I find myself as the new (newish anyway - July '97) Chief
Executive of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors
& Campaigners (ALDC) - more about that organisation and
myself a bit later. I am told you like reading about these
things. I can't think why.
Personally I think it has more to do with the fact that Penny
McCormack, our Party's Conference and Events supremo, asked me.
When Penny asks you to do something, you instinctively know there
really is only one correct answer! (Even if my copy was late.)
A warm welcome to Southport and the North West of England.
Southport, besides being Ronnie Fearn Land, is a well trodden
path for most of us NW Lib Dems as it is one of the long-standing
venues of our Regional Conferences.
It's more than 12 years since I attended my first Federal
Conference; each one since then has been enjoyable for many
different reasons. If this is your first conference make the most
of it. I bet you will be back.
Play important people-spotting; everybody does even if they
pretend they don't. Go and make your voice heard and vote count
in the auditorium.
Go to the Rally on Friday night. It will be something different,
as ALDC is organising it and Sir Cyril Smith will be chairing. It
will be interesting, to say the least.
Visit the exhibition. Stock up on party goodies. Take full
advantage of the other fringe and training events. Old conference
hacks please do the same, if you can drag yourself away from the
bar and your usual crowd of friends.
I promised you, at the start of this article, a bit more about
ALDC and myself. I also have to mention those all-important local
elections on May 7th, which are just a little over eight weeks
off!
Firstly myself; age mid-thirties, married to a teacher, two kids
- 7 years and 18 months. Oldham MBC Councillor, Deputy Leader of
the 24 strong LD (opposition) Group - elected as youngest ever
Councillor back in 1987 and still the youngest member of our
group! Former Parish Councillor. Chris Davies' agent, or, as I
prefer to say he was my candidate, in the Littleborough &
Saddleworth by-election.
I started work for the Association as a volunteer and joined it
as a paid member of staff nearly four years ago as Development
Officer. Before that I worked in pubic relations. By trade I am a
baker and confectioner having served my time in my parents' small
business.
Starting work at 4am so we can all have our daily bread, earlier
at Xmas, is not something I can recommend to anyone.
Now, at 4am I tend to be finishing work rather than starting, and
it is usually with a keyboard in my hand rather than a dozen oven
bottom muffins. The only downside is the fact that the keyboard
does not smell half as nice as freshly-baked bread!
Now you all know considerably more about me than all my
constituents do. None of the above 'guff' ever appears on any of
my election leaflets as it wastes space and does not win votes.
It's what you do for people, not who or what you are, that
counts!
Who or what is ALDC, I am often asked? Some people still think of
us as the woolly-hatted, bearded and sandal-shod lot who hail
from the 'grim north'. While it is true to say that I have a
woolly hat (essential for those winter deliveries); and I have
been known to wear sandals (inc. for work), I could not grow a
beard to save my life (even if I could, my wife would not let
me).
ALDC's offices are based in Hebden Bridge (near Halifax), West
Yorkshire. And NO, before you ask, you DO NOT need to be a
Councillor to join; in fact around a third of our members are not
councillors.
However, if like a substantial part of this party you feel as if
you spend the majority of your political life working for, or in,
some local election, it would be an understatement to say you
would find it most helpful. Please come and see us at our stand
or, if you run out of time, give us a ring on 01422-843785.
As you might have gathered, we are a membership organisation,
employing eight people (six full time equivalents - yes just
six!) and managed by a Standing Committee directly elected from
the membership. We also receive a grant from the Federal Party to
discharge the Party's local government functions. Mailings,
conferences, training, publications, advice and support are our
bread and butter.
As mentioned earlier, this would not be an article by ALDC or a
member of its staff if it did not mention those crucial local
elections that will be over, all too soon, in a few weeks time.
First a few facts.
All English Regions have elections on May 7th (Scotland &
Wales are in Õ99), and this is the second largest year in the
cycle for elections. Note that these elections take place after
the Bank Holiday and not before, which has been the pattern in
recent years.
They include: Districts by thirds; Metropolitan Authorities;
London; and a small number of the 'newly created' Unitary
Authorities. 4030 seats in total are up for re-election on 164
councils.
Currently the Liberal Democrats hold 957, Labour 2143,
Conservative 781 and others 149 of these seats. 23 of our
majority councils and more than 22 of the no overall control
councils where we are involved in the administration defend their
record.
The task is quite easy really.
First: defend against the Tories, not allowing them to recover
from their general election thumping.
Second: win from Labour in their traditional heartlands, where we
have made steady progress in many areas in recent years. After
all they now have nobody else to blame, however hard they might
try!
Third: don't underestimate how quickly people will forget the
Tories' appalling record - please remind them; and don't expect
those former Labour seats to fall into your hands without a lot
of hard work.
What YOU do will have a substantial effect on our results. Please
let the grass grow in the garden this April and May. If you have
no elections yourself go and help somebody who does.
Don't just go in a nearly empty car either, fill it up with your
colleagues. Use the five weeks to make as many trips as possible
and also use it as a training opportunity for those deliverers,
canvassers etc., who you will be desperately short of in 1999,
either for the locals, Euros or, dare I say, Scottish Parliament
or Welsh Assembly.
You never know, if you help somebody out in '98 they might be in
a position to repay the favour the following April/May. Remember
this is the 1990s and to help out you do not even have to leave
the warmth of your home. Just pick up the phone!
If you need any guidance on where your efforts can make a real
difference, please ask.
Enjoy conference and whatever you do, do not forget to play your
part in the 1998 local elections. Oh, and join ALDC.
high - let's keep it that way.