Ten years ago I wrote in Lib Dem Voice about the need for a governance review of the English Party. I urged consideration of what functions of the State party could be better delivered at a Federal level, recognising money and time are always in short supply (not much changes there then!).

In that article I highlighted the Westminster candidate approval process as a function that should be coordinated Federally, with key State and Regional volunteers therefore benefiting from a more efficient, joined-up structure. More broadly I pointed out; “The current situation is a mess. Most members think they belong to the Federal Party (impossible in fact) and can vote for the committees which look after campaigning (but the Federal Party has no role over candidate approval).”

Roll forward a decade and last week I was struck by a strong sense of déjà vu.

I read this article from Julian Tandy (Welsh State Chair of Candidates) and Charles Dundas (Campaigns and Candidates Convener of the Scottish Lib Dems) and I see the challenge of doing Federalism properly continues still, and that decade old “mess” I referred to, remains.

I hope all of us who have been active in the English Party will pause and take with humility their unhappiness at feeling dictated to by the English Party. That may be uncomfortable to hear, but the best way to respect their complaint about not being listened to is to listen and act, not to dismiss them as wrong.

As a councillor some problems can be quick to fix, some take a little longer – but ten years? Even in local government terms that would be considered a long wait! But is a growing movement for change gathering steam? And, perhaps the bigger question to ask is: “Will the English Party finally get on board”?

Just like Charles and Julian, I will be backing Tim Farron’s motion (F10) at Harrogate conference which seeks to make our Westminster candidates system a Federal function.

It makes complete sense for our three states to work together in this area, making one set of decisions and having one process our State and Regional volunteers can administer, with increased staff support to help them.

Let’s be honest though, as well as making very practical administrative sense, this motion will make a very practical difference to members, especially those in England.

Right now, English members have no formal mechanism to question those responsible for our Westminster candidate rules and procedures. The process is in a silo. Questioning is only available if you are one of the 150+ members on the English Council.

Under this motion, Westminster candidate rules and procedures will be opened up to all members with clear, direct accountability via Federal Conference, with all its options of reports, motions, reference backs and more!

By contrast, the English Council mechanism cuts out most English members, with far fewer having a say than the number of English members who come to Federal Conference.

With the proposed reforms, oversight responsibility for the candidates process will come under the transparency of Federal Conference: clear, open and democratic. Meanwhile, members in each State will continue to elect, through their usual means, their State Candidate Chair to represent them on the Federal Committee.

Importantly, our Vice President – elected by all party members – will take up a seat on that same Committee. Regional Candidate Committees in England will still have their key role in running the process, and members in local parties will still get the power to shortlist and then vote for who is to be their candidate. In fact, with a more efficient system we will have less last minute ‘parachuting’ of candidates and more local parties actually getting to do their democratic bit!

For me, this motion represents a much needed, long overdue change. I am a Regional Party Chair. I see this motion as being good for my Region and making things more democratic for members in my Region. It gets my full endorsement and, I hope, that of many more party members up and down the country.

* Chris White is a former Leader of the Liberal Democrats on St Albans Council, Councillor for Hertfordshire County Council and Regional Chair: East of England