Discontent brews over ban on new members voting in Liverpool and Bristol Mayor selections

Long-time readers will know it is now traditional to illustrate posts like these with camels. Just don’t ask me why.

What’s that on the horizon? It’s a u-turn coming into view, I suspect…

Following my post yesterday about the intention to ban new members from voting in selection of Liberal Democrat candidates for the Liverpool and Bristol Mayor elections, there’s been widespread discontent expressed at this by party members in both Liverpool and Bristol, including activists with many decades of party membership under their belts. Lib Dem HQ in Great George Street has also, politely but clearly, made clear that the decision to stick with the ban, made by English Candidates Committee, wasn’t made with its encouragement or blessing.

All of which means the odds of a u-turn by the English Candidates Committee are looking promising.

This incident is also, regrettably, yet another example of the problems with the English Party.

Defenders of the English Party often like to point that it can be a good mechanism for sharing good practice around the party. But that’s only useful if the practice it is trying to share is indeed good.

Where has the positive leadership been from the English Party, championing the welcoming of new members and pushing to make sure they’re fully involved in these selections? Absent once again, alas.