Tag Archives: internal party elections

Helen Belcher

Some thoughts on the current trans quota chaos

By Helen Belcher | Thu 13th November 2025 - 12:04 pm

A recently published analysis on “lawfare”, where changes in organizational policy are attempted through legal action, has looked at cases related to the Equality Act since 2018. The key finding is that there has been a concerted attempt to sue trans-inclusive organisations into a position where they become trans exclusive – a pattern not seen in any other equalities strand, and one which indicates a substantially well-funded and organized campaign.

So organisations like the Girl Guides, the Quakers and, yes, the Liberal Democrats are threatened with court action or, in some cases, taken to court to be walloped over the head with “the Supreme Court ruling”. The expectation is clearly that a lot of organisations will fold before any court hearing because of the costs involved.

The lesson clearly being taught within the Liberal Democrats is that, if you want to change policy, don’t bother with the democratic processes and conference. Just engage a lawyer.

Having sat through a couple of planning inquiries and seen other legal advice, there are three things I’d like to point out. Firstly lawyers are like politicians – they are paid to present their case as compellingly as they can. Secondly the key word in “legal advice” is not “legal” but “advice”. Other opinions are often available, which is why disputes end up in court. Finally, any legal advice is highly dependent on the question that is asked. If the question is “how can we be trans inclusive” you are likely to get different answers to “how can we exclude trans people”.

The result this time is the chaos that our internal elections have been thrown into. The justification is keeping within the law. To which I would respond with another scenario.

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged | 11 Comments
Greg Foster

Internal party elections – revised timetable

By Greg Foster | Tue 13th September 2022 - 4:14 pm

Given the tragic news of Her Majesty the Queen’s death, the Returning Officer has decided to alter the planned timetable for our Internal Elections.

The original timetable was based on the idea that it would enable candidates to collect nominations as part of the planned Conference in Brighton. Now that this has been cancelled, we are faced with both an increased workload for the staff team, as well as there being no conference at which to collect nominations.

Consequently, the Returning Officer has decided to delay the opening of nominations by 1 week, to the 20th September at 5pm.

In addition, the period in which candidates can collect nominations has been extended by 1 week.

Candidates now have until 6pm on Monday 10th October to collect the necessary nominations for roles they wish to stand for.

The new timetable is as follows:

  • Publication of the notice of elections: Monday 29th August, 17:00
  • Opening of nominations: Tuesday 20th September, 17:00
  • Close of nominations: Monday 10th October, 18:00
  • Deadline for submission of candidates’ manifestos: Friday 7th October, 17:00
  • Dispatch of ballot papers: Tuesday 25th October c13:00
  • Deadline for return of ballot papers: Tuesday 15th November, 17:00
  • Counting of votes and declaration of results: Wednesday 16th November 14:00

The remainder of the relevant information can be found in our Internal Elections hub here: https://beta.libdems.org.uk/internal-elections

People wishing to stand for election can submit their consent to nominations form in advance of the opening of nominations here: https://beta.libdems.org.uk/consent

Ed – Note that the following places are up for election: 

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | 6 Comments
The Voice

Reprise: Those secret party elections with a nomination date of noon on Friday

By The Voice | Mon 23rd February 2015 - 8:59 am

There are some more secret elections happening. We feel it’s our duty to disseminate the information as widely as possible.

Here are the details of the positions available and how to get yourself nominated:

All persons elected to these posts will hold office for the calendar years 2015 and 2016.

For the election of:

  • One Vice-Chairs of the IRC
  • Three members of the SAO Review Group
  • Two members of the FE Candidates’ sub-group (meets with JSCC)
  • One representatives on ALDE Congress
  • Two representatives to the LI Congress

The election regulations approved by the Federal Executive in May 2009 are attached for information.

Nominations must be supported by two voting members of the outgoing or incoming Federal Executive, a list of whom is attached, and must be returned, with 75 word statements , no later than 12 noon on 27 February 2015 to David Allworthy, [email protected]. Scanned nominations will be accepted.

David Allworthy, Deputy Acting Returning Officer, 20 February 2015

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The Voice

Some more secret party elections you can stand in – act by noon next Friday, 27th February

By The Voice | Sat 21st February 2015 - 10:45 am

There are some more secret elections happening. We feel it’s our duty to disseminate the information as widely as possible.

Here are the details of the positions available and how to get yourself nominated:

All persons elected to these posts will hold office for the calendar years 2015 and 2016.

For the election of:

  • One Vice-Chairs of the IRC
  • Three members of the SAO Review Group
  • Two members of the FE Candidates’ sub-group (meets with JSCC)
  • One representatives on ALDE Congress
  • Two representatives to the LI Congress

The election regulations approved by the Federal Executive in May 2009 are attached for information.

Nominations must be supported by two voting members of the outgoing or incoming Federal Executive, a list of whom is attached, and must be returned, with 75 word statements , no later than 12 noon on 27 February 2015 to David Allworthy, [email protected]. Scanned nominations will be accepted.

David Allworthy, Deputy Acting Returning Officer, 20 February 2015

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Posted in News | 7 Comments
The Voice

Now, about those secret party elections we told you about the other week…

By The Voice | Tue 20th January 2015 - 3:10 pm

A couple of weeks ago, we told you about those important party elections, details of which were hidden in an obscure corner of the party website. Well, our stirring did generate a few nominations which meant that there were a good few contested positions.

Federal Executive members voted over last weekend and the results were declared last night. Here they are in full:

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Posted in News | 7 Comments
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