Virtual Conference 2020: Electoral Reform, the strategic debate
For your calendar - Our Fringe:
'The UK: A Democracy that Cheats the Voter';
6.45pm Saturday September 26
Electoral reform is emerging as a strategic issue between now and the next General Election.
It must be our price for any form of cooperation with Labour, for the sake of the millions of voiceless voters left disenfranchised and cut off by the present system; and therefore for the future health of our democracy.
How do we win the argument for equal, proportionate voting; and how can we make it happen next time round?
We have a great, timely fringe meeting to discuss all this:
Wendy Chamberlain MP, until now Political and Electoral Reform* spokesperson, will lead the meeting.
Our guest speakers:
Darren Hughes, Chief Executive, Electoral Reform Society;
Emma Knaggs, Grassroots Leader, Make Votes Matter,
Peter Dunphy, Unite to Reform
There will of course be plenty of time for you to put your questions to our panel. LDER Chair, Denis Mollison, chairs the meeting.
Look for party Conference announcements about how to sign up and log in to this debate.
* As members will have seen, in early September, Wendy moved to an exciting new role as Chief Whip and Work and Pensions spokesperson. At LDER, we were delighted that she kindly agreed to fulfil this commitment of leading our fringe meeting. Political and Constitutional Reform now moves to our Home Affairs remit under Alistair Carmichael and we look forward to working with Alistair and his team.
Our 'Virtual' Exhibition Stall
As always, LDER will have a stall at conference, so we can reach as many members as possible. Naturally, it will be a virtual stall, hosted as part of the online Conference. Details are still being finalised, but we can confirm that we will have members of the LDER Exec available for online Q&A, at 17.30 - 18.30 on the Friday, and 12.00 - 12.45 & 16.30 - 17.15 on the other three days. Alternatively, members and supporters will be able to send queries to us at conference@lder.org during the conference period.
Our Annual General Meeting
We're going on-line (zoom) for this year's AGM. Papers and details will follow, but note the date/time now:
October 27, 2020; 7-8.30pm
We will have, at the AGM, our annual elections to the LDER executive. We particularly encourage and welcome applications from individuals interested in joining the exec whose background or identity is not currently well-represented within LDER. This encompasses factors such as regions or countries (e.g. Wales) in the UK, age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status and caring responsibilities.
Ed Davey
Congratulations to Ed Davey on becoming our new leader. Ed is a strong and powerful advocate for electoral reform and LDER is already in touch, working with him and his team.
Reform debate on LD Voice
LDER exec members have been active in this online debate, started by Neal Lawson of the pro-reform Labour group, Compass.
Make Votes Matter
Day of Action…
On August 22, thousands of Liberal Democrats around the country joined other reformers in an innovative campaigning day. The report is here.
…and Speaker Programme
MVM is still looking for more people to join its speaker programme - click here to get involved.
Also, speakers are now available to speak to local and regional LD parties. If you want to invite a guest speaker to your group, please click here.
Review of Associated Organisations - LDER
The Party has commissioned a review of Party organisations - known as Associated Organisations (AO) and Specified Associated Organisations (SAO).
This review is highly relevant to LDER as an established AO. The Review Group has created a survey so that all SAO or AO members can have their say on the support the Party gives SAOs and AOs and what changes can and should be made.
So, as a member of LDER please fill in this survey - so our voice is heard and so we can create a better future for our organisation. All responses will be treated anonymously.
A word from us:
LDER is an officially recognised Associated Organisation of the party. Our remit is to educate and inform all members and supporters about electoral and political reform; and to assure the policy is high on the party's priority agenda. We also work with like-minded organisations such as Make Votes Matter, Unlock Democracy and the Electoral Reform Society on joint campaigns and to facilitate collaboration between interested parties.
This newsletter goes to around 1,000 party members and we very much hope you like it. Most of you are registered supporters with us - we've met at exhibition stalls at a party conference or similar occasions.
We are of course happy to send this newsletter to as many supporters as possible.
But to achieve our goals, we do need funding. The on-line fringe meeting (as above) alone costs hundreds of pounds. Our sole income is from those of you who, as well as supporting us, also pay to be members of LDER.
It's only £10 per year (£5 concessions) so we hope as many of you as possible will join. You can do so here.
Thank you for reading -
If you enjoyed reading this; can you think of other Liberal Democrats who would like to get it?
Please forward it on email, FB or twitter - or share the newsletter sign up page - with other people you know. Thanks!