The Field of Four #LDPres

So today we really have the Liberal Democratic Presidential race up and running and unlike two years ago it is causing some real debate with my closest friends and allies within the party. Most of the people I respected then were for Ros.

The Hon. Lady Mark the outgoing consort of our current President is sensible not taking sides or endorsing anyone given his position. However, he did over the weekend post his idea of what was required from his seat whether across the room at home, next to in the car/train or watching his wife the President perform her duties over the past 24 months. This was something I found really enlightening for a job with out job description and what I used to weigh up the four candidates that we have thus far. His listed the roles thus:

Role

The President has three primary roles;

• chairing Federal Executive - which is rather more than just turning up and doing the job. The agenda has to be agreed, papers commissioned, debate managed so as to ensure that all of the business is given a proper airing. The President is also a member of the Chief Officers Group, Federal Conference Committee, Federal Policy Committee, Federal Finance and Administration Committee and the Campaigns and Communications Committee. All meet in London, mostly in the evening, and occasionally on a Saturday.
• representing the membership to the leadership - responding to hundreds of e-mails and letters (some of them astonishingly rude or even abusive), travelling around the country to regional and state conferences, to local party dinners, to campaign events, and then conveying the information and views gathered to the Leader, the Chief Executive and now to the Liberal Democrat parliamentarians in ministerial office.
• representing the Party, as opposed to the Parliamentary Party, in the outside world, to pressure groups, media, lobbying organisations and, leading our international delegations to organisations such as Liberal International and ELDR.

Before going on to deal with resources, time commitment, without touching on what were core competences. He like me has seen various Presidents with a whole host of key competencies down through the years. So far we have four candidates in alphabetical order of first name Jason Zadrozny, Jennie Rigg, Tim Farron and Susan Kramer.

Susan of course has been a London Mayoral candidate and was MP for Richmond Park from 2005 until this year. Jason was our candidate in Ashfield in May losing by just 192 votes. Jennie is a dear friend and Tim had one of our biggest up swings in a held seat much to the derision of my Labour supporting Cumbrian based (at the time) cousin. All bring different things to field.

I'm surprised that Jason wants to stand when he came so close to beating Gloria de Piero. I would have thought the next two years would be far better spent by him building on the reputation he has to keep momentum in local campaigns to aim to overhaul that short gap in 2015. Much as I love Susan she in my view is the most establishment candidate on the list. A London-based President in what can be perceived from the provinces as a London-centric party is not what we need to stand out right now. Besides for the four years before Ros we had another London-based Parliamentarian in the form of Simon Hughes.

That brings my decision down to Tim or Jennie. Now I know the arguments about needing someone outside the bubble to reach to the grassroots. However, that does depend on what you define as the bubble. Yes, Tim is an MP but he also sees outside the bubble, something that struck me in a conversation I along with others had with him in Bournemouth one evening last year.

I love Jennie to bits and love that she will speak up whenever things need to be spoken up about. My concern is that the President over the next term needs to deal with MSM's perception of us a sell outs. While I know Jennie is no sell out, much like myself, I wonder does she have the ability to pull the core of the party along with her.

Tim is also prepared to go against the party flow (sadly the most notable time he did so was to vote against the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 but he did also resign from the front bench in protest at the party deciding to abstain only on the EU Referendum. So as a gay man I'm kicking him while as a Europhile democrat I'm right in his camp.

My decision was made in what I feel is best for the party going forward as a whole and not based on personal perception. Can an MP represent the Party as opposed the Parliamentary Party? Well yes Simon did so as President and does indeed again now as Deputy leader a role for which he beat Tim. Of course someone totally outside that can truly be a representative of the people.

How would the committees, party grassroots and outside world deal with them both? I can be a pain on committees and throw the occasional spanner in the works, both of these two could do that. As with the party grassroots both have their strengths and would do that in different ways (hey even if Jennie gets a fund of support to help her do so). It is the outside world that brings me to a point of separation. We need to be seen as a the party we have become mature enough to disagree with policy from the Government because that is what party have said, yet able to work in the coalition because that is also what the party have said. Not that we are in two minds merely that party policy is made by conference and Government policy was what our negotiators took to the table and got the closest they could to what the party wanted.

On that final score I feel that Tim Farron will be able to present that case. That most important case for our party right now at this time. That is why I'm endorsing Tim Farron to be the next President of the Liberal Democrats.


Much love and hugs to Jennie though. Also much thanks to those in the party crazy/courageous enough to ask me to stand, there are number of reasons why it wasn't right for me especially at this time.

Ros Scott Not Seeking Re-election as President

Cross-posted at Liberal Democrats in Northern Ireland

The last campaign to elect the Lib Dem President sticks with me for a number of things, firstly there was the number of 'I'm for Ros' badges that made their way to Scottish autumn conference and adorned the labels of many of the platform speakers. I didn't manage to make it down to Federal conference where they had first appeared.

The other thing was on the supporters site there was a region for Northern Ireland, which can't have pleased her opponent Lembit Öpik, especially as most of them at the start were the office bearers. It was what got my attention as a Northern Irishman. Seeing as I'd spent most of my adult live involved in the party in England or Scotland, even I at the time wasn't aware that the party had a presense back home. Thankfully my knowing from that time means I've made new friends within the party that has made my settling back in Northern Ireland an easy transition.

But Baroness Ros Scott knew and had their backing. She served the party well as President often making it to the regional conference and other events across the country, sometime accompanied by her husband, who many of us in Lib Dem circles know affectionately as the Hon. Lady Mark (since there are no honorific titles bestowed on the husbands of working peers).

It was her boundless enthusiasm, her dedication to the grass roots in our party nationwide and her being a bridge between the Westminster party and the grass roots that made us support her. But it is also these attributes that we will miss dearly following her decision not to stand for a second term.

However, I'm sure I speak on behalf of all who supported her two years ago in saying a big thank you. Ros is certainly leaving behind a big pair of shoes to be filled.

I'm Skunnered

I'm skunnered that the Executive of the Scottish Liberal Democrats have done what they have done.

Debra Storr, Paul Johnston and Sam Coull have been suspended pending process towards expulsion.

They appear to have ignored the intervention starting from Chris White, which was organised by the Federal Party President Ros Scott and at the behest of the Scottish leader Tavish Scott.

Also Debra Storr's complaint raised in November against the Aberdeenshire group leader Anne Robertson's treatment of her, Paul and Martin Ford was also ignored. The fact that 12 days ago it was disclosed in the Press and Journal before it was meant to be discussed at the Exec that there was "no case to answer", sadly doesn't seem to suggest a very democratic process taking place. Update 1 March, 11:42: It has been pointed out to me that the P&J were questioned and challenged about this story which had in fact jumped to gun as no decision had at that time been taken. No retraction or correction has been forthcoming since.

I've been following this case with some interest over the months. While I have blogged about it there is more that I could have said but have not yet written. However, I am still skunnered that what has taken place today took place in the party that I hold dear. I may yet write more on this, I'm undecided as yet.

More to the point this action has been taken against people who have tried to exercise the democratic and correct processes open to them to raise an issue of concern. That they have sought to correct erroneous minutes yet without the support of those who were elected on the same platform. If this is a witch hunt it has sadly got its targets.

However, earlier today I was reading Wardog speculating about fireworks at the Lib Dem conference in Perth in a fortnights. Thinking he was close, from noises I've been hearing, but may well have been barking up the wrong tree as to the reason for that. The witch hunters only have suceeded in winning a short sighted victory.

I'm still skunnered.

Wow has Draper Passed the Baton to Dale

This could be a case of deflective therapy over the attacks of Derek Draper. Or it may be the pressure of the Red Devils heading to Upton Park the afternoon*. But Iain Dale Tory Version 1.0 seems to have a bee in bonnet about the Lib Dem Blogosphere this morning.

First he took exception that LDV hadn't published Nick Clegg's 25 Random Things About Me, then when LDV posted a teaser which has since been updated in full following permission being granted, he took it on himself to publish the list in full in an update. Now Iain you can't accuse Draper of unreasonable bloggishness then go ahead an do the same yourself, despite Tweets and correspondence telling you this is what was going on.

Then he decides to also post about Lembit Opik's views on the Presidential election. His headline would make you imagine that "nasty LibDem bloggers" had a part in Lembit failure to become president. Now if Iain honestly saying that the Lib Dem Blogosphere which did have a debate on the issue of the candidates had that big an impact in the 70%+ success of Ros Scott he must be greatly overdilussional about the power of the Internet on internal party elections. Either that or we really do need to get our hive mentality fully in check and with the Lib Dem Blogosphere as leading the charge log on and prepare for Government.

You know it Iain, you too will be assimilated.

Resistance is futile.

*This Liverpool fan will be forever blowing bubbles if that result goes the right way.

That Was the Year that Was 2008

Well I'm not posting this live, I'm future time stamping it to come up just before the end of the year. So what was 2008.

The Economy: A credit squeeze, became a crunch, became a full blown recession. Banks floudered in Ireland, Iceland, USA and then in Scotland both HBoS and the RBS hit trouble. The goverment bailed the UK banks out. The Americans did the same, then did it for car industry as well. Here the High Street will never be the same again with the closure of Woolworths and in what is almost a daily round of the latest chain to go into administration who know where we'll be buying our Christmas presents in a little under 12 months time.

Yes He Did: Of course the big political news globally was that America elected its first African American president in 3 weeks time the inauguration of Barack Obama will be a landmark event in a country still fighting segregationists, racism and outright hatred in the decade of my birth.

On the Subject of Presidents: As well as the American's electing a new President the Lib Dems also voted on their federal president. The media darling was Lembit Opik. If you believed the media and the hype from Team Opik he was the shoe-in. Of course we all know that take you eye of the ball and that skillful player will round you and head for the goal before you realise what is happening. And that is what happened to the Primary Coloured Campaign. A good and strong candidate was out there meeting the electorate rather than working out how next to get papped. So tomorrow after securing over 70% of the all party vote Ros Scott takes up the role that she was made for.

The Leader is Gone Long Live the Leader: A little over a year ago the UK wide Liberal Democrats Elected there new leader in Nick Clegg. These year saw the election of Tavish Scott in Scotland and Kirsty Williams in Wales succeeded Nicol Stephen and Mike German as the party leaders in those two countries.

Going for Gold: The GB & NI Olympic and Paralympic teams did better than even they might have hoped for 19 Gold, 13 Silver and 15 Bronze medals propelled the Olympic team into 4th in the medal table their goal for 2012. The Paralympians were second in their table with 42 Gold 29 Silver and 31 Bronze.

The Blogger is Back: To be perfectly honest I returned to blogging at the tale end of 2007. But 2008 saw the return really take off the comments in the sidebar indicate this blog has made a dramatic impact back to the Scottish Blogosphere. Indeed in the Total Politics lists for 2008 I was the 11th most popular Scottish Blog and 15th most popular Lib Dem blog, therefore as someone said in the year this has become the go to blog for Lib Dem takes on the Scottish Issues. And that dear reader is what I shall continue to do into 2009, whether there is a general election or not.

Another First Preference Posted Off for Ros

At about 5:50 this Thursday morning (yes some of us are up early) I dropped my envelope containing my vote for the Party President into a red, cylindrical box. I don't know it this particular icon of British street furniture is the closest to a Labour MPs office from which such a voting slip is being dispatched but it can't have very many competitors.

On this particular Thursday this Earthman got the hang of the voting system, unlike the bottom of Lembit's letter enclosed with the ballot, after all I'm Northern Irish so have to remember when placing a cross is the preferred voting system. A nice clear one went firmly in the centre of the bottom box, next to the name of Ros Scott, and a two into the box of the one above for Lembit Opik.

I must being getting an old hand at these internal elections, including wading through page after page for Federal Elections and interim peer lists, but I did quite like Jennie's excitement when she blogged about her first such vote earlier.

The Ballots are Coming

To all my fellow Lib Dems, (readers of other political persuasions may or may not wish to ignore this post)

You will shortly, if not already, be in receipt of your ballot paper for the election of the President of the Party. This is one of only two posts in the party that every member nationwide has a vote in the other being that of party leader so you vote does matter.

I'm backing Baroness Ros Scott and I'm not alone many of our best people are supporting her too. Vince Cable our economic expert, Chris Huhne who stood for the leadership the last two times, former Leader Paddy Ashdown, Shirley Williams and the man who did the job before Simon Hughes, Navnit Dholakia plus many, many more.

Some common thread seems to resonate with all the supporters who have given reasons for their support which echo my own reasons for backing her. She is going to commit to this role 100%, some she can do from the security of a seat in the upper house. She has the experience at all levels of our party and is going to use that to support the party from the grass roots up to the parliamentarians and leader. Also she is willing to use the role to act as a conduit between the membership and our elected representatives.

As her support at Scottish Conference was home based not imported like her main opponent she really has got a groundswell of support in her favour across the country.

She is by far the person best suited for the role as so many others are saying. If you haven't already visit her site and find out more.

Manifestos for the People Too

Baroness Ros Scott has today revealed her manifesto for being President of us disparate lot commonly known as the Liberal Democrats. There are comprehensive sections on how she sees the role affection Members & Activists, Candidates, Councillors & Staff and the Structures of the party. A lot of this is what I heard from Ros on her summer tour of Scotland and the reasons that convinced me to endorse her as the best choice to take this role and take our party forward.

Read more about her manifesto launch at her excellent blog or on her campaign website.

Sit Down Shut Up

Scottish Tory Boy and myself have been carrying on the terrace humour we enjoyed experienced on Tuesday night's match over at Jeff's blog. So I guess his latest post (especially the title) regarding Nick Clegg's call is in essence some sort of continuation on the theme. (At least it was when I read the title hence mine to accentuate STB's point)

Of course everything he says is highly factual regarding the decision by the Information Commissioner's Office. To continue the football analogy I'm ashamed as a call centre employee that having had a football club board who seemed to know little about football but could run a call centre, I appear to have a party management who know nothing about call regulations. Maybe Chris Rennard and Pearse Flynn should compare notes.

I had qualms from when this was first muted, apart from the fact haven't seen the Scottish reaction to Salmond's I don't feel it is a effective way of communication of any sort of message. But as I didn't have the full facts I limited my response to speculation on a number of points. However, when I heard they hadn't pre-screened the script with the IOC alarm bells rang. The IVR (Interactive Voice Response) that we have to use for each inbound call and option is very carefully vetted for all manner of reasons legal and otherwise. One inclusion is always the DPQ (Data Protection Question) for UK calls and other countries with similar legislation which is when the customer confirms or denies certain uses of the information they will be giving during the call.

Now the party has been reprimanded and I think it is high time that we used the knowledge and resources within the party for the best effect. I know there are a number of communication employees with ties to the party. I'm not sure who, if any of them were contacted in relation to this call. One of the things that attracted me to Ros Scott's campaign for president of our party was that she wants to carry out a skills audit of the membership to be able to put in best practise for key elements of our party. This would have been one example where such an audit would have come in handy as it appears that a little knowledge was used in a foolish way.

Ros Kickstarts in My Old Stomping Ground

Well having already seen Ros Scott on here recent trip to Scotland I was intrigued to read on her other's half blog why her campaign website is going live at 17:16 this evening and even more excited that the explanation takes her back to my old stomping grounds.

You see on the 17:16 to Chessington South Ros if she looks out the of the right hand side as the train moves will be able to see the last house I occupied in the last ward I lived in with Lib Dem councillors just before she pulls into Malden Manor. Then she's off to Chessingtson South for a mass canvas, which seeing as I spent the majority of my student days living in Chessington almost right beside the A3, means she'll be kick starting her campaign for President while heading not just to a place I know well, but will probably be on at least some streets I have been along.

As the button on the left hand side shows, I've already given my support to Ros in this Presidential election. I know she really is serious about putting the memberships' concerns at the heart of the Presidency. I guess I'll just have to catch up with canvassing in Glenrothes and poppadoms some other time though.

Update: On reading further on her website she was rumping along the streets of Tolworth where I lived in my first year at Kingston. Even more trips down memory lane.