English Liberal Democrats

The English Liberal Democrats, officially the Liberal Democrats in England, is the state party within the

The English Council is the sovereign body of the English party. It consists of the chairs of regional parties, representatives elected by regional party members, and representatives of the organisation representing youth and student members within the English party. The Council meets three times a year and elects the English Council Executive.[11]^[12][13]

English Council Executive

The English Council Executive manages the running of the English party between English Council Meetings. The English Council Executive consists of the Chairs of the 11 English regional parties, 12 members directly elected from the English Council, the English Young Liberals Chair. The English Representatives to federal bodies also attend. The English Council Executive meets 6 times a year.

The English Council Executive has three sub-committees; A Finance and Administration Sub-Committee which is chaired by a Treasurer manages the finances of the English party, the Regional Parties Committee and the English Candidates Committee.

The English Council Executive is elected annually in November, and takes office on 1 January of each year:

Regional parties

The English Liberal Democrats is a federation of the eleven regional parties which follow the boundaries of the

• Devon and Cornwall (South West England)
• East of England
• East Midlands
• London Liberal Democrats
• North East England
• North West England
• South Central (South East England)
• South East (South East England)
• Western Counties (South West England)
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and the Humber

Policy and functions

The English party has responsibilities for the organisation of local parties, co-ordination of the activities of regional parties, resolution of disputes between regional parties, selection of English representatives to federal bodies and establishing the rules for selection of party candidates.^[12][16]

The English Party constitution states that the Liberal Democrats in England "shall determine the policy of the Party on matters affecting England which fall outside the remit of the Federal Party" This can be achieved by structures established by the English Council.^[17] As no policy making structures are currently in place, policy making has been passed up to federal level and English policies discussed at federal party conferences.^[18]

Elected representatives

Members of Parliament

• Daisy Cooper – St Albans
• Sir Ed Davey – Kingston and Surbiton
• Sarah Dyke - Somerton and Frome
• Tim Farron – Westmorland and Lonsdale
• Richard Foord - Tiverton and Honiton
• Chesham and Amersham
• Wera Hobhouse – Bath
• Layla Moran – Oxford West and Abingdon
• Helen Morgan - North Shropshire
• Sarah Olney - Richmond Park
• Munira Wilson – Twickenham

London Assembly members

• Hina Bokhari
• Caroline Pidgeon

Directly elected mayors

• Peter Taylor – Mayor of Watford

Appointments

House of Lords

List of chairs of the English Liberal Democrats

Chairs are elected in November and take office on 1 January the following year for a two-year term. They are eligible to stand for re-election, but must not serve as Chair for more than four years in a six-year period.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2012)

• Paul Farthing (c 1994–1999)
• Dawn Davidson (c 2000–2003)
• Stan Collins (2004–2006)^[19]
• Brian Orrell (2007–2009)^[19]
• Jonathan Davies (2010–2011)^[19]
• Peter Ellis (2012–2014)
• Steve Jarvis (2015–2016)
• Liz Leffman (2017–2018)
• Tahir Maher (2019)
• Gerald Vernon-Jackson (2020)
• Alison Rouse (2021–Present)

See also

• Liberal Democrats
• London Liberal Democrats
• Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Welsh Liberal Democrats
• Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats

References