Here is one presidential election you can all cheer about. The term of office for the President of the party is two years, with a limit of two terms, so every four years it coincides with the bigger event across the pond.
Sal Brinton has served her first two years and has been elected unopposed for a second term. She said:
I am honoured to be returned unopposed for my second term as President of the Liberal Democrats. The growth and revitalisation of the party remains my top priority and I will continue to work with members across England, Scotland and Wales.
The Liberal Democrats are needed now more than ever. We are the real opposition to this Conservative Brexit Government and are the only party fighting to keep Britain open, tolerant and united.
My first and urgent priority is to get Sarah Olney elected in Richmond Park and I am encouraged by the response we are getting from residents to her strong campaign. I will be there again on Sunday and look forward to joining hundreds of Liberal Democrat supporters helping Sarah.
Sal has been an excellent president, travelling energetically all over the country to support local members, and turning up regularly for events and meetings.
* Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.
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9 Comments
How can you be “elected” with no opposition and no vote? Sal does a great job but this isn’t really in keeping with a party with Democrat in its name.
I support Sal being President, but the phrase is ‘returned uncontested’.
Sal, I am so glad you are President for another term, and only sorry to hear that it will only last two more years! Having listened to you at Conferences, been grateful for your quick and helpful responses to queries, appreciated your restructurings, and enjoyed seeing you this autumn in Brighton, Lancaster and Witney, I know we couldn’t have a better President. I wish I could join you in Richmond too, but can’t afford any more trips south just now, especially to expensive London. I know you will be an asset for them there, but trust they will have massive support and there will be another happy result. Thanks and very best wishes.
Stevan Rose: Nominations were invited from all members. If no-one else stands then ‘elected unopposed’ is a standard form of words, though I agree that ‘returned uncontested’ makes more sense.
Congratulations to the excellent Sal for being that good that nobody would have contested the election, as it should be if someone is good !
Sal should simply be thanked for taking on again such a demanding unpaid job. Her commitment is legendary and her election unopposed is a tribute to the work she has done in the past two years.
Let’s be pragmatic and thank her in the way she will thank the most; by getting down to Richmond but, if like me your health or other reasons prevent that, a substantial donation would be a fitting thank you too!
Katherine Pindar and Martin Land, do think about helping via phoning. the cost (if any depending on your phone package) is minimal, and the impact and help huge.
(and yes, very pleased to have Sal as president for another 2 years).
Great. So glad to hear that.
Dear Sal,
I look forward to continue to work with you to recreate the Party that ‘reaches for the sky’ and in doing so inspires us all, and especially wider society, to believe that anything can be achieved.
Namaste
Ruwan Uduwarage-Perera
Chair – Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats (EMLD)