Author Archives: Lord Ken Macdonald

Conference to debate new disciplinary process – how you can find out more

By Lord Ken Macdonald | Mon 5th March 2018 - 7:07 pm

This weekend, Conference will get a vote for my proposals of a new disciplinary process for the Party. This is the culmination of a series of consultation phases, and has been designed with members’ feedback at the forefront of our minds.

You can read my report here, and paper copies will be available at Conference. I will also be holding a Q&A session during the Saturday lunchtime fringe slot in the Marine Suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Southport. If you are attending Conference you are very welcome to attend and ask me any questions you may have, ahead of the debate which will take place that afternoon from 5pm.

I have been clear from the beginning: the only way members will be well-served by a disciplinary process is if it is simple, transparent and efficient. It needs to be a stand-alone process, and it needs to deal with complaints promptly with clear lines of communication. It also needs robust guidance on how to care for all those who may find themselves trying to navigate the process, be they complainants, witnesses, those complained against, or those sitting on the panels.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged featured, macdonald review and review of disciplinary processes | 2 Comments

Your chance to have a say on draft disciplinary reform proposals

By Lord Ken Macdonald | Wed 15th November 2017 - 3:45 pm

Editor note – comments are closed on this article, given its nature.

The consultation on the Party’s governance held in late 2015 laid bare a number of concerns which members had with our current disciplinary processes. The Federal Executive at the time took the decision to commission a separate review, which I was asked to chair in the autumn of 2016.

I am clear: the only way members will be well-served by a disciplinary process is if it is simple, transparent and efficient. It needs to be independent, a stand-alone process, and it needs to deal with complaints promptly with clear lines …

Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged internal party discipline and ken macdonald | Comments Off

Lord Ken MacDonald writes… For Liberal Democrats, civil liberties belong to every age

By Lord Ken Macdonald | Thu 4th December 2014 - 10:10 am

The closer we get to the election, the louder the question resonates: what have Liberal Democrats brought to government? In all the compromises and stresses of coalition, has our difference made it all worthwhile?

In the area of civil liberties, so important to us as a party, the answer must be a resounding ‘yes’. Of course not all the coalition battles around freedom have taken place in public, but they have been fiercely fought nonetheless- sustained, difficult struggles against the Tories and parts of the Whitehall machine, to keep our country loyal to its most enduring values in the face of terrorism and risk.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged civil liberties, counter terrorism bill and ken macdonald | 6 Comments