Category Archives: Party Presidency

Liz Lynne

Liz Lynne to stand for Party President

By Liz Lynne | Thu 29th May 2014 - 11:01 am

image001After being asked by many people from different parts of our party, I have decided to stand to be Party President.

These last four years have been tough and no more so than in the last week. We have seen too many good friends and colleagues defeated as councillors and most recently as MEPs. I know what that feels like. I fought my first parliamentary seat in Harwich for the Liberal/SDP Alliance in 1987 and came second. I then went on to win the seat of Rochdale in 1992. Sadly, I narrowly lost in Tony Blair’s 1997 General Election landslide following boundary changes. I look back with pride on what I achieved in Parliament as our spokesperson on Health and then Social Security, including representing disabled people in the fight for equal rights.

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Stephen Tall

Linda Jack to announce Lib Dem party president campaign

By Stephen Tall | Sat 19th April 2014 - 12:00 pm

Linda JackLib Dem activist Linda Jack will shortly announce that she will be a candidate for the post of Party President in the all-member election that will take place this autumn.

To date, two candidates have declared their intention to run: Baroness (Sal) Brinton and Pauline Pearce. I understand Linda will officially throw her hat into the ring after May’s local and European elections.

Linda Jack has twice been a parliamentary candidate for the party: in Luton North in 2005, and in Mid-Bedfordshire (up against Nadine Dorries) in 2010. She also …

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Stephen Tall

First two Lib Dem presidential hopefuls declare themselves

By Stephen Tall | Sat 8th March 2014 - 9:30 am

Party president Tim Farron’s second (and non-renewable) term of office finishes at the end of this year, after four years in the role. He doubtless expected most of the challenges that come from the Lib Dems being in coalition with the Conservatives. He wouldn’t have expected to have to manage the fall-out from the allegations of sexual impropriety made against Lord Rennard a year ago.

The post of party president is the only Lib Dem role other than that of leader elected through an all-member ballot, and it will take place this autumn. This mandate (along with the requirement to deal …

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Mark Valladares

2014 – looking for a dark horse, or a safe pair of hands?

By Mark Valladares | Fri 3rd January 2014 - 10:30 am

I mentioned yesterday that there were two elections that might pass uncommented upon for the most part, one of which was internal to the Liberal Democrats. Yes, we have a Presidential election to look forward to, and given that Tim Farron is term-limited, somebody new is going to be leading the voluntary Party into a potentially tough General Election.

Six years ago, everybody knew that Lembit was going to run for the Presidency, whilst Ros Scott was emerging as a likely opponent. What wasn’t clear was what the Leader’s Office wanted, or who they would back, or whether further viable …

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Stephen Tall

Lib Dems’ internal elections: your guide to where we’re at (UPDATED)

By Stephen Tall | Sun 7th October 2012 - 4:50 pm

Every couple of years the Lib Dems hold internal elections in which conference representatives choose members of key party committees. As one of the seemingly few Lib Dems neither standing for election nor with a vote, I thought our readers might like an update on where we’re at…

Federal Executive

What does it do?
The formal answer: ‘The Federal Executive is an elected committee responsible for directing, co-ordinating and implementing the work of the Federal Party.’ (From the party website.)
The informal answer: What does the Federal Executive do? by Alison Goldsworthy
Who’s standing?
There are 36 candidates (26 men, 10 women) competing for …

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Mark Pack

Nick Clegg: re-elect Tim Farron as Party President

By Mark Pack | Fri 28th September 2012 - 8:50 am

Neither is quite so gauche as to say it explicitly, but you hardly have to peer between the lines to work out what message is meant to be imparted by a piece from Nick Clegg praising Tim Farron’s record as President, especially when it’s contained in a leaflet handed out at conference by Tim’s re-election team and with a form asking people to sign Tim’s nomination papers tucked inside.

It is looking like it will be an uncontested re-election so far, but credit to Tim for still taking it seriously. …

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Mark Valladares

Has Tim Farron got a prayer against the Advertising Standards Authority?

By Mark Valladares | Tue 27th March 2012 - 7:49 am

In a rather unexpected departure from the usual activities of the Party Presidency, Tim Farron, in his role as a Vice Chair of the ‘Christians in Parliament’ group, has co-signed a letter to the Advertising Standards Agency;

Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury
Chairman, Advertising Standards Agency
21st March 2012

We are writing on behalf of the all-party Christians in Parliament group in Westminster and your ruling that the Healing On The Streets ministry in Bath are no longer able to claim, in their advertising, that God can heal people from medical conditions.

We write to express our concern at this decision and to enquire

…

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Helen Duffett

Lib Dem Presidential Contest: Result

By Helen Duffett | Sat 13th November 2010 - 12:19 pm

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Stephen Tall

LDV survey: The qualities members want from the Lib Dem party president (and whose campaign reached most members)

By Stephen Tall | Sat 13th November 2010 - 11:15 am

Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of the contest for the party presidency, the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Almost 600 party members have responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

As today is the day the result of the contest to become party president is declared, here’s a Wordle illustrating what party members feel are the most important qualities whoever is successful should bring to the role (click on the image to enlarge)…

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Also posted in LDV Members poll and Online politics | Tagged and | 6 Comments
The Voice

Lib Dem Presidential contest: result due early this afternoon

By The Voice | Sat 13th November 2010 - 10:00 am

The results of the election for president of the Lib Dems will be announced today, soon after 12pm, and Lib Dem Voice’s Helen Duffett will be reporting back live from the count. A reminder, as if you needed one, of the two candidates standing for the post:

  • Tim Farron
  • Susan Kramer

    • If you’re interested in looking back at the coverage of the race that’s appeared here on LDV, then click here.

    The results for the party committee elections and Peers panel are also expected early this afternoon, so watch this space.

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    Stephen Tall

    EXCLUSIVE: Tim Farron set to win contest for party presidency

    By Stephen Tall | Thu 11th November 2010 - 10:15 pm

    Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of the contest for the party presidency, the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Almost 600 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results over the next few days.

    First, we asked what party members thought of the campaigns of the two presidential candidates, Tim Farron and Susan Kramer:

    Regardless of how you intend to vote, which of the two candidates do you think has run the best campaign to become party president?

      50% – Tim Farron

    …

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    Also posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged and | 20 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Last chance to vote in Party Committee Elections 2010 (online voting closes noon today)

    By Helen Duffett | Wed 10th November 2010 - 6:53 am

    Online voting in this year’s Liberal Democrat Committee elections closes at NOON today, so if you’re a Federal Conference Rep who hasn’t yet returned your vote, there’s still time to get online and do so.

    To vote by internet, go to:

    www.votebyinternet.com/partycommittee2010 and follow the online instructions.

    You’ll need to enter your security code, which is printed on your ballot paper.

    The counts for the Party Committee and Presidential elections will take place this Saturday, 13th November.

    To get the results keep an eye on this site – I’ll be at Cowley Street, to bring you the results as soon as they are announced.

    Also posted in Party policy and internal matters | 3 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Lib Dem party president election: time to make your mind up…

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 6th November 2010 - 7:45 am

    Stll deciding which way to vote in the contest for Lib Dem party president? As Mark Pack reminds us here, the deadline for returning your completed ballot paper is this coming Wednesday, 10th November.

    To help those party members, who (like me) are finding it very hard to decide, here are links to all the posts published on Lib Dem Voice (starting with the most recent) in which the stalls of the two candidates, Tim Farron and Susan Kramer, are explored…

    …

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    Mark Pack

    Kramer versus Farron: what sort of President does the party want?

    By Mark Pack | Tue 2nd November 2010 - 7:27 am

    Party members are unusually lucky with the current contest for President of the Liberal Democrats. It is rare for there to be two credible, high-profile candidates standing at the same time but this time there is a real choice between two such people.

    Some differences between Susan Kramer and Tim Farron were obvious from the start of the campaign and are swaying some voters, depending on their views on matters such as how important (or not) it is for one of the party’s most prominent posts to be held by a woman, whether an MP has enough time to do the job, whether a current MP from outside London or an ex-MP from London is more outside the Westminster bubble and so on.

    However, two further differences between the candidates have come out clearly during the campaign.

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    Mark Pack

    Susan Kramer answers 10 questions about her campaign for Party President

    By Mark Pack | Tue 2nd November 2010 - 7:26 am

    Susan Kramer and Tim Farron were both asked the same ten questions about their bid to be LibDem President and given the option to reply in whatever format and at whatever length they wished. Susan’s answers are below and you can find Tim’s answers here. My own commentary on the answers and race more generally is here.

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    Mark Pack

    Tim Farron answers 10 questions about his campaign for Party President

    By Mark Pack | Tue 2nd November 2010 - 7:26 am

    Susan Kramer and Tim Farron were both asked the same ten questions about their bid to be LibDem President and given the option to reply in whatever format and at whatever length they wished. Tim’s answers are below and you can find Susan’s answers here. My own commentary on the answers and race more generally is here.

    1. Many parts of the Bones Commission were deferred until after the 2010 general election. Now that it has happened, what would your plans be for implementing, modifying or mothballing those outstanding parts?

    The Bones report was insightful and a lot of thought …

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    Mark Pack

    Farron and Kramer: party should retain long-term aim of abolishing tuition fees

    By Mark Pack | Mon 1st November 2010 - 8:55 am

    Both of the candidates to be the next Liberal Democrat President have expressed their support for the party retaining a long-term aim of abolishing tuition fees.

    Tomorrow Liberal Democrat Voice will publish in full the answers from Susan Kramer and Tim Farron to a set of questions Lib Dem Voice has posed them. Their answers paint two different views on what the role should be of the Party President and how they would approach it. But on several issues they both agree, including on tuition fees:

    Do you believe the party should have a long-term commitment to the abolition of tuition fees?

    Kramer: …

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    Iain Roberts

    Liblink: Liberal Vision grills Kramer and Farron

    By Iain Roberts | Tue 26th October 2010 - 5:34 pm

    Liberal Vision have published interviews conducted with each of the candidates for the Liberal Democrat presidency: Susan Kramer and Tim Farron.

    Read the Farron interview here and the Kramer interview here.

    As a taster:

    Liberal Vision: In one sentence why should people who read our blog back your campaign?

    Susan Kramer: Overwhelmingly it’s to be the voice for the grass roots of the party, creating that two-way connection between the grass roots and the leadership, and keeping us unified. We shouldn’t let other pull us apart

    Tim Farron: Because they want the Liberal Democrats to win, and because

    …

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    NewsHound

    Liblink: Liberator interviews the presidential hopefuls

    By NewsHound | Tue 26th October 2010 - 11:15 am

    Liberator magazine has asked the two Lib Dem presidential contenders those tough questions – read their responses here.

    A taster to whet your appetite:

    Q5: How will you ensure that you gain regular and meaningful access to the party leader?

    Farron: He won’t be able to get rid of me. Being an MP gives me direct access to the media to get our message across and it also gives me close access to Nick. I’ll be a critical friend to the coalition and a candid friend to Nick. As President, I would carry a mandate from the members to ensure that the

    …

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    Helen Duffett

    LDVideo: Susan Kramer and Tim Farron’s online Presidential hustings

    By Helen Duffett | Fri 22nd October 2010 - 3:41 pm

    Tim Farron and Susan Kramer took part in an online hustings this week, taking questions from a live and online audience. Play the video below to watch the two candidates explain why they want to be Party President and discuss what they would do in the role.

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    Tagged and | 3 Comments
    Mark Pack

    Farron and Kramer: their email pitches for President

    By Mark Pack | Mon 18th October 2010 - 6:05 pm

    Party members have been receiving emails today from Tim Farron and Susan Kramer setting out their pitches for party president. Of course, the emails can only go to party members for whom the party has an accurate email address. So I’ve reproduced the emails below – and if you’ve missed out but would like to get future party emails, get in touch with Membership Services on [email protected]

    If reading these messages moves you to want to ask the candidates a question, don’t forget the online hustings coming up.

    Susan Kramer

    Dear Mark,

    We in the Liberal Democrats are facing a time of …

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    Helen Duffett

    Online presidential hustings this week: send in your questions

    By Helen Duffett | Mon 18th October 2010 - 2:49 pm

    This Wednesday the two candidates for Liberal Democrat President will take part in the official Federal online hustings at party headquarters in Cowley Street, London.

    Susan Kramer and Tim Farron will answer questions which have been submitted online, and a video of the event will be posted afterwards on YouTube for all party members to refer to.

    I’ll be chairing the hustings, so please submit your questions via email to [email protected] or in the comments thread below by 5pm Wednesday.

    If you’d like to attend in person, a limited number of places are available. It’s on Wednesday 20 October at 7pm. …

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    Tim Farron MP

    Tim Farron: why you should back me for Party President

    By Tim Farron MP | Thu 14th October 2010 - 11:55 am

    Party President candidate Tim Farron was asked what his election would do for Scotland:

    Much has changed in politics in the last few months, but the political process didn’t stop with the formation of the Westminster Government.  In Scotland, it’s time to get those shoes re-soled and dig out that delivery bag and those clip boards – we’ve just a few months until elections to Holyrood and the fairer votes referendum, and then just one year until Scotland-wide council elections.

    It will be my job, if elected your party president, to inspire members and activists to go out and fight the coming …

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    Tagged | 10 Comments
    Susan Kramer

    Susan Kramer: why you should back me for Party President

    By Susan Kramer | Thu 14th October 2010 - 11:46 am

    Party President candidate Susan Kramer was asked what her election would do for Scotland:

    Nick Clegg and others have argued effectively that the benefits of coalition will be evident in time for the General Election in 2015.  But Scotland has elections in seven months. We have to move rapidly to the front foot to argue that the coalition is putting key Liberal Democrat policies in place and to do that we need the ammunition.

    Communication is absolutely key.  This is why I will criss-cross the country not just to join local campaigns but to listen and make sure that grassroots voices are …

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    Tagged | 4 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Susan Kramer unlikely to re-stand in Richmond Park

    By Helen Duffett | Mon 11th October 2010 - 4:46 pm

    From the Kingston Guardian today:

    The chances of a repeat of this year’s bitter election battle between Zac Goldsmith and Susan Kramer receded this week as the former MP indicated she was unlikely to contest the seat at the next election.

    Mrs Kramer officially remains Liberal Democrat candidate for Richmond Park until six months after the election, but when asked whether she would seek the nomination again she said it was not on her agenda.

    She said: “I think you move on and you don’t constantly try to replay the past. I would have liked the chance to do another

    …

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    Tim Farron MP

    Tim Farron: my six commitments to the Liberal Democrats

    By Tim Farron MP | Mon 11th October 2010 - 2:05 pm

    Elections like this one should carry a health warning about the rash promises that are made often but rarely kept. So I’ve thought carefully about what we need from our President at this unique time for the Liberal Democrats. I’ve also asked others what they think. I reflected carefully on my strengths and what I can do to help build our Party’s profile, engage new supporters and develop our strength. So here are my 6 clear commitments to you and the Party.

    As Ros Scott rightly said we need our President to fulfill a different role to the normal one. We …

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    17 Comments
    The Voice

    Liberal Youth support Farron for Prez

    By The Voice | Sun 26th September 2010 - 10:57 am

    The Liberal Youth Executive has voted to support Tim Farron in his bid to become the next President of the Liberal Democrats. Tim’s campaign was launched in the wake of the announcement by current President Baroness Ros Scott that she would not be seeking re-election.

    Commenting, National Chair Martin Shapland said: ”On behalf of the Liberal Youth Executive I am delighted to declare our support for Tim Farron. He is a first class campaigner, a fantastic public speaker, and is an entirely approachable character. He understands the fundamental importance of youth participation in politics, and has a strong desire to work …

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    Stephen Tall

    LDV survey: what party members want from the Lib Dem president

    By Stephen Tall | Tue 21st September 2010 - 5:25 pm

    Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of the early race for the party presidency, the London mayoral selection, Trident, and the Labour leadership. Over 400 party members have responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

    With the election for party president in the offing, Lib Dem Voice asked our sample of party members: What do you think the main role of the President should be?

    Here’s what you told us:

    • 16% – To become a known face in the media representing the Lib Dem position on the TV and

    …

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    Stephen Tall

    EXCLUSIVE: Lib Dem party presidency – first poll of Lib Dem members

    By Stephen Tall | Tue 21st September 2010 - 12:00 pm

    Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of the early race for the party presidency, the London mayoral selection, Trident, and the Labour leadership. Over 400 party members have responded, and we’ll be publishing the full results of our survey in the next couple of days.

    A fortnight ago, in a surprise announcement, Baroness (Ros) Scott said she would not seek a second term as Lib Dem party president, the only party post other than the Leader directly elected by Lib Dem members. Ever since there has been much speculation about …

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    Iain Roberts

    Jason Zadrozny pulls out, gets behind Kramer

    By Iain Roberts | Mon 20th September 2010 - 5:05 pm

    Hours after making his case to be Lib Dem party President, Jason Zadrozny has whipped his hat back out of the ring and thrown his political weight behind Susan Kramer.

    Jason has sent out this email:

    I wanted you to be one of the first people to know that I have today decided to withdraw from my campaign to become President of the Liberal Democrats and have thrown my weight behind efforts to elect Susan Kramer.

    I think the role of Party President is vital for the future of our party. I firmly believe that whoever holds the position should consider the party’s

    …

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