Note: the following post has been substantially updated as a combination of circumstances meant the original had various inaccuracies. Apologies for that.
It’s not only Liberal Democrat MPs who are gearing up to vote next week. So too are their colleagues in the upper house where the leader of the Lib Dem peers Tom McNally now in government at the Ministry of Justice. Navnit Dholakia is unopposed for deputy leader but a new ‘backbench forum’ is also being created and that will see some contests.
Joan Walmsley and John Alderdice are standing for convenor and Kishwer Falkner and Jane Bonham Carter are contesting the role of deputy convenor.
Hat-tip: Mark D’Arcy (and thanks to those who pointed out ambiguities/errors in his post)
4 Comments
Except that I believe that the BBC report is incorrect.
Navnit Dholakia has been elected Deputy Leader without a contest, and Joan Walmsley is running against John Alderdice for the position of Convenor, according to the notice of ballot issued to a Peer of my acquaintance…
Mark – this post is not correct I’m afraid. Navnit Dholakia is standing unopposed for the position of Deputy Leader in the Lords so he will be elected automatically. Joan Walmsley did not stand for this post.
You are also incorrect that John Alderdice is the Convenor of the new backbench forum of Lib Dem peers. There are two candidates for the position of Convenor – Joan Walmsley and John Alderdice – and there will be a vote held on 9 June.
If you look at Mark D’Arcy’ blog to which you have a link, you will see that he now has the information correct. Please could you update your post?
Thanks!
Thanks for the corrections. In my defence, I did check the information with someone over in Parliament but I admit notice of ballot is pretty strong evidence 🙂
Shame that William Wallace hasn’t stood for Deputy Leader again. Didn’t he and Navnitt do it as a ‘job-share’ last time?