Federal Communications & Elections Committee

March 2024

1. A programme of support for the GE campaign for Start up, Development and Moving Forward seats was discussed and unanimously agreed.
2. The activities of the so called Progressive Alliance was discussed. The PA is attempting to hold primaries in current Conservative held seats with the aim of coalescing support around a non Tory candidate. FCEC unanimously agreed that Lib Dem candidates must NOT engage in these “primaries”. There are many substantial reasons for not engaging which include advice from the Electoral Commission, potential problems for election agents, and that politically it contravenes the firm decision made previously by the Party that there must not be any election pacts.
3. FCEC received a verbal report about the challenges of the large area elections (PCC and Metro Mayors). 
4. Update on the Local Elections received from ALDC. Olly Grender shared the Local election Comms plans.
5. Update on GE agent training.

February 2024

1. FCEC spent 2 hours on the review of campaigning activity in the Advanced and Moving Forward+ seats. Data was interrogated in detail.
2. Advanced Seats: FCEC recognised the very significant progress made in the seats 

which were put under review 6 months ago. This process seeks to help and encourage seats to get back on track in terms of the targets set for all Advanced seats. 

3. One seat was taken off review; 3 remained on review albeit with praise for what had been achieved.
4. MF+: campaign staff had added seats in Devon and Cornwall as there were none previously. Several seats were making stunning progress. 
5. Other items were for information- candidate selection figures and numbers of trained agents, FCEC also noted the GE Governance and Management paper approved previously by Federal Board.

November 2023

FCEC considered a report from ALDC about next May’s local elections. In 2021 elections were held for the postponed 2020 elections as well as for the normal round in the election cycle. This has made analysis of potential more than usually challenging.

There are 2112 vacancies up for election with the Party defending 365. There are also 39 PCC and Mayoral Elections as well as London Mayoral and GLA. The party is defending control in 10 places.

FCEC is asking for a candidate selection update at each meeting. The detailed information includes analysis of those selected against protected characteristics. We also had an update on the agent certification process which is now mandatory for anyone wishing to be an agent in the General Election. To date over 200 have successfully completed the training.

FCEC understands that working collaboratively across the Party makes for a united team. Dysfunctional approaches harm successful campaigning. We discussed the value and importance in campaigning of residents’ surveys. Copies were circulated and can be found on the ALDC website and on Campaign Hub.

May 2023

FCEC spent 2 hours on the review of campaigning activity in the Advanced and Moving Forward+ seats. Data was interrogated in detail.

Advanced Seats: FCEC recognised the very significant progress made in the seats which were put under review 6 months ago. This process seeks to help and encourage seats to get back on track in terms of the targets set for all Advanced seats. 

One seat was taken off review; 3 remained on review albeit with praise for what had been achieved.

MF+: campaign staff had added seats. Several seats were making stunning progress. 

Other items were for information- candidate selection figures and numbers of trained agents, FCEC also noted the GE Governance and Management paper approved previously by Federal Board.