After the grim night of 7 May 2015 Federal Executive and other colleagues must think radically as we look forward…..

1) CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE LEADERSHIP MODELS

We could learn from the Greens and SNP and have a leader (perhaps one of the women MPs that lost their seats?) that is not in the Commons.  This might also help address the chronic lack of diversity  in our team in the Commons; and provide more capacity to reach out through the media.  (This would require a caretaker leader as it would demand reform to Clause 10 of the party constitution.)

I agree with Greg Mulholland that the new leader really should have voted against tuition fees.

2) FUNDAMENTALLY REFORM THE PARTY TO REBUILD TRUST – WE NEED A ‘CLAUSE 4’ MOMENT

A new leader should develop a clear strategy for how and why the country should trust the Lib Dems again:

• Lib Dems MPs in any future coalition should face severe party sanctions if they undermine our internal democracy; party rules should change to reflect this.  Like many party members (and certainly the wider electorate) I was clear we ran on a manifesto that was against rises in tuition fees; and we supported a coalition agreement that left us expecting all our MPs to vote against or at least abstain on tuition fee rises.
• Develop better mechanisms to regularly hear voices from across the party; as a 2010 PPC I was only ever invited by one parliamentarian (Ed Davey) to provide round table input on policy whilst we were in Government.  It has always been a mistake in my view to create such a gulf between HQ’s treatment of candidates in ‘development seats’ versus ‘target seats’.  Development seat candidates can usually bring huge amounts of professional expertise to the table – all too often we have been a wasted resource.
• Better support our volunteers – the allegations against Rennard (all too slowly acted upon) simply added to the trust issues.  We should take the Investors in Volunteers standard and ensure it is robustly implemented at every level of the party.
• Open up party conference to online participation – enabling One Member One Vote (OMOV) decisions on conference motions/ resolutions and access/input by those that can’t afford to attend party conference.  I have been a Conference Rep for many years and believe we have had our time!   (Credit due to Andy Mayer’s Facebook discussion thread for prompting this addition to the list.)

3) TAKE TIME TO DEVELOP A REFRESHED POLICY PLATFORM; AND LET’S BE INNOVATIVE IN HOW WE DO IT!

We should take time to refresh our policies – and reach out beyond the membership to NGOs, business and other stakeholders as we do this.   A structured programme of inclusive conversations should be used to surface new ideas – and we should learn from innovative NGOs within The Observor’s 50 New Radicals, such as The Finance Innovation Lab.   Every household in the country should be invited to become a part of re-writing the party’s future agenda.

4) BECOME RADICAL OPPOSITION CAMPAIGNERS

Its time to stop the ridiculous politeness that permeated too much through our time in coalition with the Tories.  Lib Dems and our allies should be outside the Chilcot Inquiry offices demanding the report’s publication…. our MPs/Lords should be camped on Parliament Square facilitating campfire talks on voting reform (not sitting inside the House legitimising the status quo) ….  etc etc

5) CONSIDER CHANGE IN THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AT HQ

I have seen little over the past five years to give me confidence that Nick Clegg was getting the right advice at the right time – there needs to be collective accountability for multiple errors of judgement.  The level of change now required probably means that it is time for the senior Executive Team at party HQ to reflect on whether they have the legitimacy and energy required to deliver the fresh start and reboot the party now needs.

Andrew writes this blog post in a personal capacity.  He is former Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Brentford & Isleworth 2005 & 2010, and Group Leader on Hounslow Council (2006-10).