Friends who are members of the Liberal Democrats: internal party elections are going on, and I'm running for the Federal Council (an internal scrutiny committee) and the Federal Policy Committee.
Here's my manifesto for the former. Boosts welcome, if you can vote please give me your first preference, if you know a Lib Dem then please ask them to do so!
And please feel free to ask questions (whether you're a voter or not) about what all this is about :)
Who am I?
I'm a professional historian, living and working in Austria. I'm outside the bubble of Westminster politics but engaged with what needs doing: that's the right perspective from which to be the good critical friend our party leaders need to get things right.
I'm from a rural community in Norfolk, and whilst | now live abroad I've kept my membership with the Breckland & South West Norfolk Liberal Democrats. | want to make sure Federal Council properly represents the rural communities that make up so much of our voting base across the country.
I've helped run digital communities for over half my life, chairing the Exilian creative society and being co-convenor of the Medieval Caucasus Network among other roles. Building spaces, working with constitutions and volunteers, and designing the right social rules and tools for the job is something I've spent my life doing. That gives me a wealth of experience that | can apply to party governance as well.
How do I find out more?
My blog, https://thoughtsofprogress.wordpress.com; @jubalbarca.bsky.social; @JubalBarca@Scholar.Social; james@wavcott.org.uk.
V'm happy to answer any questions - and hope you'll support me for our Federal Council.
Endorsements follow from former Lib Dems in England chair Alison Rouse, and former Federal Board member April Preston.
Federal Council Manifesto - summarised in alt text because full text won't fit.
Why am I running?
- Because I think good scrutiny makes for great leadership and I'm the right person to hold party leaders accountable
- Because I want Federal Council to be an effective and unafraid scrutiny body and would support constitutional changes to empower its role
- Assessing evidence is core to my work and core to this role
What sort of party do we want?
- Open to everyone, especially focusing right now on immigrants & trans folk who are under threat and on working class people who are very underrepresented in politics.
- Better internal communications and giving the microphone to more people more of the time, especially specified associated organisations
- Looking after campaigners and staff better to reduce burnout
