Proposed by: Federal Board
Mover: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, Federal Board).
Summation: Dr Mark Pack (President of the Liberal Democrats).
Conference notes that the Thornhill Review into the 2019 general election concluded that:
Conference believes that a democratically accountable body should be at the heart of such decisions and leadership, and that therefore the best response to those findings is to improve the way the Federal Board is structured and operates.
Conference notes that in the consultation with party members run in late 2021:
Conference further notes that:
Votes will be taken between the options below so that one option is finally selected.
OPTION 1: SMALLER HYBRID
Conference agrees from the date of the declaration of the results in the committee elections in 2022 to replace Article 9.2 with the following and renumber accordingly:
9.2 It shall consist of the following voting members:
Voting members under A-D or F-I may nominate a voting substitute if they are unable to attend a meeting.
9.3 The Board shall invite other appropriate people to attend its meetings for relevant agenda items, including but not limited to inviting the Chief Executive, the Financial Controller for items with significant financial implications, a staff representative for issues likely to have a significant impact on party staff, the chairs of other Federal Committees andalso invite the chairs of any Board sub-groups, sub-committees or working groups to submit reports in writing and to give reports in person as appropriate. Subcommittees for items that interact with their remit, and the Chief Whip in the House of Commons (or their nominee) for items with Parliamentary or Parliamentary Office of the Liberal Democrats impact. The Board shall also invite the chairs of any Board sub-groups, sub-committees or working groups to submit reports in writing and to give reports in person as appropriate.
9.4 The Federal Board may co-opt people for such periods not exceeding three years as it thinks fit who shall be entitled to attend and speak but not vote (but so that there shall not be more than two persons co-opted at any time).
OR OPTION 2: BOARD PLUS SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
Conference agrees from the date of the declaration of the results in the committee elections in 2022 to replace Article 9.2 as above in Option 1 and in addition to insert a new Article 17 and renumber accordingly:
ARTICLE 17: The Federal Scrutiny Committee
17.1 There shall be a Federal Scrutiny Committee (FSC), which shall be responsible to the Federal Conference.
17.2 It shall be responsible for scrutinising the work of the Federal Board, including ensuring that decisions are being taken in line with the party strategy as voted for by Conference, and may require a response on any issue from the Board.
17.3 It shall consist of the following voting members:
The Chair of the FSC shall be elected by its members.
17.4 The Committee shall meet at least four times in each calendar year.
Conference also agrees to:
OR OPTION 3: BOARD PLUS FULL COUNCIL (Selected)
Conference agrees from the date of the declaration of the results in the committee elections in 2022 to replace Article 9.2 as above in Option 1 and in addition to add the following:
9.9 There shall be a Federal Council which shall consist of the following voting members:
9.10 The Chair of the Federal Council shall be elected by its members.
9.11 Members of the Federal Board may attend and speak at meetings of the Federal Council but may not be voting members of the Federal Council.
9.12 The Council shall be responsible for scrutinising the work of the Federal Board, including ensuring that decisions are being taken in line with the party strategy as voted for by Conference, and may require a response on any issue from the Board.
9.13 The Council shall be considered to be a Committee of the Federal Party for the purposes of Articles 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 8.2, 8.5, 8.8 and 8.9.
Conference also agrees to in Article 6.5 of the Constitution, insert ‘Federal Council’ before ‘and Federal Conference Committee’.
OR OPTION 4: STATUS QUO
Conference agrees to leave Article 9.2 unamended.
OTHER
In addition, Conference, believing that power should be accountable inbetween elections, agrees to add a new Article 20.2 to the Constitution (and to renumber accordingly):
20.2 The Federal Board shall have power to vote on a motion of no confidence in the party’s President. Such a vote may only be taken with at least seven days notice to all Board members and shall require a twothirds majority of voting Board members (with vacancies, abstentions or absences counted as votes against). If the vote passes, a casual vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred and the processes in Article 20.1 shall be followed. The President deemed to have vacated office in this way shall have the right to seek nomination in the subsequent election. If they win re-election, this shall not count as a re-election for the purposes of the term limit in Article 20.1, and they shall not be eligible to be subject to a further vote of no-confidence for the remainder of that term.
Conference, noting the importance of winning elections to the party’s reason for existing, agrees to add to the list of bodies which report to conference by amending Article 6.5 of the Constitution as follows:
After ‘Federal Policy Committee’ insert ‘, Federal Communications and Elections Committee’.
For the text of the existing Federal Constitution, click here.
Notes for F10 and F11:
Applicability: Federal.
Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes.
There will be votes taken on the options in F10 so that only one option is one is selected.
Votes taken on the options in F11 correspond to the option selected by conference in motion F10 Board Reform (constitutional amendments). If option 1 (smaller hybrid) or option 4 (status quo) in F10 are selected by conference, only lines 1–12 in motion F11 should be voted on.
For eligibility and procedure for speaking in the debates on F10 and F11, see page 9. To submit a speaker’s card, complete this form.
The deadline for amendments to F10 and F11 – see page 12 – and for requests for separate votes – see page 9 – is 13.00, Monday 28 February. Those selected for debate will be published in the Conference Extra and Friday Conference Daily updates to the Conference Agenda.
Constitutional and standing order amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass.
Items F10 and F11 will be debated and voted on together. The votes on all the amendments and options in F10 and F11 will be taken at the end of the combined debate, in the following order:
1. Amendment One to F10 and Amendment One to F11.
2. Amendment Two to F10.
3. Amendment Two to F11.
4. Between Option 2 and Option 3 in F10.
5. Between Option 1 in F10 and the winner of Vote 4.
6. Between Option 4 in F10 and the winner of Vote 5.
7. A vote on the whole of F10 and F11 as amended by Votes 1-6.
Votes 1-6 will be by simple majority, Vote 7 will require a two-thirds majority to pass.
The Federal Conference Committee has also been notified of a request to refer back F10; this will be dealt with in accordance with the standard procedure set out in Standing Order 11.2.
Proposed by: 16 members
Mover: Dr Phil Bennion.
Summation: Joyce Onstad.
In line 80, after ‘the chairs of’, insert ‘the Federal International Relations Committee and of’.
In line 178, after ‘Elections Committee’, insert ‘, Federal International Relations Committee’.
Proposed by: 14 members
Mover: Stephen Robinson.
Summation: Cllr Lucy Nethsingha.
Delete line 112 and insert:
17.4 Members of the Federal Board may attend and speak at meetings of the Federal Scrutiny Committee but may not be voting members of the Federal Scrutiny Committee.
17.5 The members of the Federal Scrutiny Committee shall be sent the Board agenda, decisions and relevant papers. Within five working days of the publication of the decisions any 6 members can request that the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee call in any decision by the Federal Board to a meeting of the full Scrutiny Committee.
The President of the Party will be required to attend this meeting and can bring any others they feel relevant in order to speak in favour of the decision. Any decision of the Federal Board called in can be overturned by a vote in favour by at least 12 members of the Scrutiny Committee.
After line 152, insert:
9.13 The members of the Federal Council shall be sent the Board agenda, decisions and relevant papers. Within five working days of the publication of the decisions any 13 members can request that the Chair of the Federal Council call in any decision by the Federal Board to a meeting of the full Federal Council.
The President of the Party will be required to attend this meeting and can bring any others they feel relevant in order to speak in favour of the decision. Any decision of the Federal Board called in can be overturned by a vote in favour by at least 27 members of the Federal Council.
In line 153, delete ‘9.13’ and insert ‘9.14’.