Historically leaders have been announced very formally, with an audience of party grandees listening to the party president read the results.
Not this time. Next Thursday, about this time, we’ll all be refreshing our Twitter like idiots waiting for news for this time the result will be announced on social media at some point in the “late afternoon.”
Then, at 6pm, there will be a members’ rally at a Central London venue where the new leader will make his first speech. As I write, members are being emailed details of how to register.
That’s ok if you are close to London – but what about the likes of us 400 miles away who can’t afford either the time or the money for a midweek visit to London? The good news is that they are hoping to find a way for “every member to participate” in the event. If they need any help with live-streaming, they should just give Jon Ball a call. He did a great job with the SLF Conference at the weekend.
It’s good to see that the new leader’s first appearance will be with ordinary members.
Ballot papers have to be with the Electoral Reform Society by next Wednesday, 15th July, so if you haven’t already, you should really get them in the post as soon as you can. If you stick a first class stamp on, you might be ok waiting till next week, but it’s cutting it fine.
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10 Comments
Good to see the party adopting a digital approach re the announcement, makes it much more immediate I feel.
Unfortunately I could never vote for the party if Farron wins. Just watched some of the Lib Dem Guardian Live hustings. He said he wants to pick policies that “75% of the public won’t like, but 25% will love” and that “centrism is pointless and uninspiring”.
First of all I think pointless is a bit much. But it is clear that he is campaigning for something I don’t believe in, so that will be the end of it.
Lamb is better, but even as he wisely complains about “not offending people” in politics, he seems to go around calling the Conservative’s policies “intolerable” “morally reprehensible” etc. Whilst saying little about Labour. So I don’t think his rhetoric matches his actions here. What happened to the Lamb who criticised Miliband on economic competence? We hardly hear anything about economic competence now.
First of all, Mr. Sammon, I think it would be good manners for you to call our leadership candidates either Mr.
or Tim and Norman. Second, the implication that any leadership candidate (not only of our party) can or
should please every single individual member in all respects is, indeed, a bit much. It is for Tim and Norman
to set out their case or stall… it is for all us Liberal Democrat members to decide…
With enthusiasm, I have backed Tim.
If Norman wins, he will however have my full support in the principal task for us, in different ways:-
re-building the Liberal Democrats.
Incidentally, and I don’t aim this at you Mr. Sammon, anyone either who are now or were”up high” in the
party hierachy, would be well-advised and be more courteous/helpful/mature/responsible NOT to
try to settle old scores in this leadership election; preferably, not at all.
It’s not going to be easy re-building our party, ‘though personally I’m delighted at the good start.
Tim and Norman, along with the rest of us, will need to unite in support of the bigger picture.
Leave the nasty division and bickering to the Labour and Tory parties. They’re rather good at it!
Little or no good with the economy and the future of our country… which is where we may well come in yet!
Best wishes,
@ Eddie,
Might it not be wiser to see what, exactly, the policy line is before you decide that you could ‘never vote for the party’ if Tim Farron wins? In any event, given that we’re polling 9% or so, I frankly aspire to attracting 25% of the vote for Liberal Democrats candidates across the country.
For centrism is pointless and uninspiring. It is, indeed, meaningless, unless you can define the centre in terms other than those relative to other political parties.
Eddie Sammon, “First of all I think pointless is a bit much. But it is clear that he is campaigning for something I don’t believe in, so that will be the end of it.”
Sorry it’s late and I’m a bit slow but what is Tim campaigning FOR that you don’t believe in?? You mention centrism but that is something Tim is against.
Hi Mark, I can define the centre in terms other than those relative to other parties. The two biggest principles that stand out for me are “balance and proportion”, but there are lots of others. Responsibility, courage, merit, justice, innovation etc.
I was probably taking it too far by saying “never”, but I broadly know what the policies are going to be.
Anyway I don’t want to waste anyone’s time or sound too depressing . The party is a fundamentally liberal one and that is its strongest point, but if the new leader keeps saying things that you disagree with then that is going to be the outcome.
Thanks Nick, I will consider your advice about using the terms “Mr” or “Tim and Norman”. Incidentally I always call people Mr or by their first name when I am talking to them, but not always when talking about them.
I don’t want to use up much of people’s time anyway. I shall endeavour to be a bit quieter.
Regards
Be good to replicate this rally with a leader’s tour to key places and with mini rallies across the UK – the leader needs to hit ground running and show he’s a Nationwide all inclusive leader
Hi Phyllis, well he seemed to reject it at the Guardian Live hustings. He said “I’m not a centrist, it’s pointless and uninspiring”. And a few moments earlier or later he said “we should pick policies that 75% of the public won’t like, but 25% will love”. Being a provocateur is not my style, unless it is absolutely necessary. Saying things “spikey” that will get attention is not what I think the “fightback” should be about. I think the Lib Dems should be a respected and serious voice.
I would totally vote for policies that I love even if 75% of the population disagree with them. Why wouldn’t I vote for a party that I strongly agree with because others don’t like it? that is the whole point in democracy.
If I had to guess I’d say no more than a third of people actually like conservative policies and only about a quarter of the population really like the Tory policies, but having a solid base who make sure they vote for you is how parties actually win elections. Looking after their base is how successful parties win. Not looking after their voter bases (think the lib dems and students) is how parties do so badly.