communities.
Rosie Shimell: with a great mix of experience working for the party and elsewhere, bringing admirable policy expertise to all our discussions.
Federal Conference Committee
Chris Adams: used to work at party HQ supporting party committees, and knows exactly how to have a committee work well and make an impact
Elle Kelly: has been one of the very best at using social media to engage party members in new ways with her work on conference social media.
There are other important elections, and other great candidates, but I’ve deliberately kept this list short in order to be more useful.
Returning Officer update
The Federal Returning Officer has published on the party website (scroll down on the Internal Elections page) details of how the party’s diversity quota rules will be applied in the internal elections in the light of the current legal situation, in particular following the Supreme Court Ruling this year on how the Equality Act is interpreted.
The short version is that the party’s legal advice forces some alterations to how the elections are run, changing how the quota rules can work. I know this this will not be welcome news as the party has clearly shown its repeated strong support for our rules as they stand. However, the legal situation is not as we would wish it, and requires some changes to be made. Those changes though do not change our overall policy of support for trans rights, as endorsed overwhelmingly by party conference in Spring this year.
I am sure people will have views or questions about this. If you want formal information about how the election will be run, then as ever the Returning Officer and their team are the ones who can give an official answer. But also, if you have other feedback or questions, by all means hit reply to this message.
Slow, slow, slow: the problem everyone ignores about government regulation
Last week I cast my 100th vote in the House of Lords, along with getting to take part in both a tied vote and a cancelled vote (one side didn’t put up the tellers for the vote). Plus there was an amendment to standing orders and the passage of a bill to tidy up election law a bit too.
Bliss!
More importantly, included below is the work that Caroline Pidgeon did to secure an important government concession last week on electric vehicles. Or as PoliticsHome put it, “The diverse and energetic Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords continue to punch above their weight.”
Meanwhile, I’ve been spending my time on regulation. Regulation is back in the news. Promises to cut regulation that is. But one thing has puzzled me since I’ve started in the House of Lords earlier this year.
It’s how slow regulation is. The debates in politics, media, academia and the think tank world are about more or less regulation. While what I see close up now in Parliament is a big question about the speed, the horribly lethargic sluggishness, of regulation.
And so I’ve started writing about it, with details ranging from railway station car parks to merchant ships and sheep carcases:
Part of the problem is how much is specified in micro-detail in legislation, something I raised in the context of the NHS. I think it’s fair to say the minister - who deserves brownie points for frankness - had not really thought about this issue:
You can read more on GP contracts here.
Why we need a National Commission on Electoral Reform: Lisa Smart
A guest piece from Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart about the latest push to secure electoral reform for the House of Commons.
I’m delighted to have become the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson, a role that includes political and constitutional reform. Many thanks to my predecessor and colleague Sarah Olney who, last December, achieved a historic first-ever Parliamentary vote in favour of Proportional Representation (PR)!
I’ve long been an active champion of electoral reform so, as an MP, I have made it a priority to promote the cause from inside Parliament. That’s why I joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fair Elections and am proud to be the Liberal Democrat Vice Chair of the Group. We are a cross-party initiative to promote electoral reform for Westminster and to combat dark money and disinformation in politics. Just a year on from our formation, we’re now the largest APPG in Parliament and our Liberal Democrat Parliamentarians are an active force within the Group.
We Liberal Democrats will continue to call for PR for Westminster in Parliament: that’s in the DNA of our party. But the big question right now is: how to make it happen? With First Past the Post failing and under ever-increasing strain - but with the government still resisting change there is growing support in Westminster for a review of how Parliament is elected.
That’s why I have been happy to put my weight behind the APPG’s proposal for a National Commission on Electoral Reform. A focused, time-limited National Commission will be a credible first step towards reform, working through thorny questions and trade-offs about what a modern voting system needs to deliver, and supporting a national conversation about updating our democracy.
The proposal published by the APPG for Fair Elections has been developed in consultation with constitutional experts and academics. It sets out an approach which combines tried and tested elements of a commission with innovative ways of bringing the public into the discussion - and would present Parliament with carefully evidenced recommendations within twelve months of launch.
Visit the APPG’s website to download the document, including an introduction from me and the group’s other officers.
This needs urgent attention. With politics more fragmented than ever, First Past the Post will continue to produce increasingly volatile, unfair and unrepresentative results, which further erode public trust in politics and even in our democratic system.
A National Commission on Electoral Reform is a way for the government to grasp this now: an independent review, combined with a national conversation, so we can build consensus on the way forward.
Lib Dems wanting to help the campaigning by Lisa and colleagues for electoral reform can join Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform.
How our local government base has grown
Here is my latest report for Liberal Democrat members and supporters. These reports also appear on the party website.
Important lessons to learn from
We have been on a winning streak in local government elections: making gains for a record number of May local elections in a row and continuing to make progress in by-elections since this May. We are also able to win across the board: making gains from Conservatives, Labour and the nationalists. And when contests are head-to-head between us and Reform, we are the winner for the big majority of the time.
There are lessons to learn from this winning streak, lessons that will help us extend it.
In 2015, the proportion of principal authority councillors who are Liberal Democrat reached its lowest level since 1983. Since then, we have recovered sharply, with consistent gains taking us up from 8% to 17% of councillors being Lib Dem. We are now within sight of our previous post-1973 high (21% reached in 1996). Add to that the possibility of overtaking the Conservatives, with us having won more councillors than them two years in a row, and there is much to be positive about our overall grassroots strength.
There is also important variation behind the headline numbers. It is certainly true that the most dramatic parts of this growth are in our strongest areas - propelling us to 76 Lib Dem led councils, more than the Conservatives and only one behind the combined Conservative and Reform total.
But it has not only been in our stronger areas. Growth has been across the board, not universal sadly, but overall our weaker areas have grown too. They’ve grown less quickly than our stronger areas, but they have grown. Crucially too, the proportion of council areas with no Lib Dem councillors at all has fallen by 13%. That still leaves too many areas without a Lib Dem councillor. But it is important progress alongside the growth in stronger areas.
None of this has been by chance. The prime responsibility - and thanks - go to the many grassroots campaigners who have spearheaded these wins.
Alongside that, the party now provides significantly greater support for campaigners across the board. The big post-2019 growth in our campaign staff team, integrated with the efforts of regional and state parties, includes responsibilities outside our target seats. There has been a big collective effort to increase the number of local election candidates we stand - with noticeable progress in catching up on Labour and the Conservatives while staying ahead of the Greens.
More recent initiatives such as the new support for Labour-facing areas are building on this and an important role continues to be played by ALDC too through the Kickstart weekends, the Fighting Fund and more.
But looking at the statistics in detail shows one area we need collectively to give attention to. For every five council areas where we have gone from zero after May 2015 to having councillors now, there are another three areas where we have gone from having councillors after May 2015 to zero now. In other words, what holds us back in having fewer black holes is not so much our ability to gain seats in previous black holes but rather the number of new black holes that pop up.
That is an important insight as our efforts are traditionally focused much more on existing black holes than on helping those places at risk of becoming a black hole.
Congratulations to our award winners
Bournemouth Conference saw the latest round of Party Award winners. Many congratulations to them all:
Belinda Eyre-Brook Award - Jenny Butler
Jenny has been a vital support to so many councillors, an MSP and an MP, a role model for more junior staff and an essential colleague for our volunteers.
Whatever the task, she’s there, helping and inspiring across so much of Scotland.
Dadabhai Naroji Award - Watford Lib Dems
Watford have an impressive record over several years, engaging with their local communities to create a council group that is one of our most diverse in the country.
A diversity that has propelled them to consistent electoral success - showing this is not just a tick box or an optional extra, but rather essential for them to win and represent their people well.
Harriet Smith Award - Kara Stanford
Kara has been a central figure in many campaigns, from helping her father win his council seat to helping a friend win a parliamentary seat.
Hundreds of thousands of leaflets have passed through her home, hundreds of volunteers have been supported by her, and a new MP, Alex Brewer, was elected with her support.
David Penhaligon Award - Central Birmingham Lib Dems
The team in Birmingham have been growing steadily for many years now, but with particularly impressive membership growth figures over the last few years.
Facing huge council elections next year, and as one of the largest councils in the UK, their membership has grown by over 72% in just the last year, bringing them the potential new candidates and campaigners they need to hold a failing Labour council to account.
Patsy Calton Award (from Liberal Democrat Women) - Chris Northwood
Chris has been a stalwart member of her local Party and a passionate, dedicated councillor. She has rallied her local party to fight for trans rights, for affordable housing, and to hold the Labour city council to account.
Since her election, she has worked tirelessly for her community. She has trained and mentored countless activists, and has inspired many to step up and make a difference.
President’s Award - Mike Ross
In public office, Mike was first elected as a councillor while at university; for a while, he was the country’s youngest.
As Group Leader for a decade, he has a winning team that has kept on beating Labour. Winning power, he has helped make a difference to people’s lives with practical actions such as giving 1,000 students extra help with school uniforms.
On top of all that he has been an essential part of our conference team, a steward for 25 years and more recently being at the head of the team. With him standing down as a steward at Bournemouth, it was particularly fitting to mark his departure with this award.
Mike Ross standing down means the party is now looking for a new volunteer Chief Steward. Details, including how to apply for the role, are on the party website here.
Local party officer survey: next steps
I reported last time on the initial results from our survey of local party officers. One thing that came through clearly was the desire to be better informed about what is happening in the party - without being deluged by emails. We are therefore experimenting with inviting local party chairs and treasurers to the Quarterly Leader Briefings calls that are held for MPs, federal committee members, Affiliated Organisation chairs etc.
Other news from the Board
Federal Conference approved a bundle of party business from the Board, including updates to our complaints process, keeping our minimum membership fee and the Federal Levy the same for next year, appointing people to the Federal Appeals Panel and tidying up the party’s constitution. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to these proposals, especially the party members who responded to various consultations - including spotting ways to improve the tidying up of the constitution.
There were also changes made to Conference Standing Orders and a small fix to our election regulations. All these will be reflected shortly in an updated version of the constitution document on the party website.
Finally, James Gurling has been appointed to fill a casual vacancy on the Federal People Development Committee (FPDC).
Do you have questions about any of this report, or other Lib Dem matters? Then please drop me a line on president@libdems.org.uk. Do also get in touch if you would like to invite me to do a Zoom call with your local party or party body.
Podcast: What we can learn from political science
The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts features podcast favourite Phil Cowley talking about his new book, The Smallest Room in the House. It is crammed full of fun yet useful insights from political science. Listen to us talk about Simon Cowell, fish and chip shops, riots, the rise of AI, potholes and more:
You can take a listen in your favourite podcast app, as well as on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or the web.
🎧Find all the episodes of Never Mind The Bar Charts here.
📟 Sign up for a dedicated email notification each time a new episode appears here.
A succinct line on Brexit: Lib Dems in the news
Health and social care
Ed Davey calls for compensation for victims of carer’s allowance scandal.
Helen Morgan: “It beggars belief that the government is bending to a bullying US president having told patients for years that life-saving new drugs are unaffordable.”
Alison Bennett leads campaign to improve palliative care.
Economy and cost of living
Succinct from Ed Davey on Brexit.
Liberal Democrats stand firmly behind Bank of England independence.
Al Pinkerton: “It’s utterly unacceptable that the UK could lose nearly half a billion pounds thanks to the government failing to negotiate properly with the EU over the new entry programme.”
Environment and water industry
Pippa Heylings: “We are still living in the shadow of the Conservatives’ abject failures, which put up bills and left the UK vulnerable to Putin’s Russia in the midst of an energy crisis.”
Ed Davey urges energy sector to “take on the lies of Farage and Badenoch.”
Reform UK
Don’t let Trump’s America become Farage’s Britain: read Ed Davey’s Bournemouth conference speech.
Lib Dems accuse Reform leader of wanting to water down women’s rights.
Housing
Lib Dems hail victory to fix mouldy and crumbling military homes.
See how Liberal Democrat Sutton Council is taking action on housing.
Local government
More than 1,000 students will get extra help with school uniform costs thanks to Lib Dem action in local government.
Lib Dems in Camden get national media coverage over a dodgy pavement.
PM dodges question over possible council election delays.
Lib Dem achievements in local government: new pamphlet out.
International issues
Ed Davey: “Now the UN has come out with an authoritative report, I think we have to say the Netanyahu government is committing genocide in Gaza.”
Chinese spy case: time for radical transparency from the Conservatives.
Other issues
Caroline Pidgeon has secured action from the government over electric vehicle charging.
Marie Goldman writes to the Government: “The voices of trans people must be heard in Parliament.️ I’ve urged full scrutiny of EHRC’s guidance, which risks undermining their rights.”
Lib Dems call for asylum seekers to be given permission to work while they wait for their claims to be processed.
Tim Farron: “Let us reclaim our flags for those who would reunite and rebuild, not divide and destroy, because we will not yield our identity, our flag, or our country, to the nationalists.”
Digital ID: Lib Dems oppose Labour plans.
Ed Davey: “I’d like Government contracts with Tesla to be cut and ended.”
People news
Ed Davey announces new spokesperson team.
Liam McArthur named MSP of the Year at Holyrood Political Awards.
Alistair Carmichael wins Farmers Weekly 2025 Farming Champion.
Congratulations to Jerry Roodhouse on being awarded the title of Honorary Freeman of Warwickshire.
Ed Davey pays tribute to Ming Campbell: “His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom. But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague. We will miss him terribly.” Wendy Chamberlain also paid tribute to Ming Campbell as the House of Commons marked his passing.
Tributes to former Lincoln MP Dick Taverne, founder member of the SDP and then the Liberal Democrats, following his death, aged 97.
Other party news
Updated Lib Dem Brand Guidelines, with the new orange.
Wendy Chamberlain to chair the Scottish election campaign.
Autumn 2026 Federal Conference will be on 19-22 September in Brighton (details on the party website, near the bottom of the page, along with information on the Spring Conference).
📲 You can get more updates like the above in real time through my WhatsApp updates 3-5 times a week. Sign up details here.
How to tackle small boats
In case you missed them first time around, here are some of my blog posts and assorted pieces since the last LDN:
Lessons from Joe Biden for tackling small boats.
The antidote to populism, featuring resident surveys.
How many councillors has Reform UK lost since May? Updated oh so many times since last month.
“Our group has not lived up to voters’ expectations”: former Reform councillor Nicole Brooke.
AI twice blamed for Reform’s election law problems.
What the polls are saying
Issues
Votes
Leaders
For more details on both the above tables, and for updates in-between editions of LDN, take a look on my website.
Does the 2024 Lib Dem formula still work?
An important question for the party, so I’ve dug into the latest poll data to provide an answer:
Selections news
Peter Taylor has been reselected for the Mayor of Watford, while Libby Bateman has been selected for Cumbria Mayor and James Allen for Greater Essex.
Former Conservative MSP turned Lib Dem Jamie Greene has been selected for Inverclyde in the Scottish Parliament elections.
In Wales, Steve Rajam has been selected for Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg and David Wilkins for Clwyd.
The latest Westminster constituencies to advertise selections are Runnymede and Weybridge, Hereford and South Herefordshire, North Herefordshire and Hamble Valley.
See all the Liberal Democrat Westminster PPCs selected and publicly announced so far here.
Council by-elections round-up
Council by-elections for principal authorities since last time have included more Labour defeats, Lib Dem progress in Scotland, continuing Reform gains, Lib Dems winning in Mel Stride’s constituency again, big Lib Dem wins in Surrey and Lib Dem gains from Labour and Independents too.
The net seats changes in those contests are Reform +11, Lib Dem +8, Plaid +/-0, Green -1, SNP -2, Independent/Others -2, Conservatives -5 and Labour -9.
This brings the total net seat changes since the last May local elections to Reform +45, Lib Dem +16, Green +2, Plaid +/-0, SNP -2, Independent/Others -9, Conservatives -18 and Labour -34. For more details, see my table of net seat changes since the last May local elections.
Note the absence of any Green Party surge since the party’s leadership election, something that continues the pattern of the previous quarter of it being Reform and the Lib Dems who are the ones making progress:
In other changes, a former Labour councillor has joined the Lib Dems in Nuneaton and Bedworth while councillors have also joined the Lib Dems in Waverley and Rother Valley. But Lib Dem councillors have become independent in Chelmsford (also on the county council), Harborough and Teignbridge. A town councillor has also joined the Lib Dems from the Conservatives in Warwick.
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And finally…
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Thank you and best wishes,
Mark
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