Category Archives: Selection news

European candidate selections: is that the time already?

By Mark Valladares | Published 3rd January 2012 - 7:25 pm

News has reached your reporter that, in a radical break with tradition, the English Candidates Committee is likely to meet later this month to address key questions relating to the selection of European Parliamentary candidates for elections due in May 2014, where Liberal Democrats will be defending seats held in each of the nine English Regions (two in South East England) and in Scotland.

Radical, because the Committee usually only meets four times a year, with the first meeting at the Spring Federal Conference, and the newly elected Chairs …

Also posted in News | Tagged candidate selection rules, european elections | 1 Comment

Liberal Democrats decide to pass up on fighting Police Commissioner elections (mostly)

By Mark Pack | Published 27th October 2011 - 7:43 pm

The Liberal Democrat Federal Executive (FE) decided this week that the federal party will not be providing any financial backing to Liberal Democrats wishing to stand for election as Police Commissioners. The expectation is that instead the party will end up backing independent candidates, although it has been made clear that local areas can decide to field candidates if they wish to – albeit without any financial backing from the central party.

The strong preference given, however, is for Liberal Democrats to back independent candidates. As FE chair and Party President Tim Farron wrote to regional parties:

Also posted in News, Party policy and internal matters | Tagged elected police commissioners, federal executive, policing, tim farron | 35 Comments

Police and Crime Commissioners: Lib Dem candidates start here

By Helen Duffett | Published 15th July 2011 - 9:26 am

The Liberal Democrats are inviting potential candidates for the new Police and Crime Commissioner posts, which, if the legislation is passed, are expected to be elected in May 2012.

The party wants to encourage the widest possible range of applicants so the membership can select from the best possible choice of candidates.

So if you’re interested in applying, you need to be an approved Parliamentary candidate:

The Bill to create directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners is currently before Parliament. The first elections of Police and Crime Commissioners are expected in May 2012.

The English Regional Parties will be inviting applications to be candidates

…

Also posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged elected police commissioners, featured, policing | 19 Comments

Liberal Youth Scotland’s Sophie Bridger to fight Inverclyde for the Liberal Democrats

By Caron Lindsay | Published 14th June 2011 - 6:49 pm

Liberal Youth Scotland President Sophie Bridger has been selected as the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate to fight the Inverclyde by-election, caused by the sad death of Labour MP David Cairns last month. The by-election takes place on 30th June.

Sophie, who’s 20, is studying Psychology at Glasgow University. Sophie has campaigned with Liberal Youth Scotland on issues such as equal marriage, a fair deal for students and increased powers for the Scottish parliament.

Sophie was a key member of Katy Gordon’s campaign team in Glasgow North last year and stood herself in Glasgow …

Also posted in News, Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged inverclyde, jo swinson, katy gordon, liberal youth scotland, sophie bridger, willie rennie | 12 Comments

You! Yes, you! Ever thought about being a Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate?

By Mark Valladares | Published 29th May 2011 - 1:57 pm

At March’s Federal Conference, a motion was passed setting up the new Candidate Leadership Programme, designed specifically to identify and develop candidates from currently under-represented groups (i.e. everyone other than white men).

Candidates will be given structured support, development and training all the way through to the General Election, and it is particularly aimed at those wanting to take part in competitive seat selections. Further information and application packs will be available from late June.

So, what’s the hurry, I hear you ask? The catch is, you’ve got to be an approved candidate to get a place, and if you aren’t …

Also posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged diversity, equalities | 26 Comments

Timetable for selecting London Mayor candidate published

By Mark Pack | Published 29th May 2011 - 9:54 am

Readers of the week’s Liberal Democrat News will have seen the advert kicking off the party’s candidate selection for the Mayor of London. The planned timetable is:

June 17 Close of applications

July 3 Interviews and shortlisting

July 11 Deadline for appeals

July 11 Deadline for candidates to submit manifestos

July 12 Publication of shortlist

July 18 Postal ballot mailed out to members in London

July 25-29 Hustings meeting

August 10 Deadline for returning ballot papers

August 12 Count and declaration of result

Also posted in London | 3 Comments

Dominic Carman withdraws from Lib Dem London Mayoral candidate race

By Helen Duffett | Published 28th March 2011 - 8:12 am

In a comment on Lib Dem Voice this morning, Dominic Carman has said that he no longer intends to put his name forward as Liberal Democrat candidate for London Mayor.

Carman, who last week expressed an interest in standing, now plans to back Mike Tuffrey instead, whom members are lobbying to stand.

Dominic’s comment in fulll:

Given other commitments, I have reached the conclusion that I cannot financially afford to run an effective campaign as the Lib Dem candidate for Mayor. Regrettably, I will therefore not be putting my name forward when the selection procedure formally restarts in May. Having spoken

…

Also posted in London | Tagged dominic carman, london mayoral selection, mike tuffrey | 7 Comments

Parmjit Singh Gill withdraws as Lib Dem candidate for Leicester South

By Helen Duffett | Published 23rd March 2011 - 12:34 pm

Liberal Democrat candidate for the forthcoming Leicester South by-election, Parmjit Singh Gill, has announced he is to stand down. He will be replaced by Zuffar Haq.

Commenting, Parmjit Singh Gill said:

Given much reflection and after talking with my family, it is with regret that I have decided to stand down as a candidate for the by-election.

I remain committed to the people of Leicester and am proud to represent the Liberal Democrats, but I have a very young family and I fear the toll that fighting the by-election with all the commitment and dedication it deserves would be too much.

I

…

Also posted in News | Tagged leicester south by-election, parmjit singh gill, zuffar haq | 7 Comments

Parmjit Singh Gill selected for Lib Dems in Leicester South

By Helen Duffett | Published 19th March 2011 - 9:25 am

Leicester South Liberal Democrats last night selected Parmjit Singh Gill as their candidate for the Leicester South by-election, at a hustings in the constituency.

Gill was previously the MP for Leicester South from 2004 to 2005, having gained the seat from Labour in the 2004 by-election.

Current MP Sir Peter Soulsby (Labour) is resigning so that he can stand to be Leicester’s first elected mayor.

Commenting on his selection Parmjit Singh Gill said,

It’s an honour and privilege to be selected to fight Leicester South for the Liberal Democrats. Only last May the Labour MP convinced constituents that he was committed to

…

Tagged leicester south by-election, parmjit singh gill, peter soulsby | 12 Comments

Dominic Carman selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for Barnsley Central by-election

By Helen Duffett | Published 12th February 2011 - 4:37 pm

Barnsley Liberal Democrats today selected Dominic Carman as their candidate for the March 3 Barnsley Central Parliamentary by-election, at a hustings in the constituency.

Carman, son of the late George Carman QC, and biographer of BNP leader Nick Griffin, previously stood for the Lib Dems in Barking, East London at the 2010 General Election.

The by-election was caused by the resignation of the constituency’s MP, Eric Illsley, who has now been jailed for 12 months for fraudulently claiming more than £14,000 in Parliamentary expenses.

Commenting, Dominic …

Also posted in News, Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged barnsley central by-election, dominic carman, eric illsley, mps expenses | 22 Comments

London Liberal Democrats announce GLA shortlist for 2012

By Helen Duffett | Published 19th October 2010 - 11:09 am

London Region Liberal Democrats have announced the candidates for the London Assembly top-up list for the 2012 election. The shortlist is now final and London members will now be issued with a ballot to place the candidates in order of preference.

The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:

Jeremy Ambache (M)
Steve Bradley (M)
Emily Davey (F)
Merlene Emerson (F)*
Bridget Fox (F)
Stephen Knight (M)
Ajmal Masroor (M)*
Caroline Pidgeon (F)
Marisha Ray (F)*
Nick Russell (M)
Shas Sheehan (F)*

Those marked with an asterisk are Black and Minority Ethnic for the purpose of the ethnic preference rule.

There will not be a ballot for the Mayoral candidate for the time being. …

Also posted in London | Tagged london assembly | 24 Comments

Willie Rennie plans political comeback

By The Voice | Published 29th September 2010 - 8:58 pm

One of the (many) disappointing moments from the general election was the defeat of Willie Rennie, the Lib Dem by-election victor in the famous 2006 Dunfermline contest. He was subsequently appointed a government special advisor in the Scottish Office.

Well now he’s back in the saddle of elected politics again. Here’s how the Dunfermline Press reports it:

Local members put Mr Rennie in prime position to win one of seven places as a list MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, which covers all of Fife and parts of Clackmannanshire, Perthshire and Stirling.

He secured first place ahead of Fife councillor Tim

…

Tagged willie rennie | 7 Comments

Who will be the Liberal Democrat candidate for London Mayor?

By Mark Pack | Published 6th September 2010 - 10:26 am

Yesterday London Region chair Jonathan Fryer outlined the timetable for selecting the party’s London Assembly and Mayor candidates. But who will be in the running to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London?

As previously covered, Lembit Opik has publicly declared his intention to go for the selection. Regular readers of this site will have seen how controversial that is amongst many Liberal Democrat members (along with other commenters on this site). He has some keen fans along with many ardent critics. The number of fans of his Mayor selection bid page on Facebook has moved up only …

Also posted in London | Tagged brian paddick, floella benjamin, lembit opik, susan kramer | 38 Comments

Team London: selections open

By Jonathan Fryer | Published 5th September 2010 - 5:27 pm

Applications are now invited from potential LibDem Mayoral and Assembly (GLA) list candidates for London, which will hold its next round of city-wide elections in 2012. Interested individuals can request an application pack from the Returning Office, Patrick Mitchell, at or 6 Palfrey Place, London SW8 1PA. Completed applications must be received by 24 September.

London has benefited from a big influx of new members over recent months – by far the biggest growth of any UK region. Moreover, London Liberal Democrats have moved campaigning and capacity up several notches with the launch of Team London, a new approach to …

Also posted in London | 15 Comments

Lembit for London campaign watch

By Mark Pack | Published 30th August 2010 - 12:28 pm

Contradictory news from Facebook about the state of Lembit Opik’s campaign to become the Liberal Democrat candidate for London Mayor. The number of fans of his campaign page is now up to 178. However, although his campaign says the page is “the main point of contact for those involved in the campaign to win the nomination”, the last update from the campaign team on the wall is now looking rather dated, having been posted on 18 July.

Also posted in London | Tagged lembit opik | 5 Comments

Category Archives: Selection news

Search

Poll