Campaign News

Ros Scott has been elected the next Liberal Democrats Party President for the 2009 - 2011 term.

In the final week of voting for the new President of the Liberal Democrats, Ros has passed the 1,500 mark for public, signed up members. This is more than 10 times any other candidate in the race.

The campaign map demonstrates the breadth of Ros's grassroots support.

Ros said, "Another 100 members have added their support in the last few days alone as the third and final all-member email has now gone out from Party HQ. Thanks very much to everyone who has got in touch offering such kind and warm words. I urge everyone who has still to vote to get their ballot paper back before the deadline of Friday 7th November!

The one thousand, five hundredth supporter, Cllr Shan Alexander from Stockport, wrote on Ros's Wall "You are the best! You got my number 1 vote"

Jim Tolson MSP, Jim Hume MSP, Margaret Smith MSP, Hugh O'Donnell MSP have all declared their support for Ros Scott today, confirming once again that Ros is the only candidate with senior Liberal Democrats from every part of the UK supporting her campaign.

Ros said: "I am really grateful for my colleagues' in Scotland support. I've been telephoning voters for the Glenrothes by election recently and I am impressed with our distinctive message on the Scottish economy. The Liberal Democrats have an incredibly strong campaigning team in Fife and I wish them, and Harry Wills, all the best for this Thursday"

Ros is one of the guests on Any Questions this Friday, 7th November 2008 if you want a chance to hear her in action

Ros is one of the signature to an open letter in the Times calling for cuts in VAT on repairs and maintenance to existing buildings.

Ros said "I have said before that this tax is a nonsense and I am happy to continue to back this call to allow EU members states to reduce VAT should they want to".

The Liberal Democrats' 2008 candidate for London Mayor, and former Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Brian Paddick, has recorded a short message of support for her campaign to be Party President, saying "Ros knows the party from the activists through to the parliamentary party... she understands how it works"

We've uploaded 5 more video endorsements from Cllr Jill Shortland, Leader of Somerset; Cllr Liz Green, Kingston upon Thames, Gary Glover, Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Elaine Bagshaw, Chair of Liberal Youth, Mr Rob Saunders, Executive, Bournemouth Local Party who all said why they were supporting Ros at the Autumn Conference in October.

You can see them all on Ros's wall.

This week has marked more than 1,150 Lib Dem members and supporters publically backing Ros Scott for Party President. The campaign map shows that support is widespread and growing from every region. Ros's latest backer is Lord Tom McNally, Leader of the Lib Dems in the Lords.

Speaking at the Liberal Youth Hustings in Guildford today, Ros said, "The campaign trail in this election has been very enjoyable and very positive. I've been meeting Liberal Democrats from every part of the country, and picking up huge support and enthusiasm for my candidacy. We are nearly half way through the voting period - another email from our campaign is going out to every member we can contact on Tuesday. I hope anyone with any questions about what I want to do as President will get in touch. Thanks to everyone who has signed up - and voted already!"

Sir Menzies Campbell MP and the newly elected Lib Dem leader, Tavish Scott MSP have today both announced their support for Ros Scott for Federal Party President.

Sir Menzies Campbell MP said:

"I urge every party member to look carefully at all the candidates and to ask themselves what we want our Party President to do. I believe Ros Scott would fulfil the role of President admirably. She has credibility, is well known in the party, has senior political experience and is a person of good judgement."

Tavish Scott MSP said:

"This job may not feel particular relevant to members voting in Scotland - but it is critically important who does this job for us. Ros has pledged to listen and feedback- to ensure the Party in Westminster doesn't lose touch with the party at large. I would like the reassurance of working with someone whose instincts I trust, whose experience I value, and who I know is a good friend to the Scottish Liberal Democrats."

The Party has now sent out 67,000 ballot papers and manifestos on behalf of all the candidates, and the first of three all-member emails with campaign news. To see the electronic version of Ros's election address download a copy here. You can also find out more using the links at the top of this page.

Ros said "I am really excited that ballot papers have gone out and this election is underway - I hope everyone who wants to know more about me, what I stand for, and what I want to do if elected President, will email me any questions. Thank you so much to the more than 800 people who have signed up publically to support me - you can see on the map how widespread my support is. I am determined to keep this a grassroots campaign that will ensure the voice of the members will be represented at the heart of the party.".

Lib Dem Voice this weekend published the first poll of Lib Dem activists asking them who they'd vote for in a Presidential contest between the officially nominated candidates.

The results were as follows:

• Ros Scott: 61%
• Lembit Opik: 10%
• Chandila Fernando: 3%
• Undecided:23%
• won't be voting:3%


Ros said "Many thanks to those who say they are going to vote for me - but I am not going to take a single vote for granted, nor think this is anything but a challenging and difficult contest. Ballot papers and manifestos will go out this coming week so I am expecting many Liberal Democrats getting in touch about my campaign and wanting to find out more what I stand for "

We are delighted to announce that Dr Vince Cable, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems has put his full weight behind Ros's campaign to be Party President. Vince recorded a short film for us to outline his reasons for backing Ros.

In it he says "Whoever it is will have an absolutely key role in the election campaign as a spokesman for the party - and its absolutely vital that we have somebody in that role who has judgement and has experience. Ros has both."

Over 600 Lib Dem Members took the trouble to fill out a survey conducted over the spring months concentrating on what the Lib Dems are good at and what they should be doing more of.

Noted Lib Dem thinker and academic, David Boyle provides an analysis of the key findings. You can download the results here

Ros said "This snapshot demonstrates we are an opinionated bunch, and I am so grateful to everyone who got back to me with their views. We should be doing more of this sort of thing as a party, and as President I would make it one of my key priorities to keep in touch, listen and feedback"

In an open letter to all the I'm4Ros regional chairs, Ros sets out what her early priorities would be if elected President in January 2009. This has been prompted by a question posed to her on the online hustings forum in the members' only section of the Party's website.

We're really pleased to announce that Chris Huhne is backing Ros.

He was kind enough to record a video endorsement in which he says "I'm backing Ros for a very simple reason - she's the right person for president."

"Having criss crossed the country attending pizza and politics, pasta and politcs and poppadums and politics on a industrial scale, Eastleigh were offering something different.." - read more about it on Ros's blog!

Cllr Adam Carew, Chair of Green Liberal Democrats and Bob Russell, MP for Colchester have recorded why they are supporting Ros.

Ros has this week been to visit members and campaign in Wokingham, North London, Guilford and Portsmouth, read more about it on her blog

Look out on the 'Wall' the new video endorsements recorded at the Party's spring conference by Cllr Gareth Epps, PPC for Reading East and Federal Conference Committee member, and Cllr Erica Kemp, Political Director for Lib Dems at the Leadership Centre - more coming soon!

Many congratulations to Linda Chung and the team in Hampstead Town for last nights stunning by-election victory. Her win came about not as a result of Labour meltdown but because Tory voters switched to us - there's no sign of the Cameron effect in Hampstead. But the sweetest part of all is that despite throwing everything at this election, the BNP managed to poll only a handful of votes.

A combination of classic Liberal Democrat campaigning, a huge amount of work, and a top-notch candidate have delivered the people of Hampstead Town a really great councillor in Linda Chung. Having lived there for 30 years, she knows the area like the back of her hand, is a well known campaigner for local businesses and is a highly respected member of the London Chinese community.

But there's no rest in Camden! Campaigning is already underway in the Kentish Town Ward by-election where I was earlier this week. With the new Lib Dem administration in Camden keeping council tax down and showing a real committment to the environment through its home insulation scheme, there's a good story to tell everywhere in the Borough.

More info here!

[UPDATE 16:51] And congratulations too to the other Lib Dem victors of last night. Excellent results!

Today I am publishing my manifesto, where I set out how I think the role should be carried out, and my proposals for action.

Our Party Constitution states that the President is "the principal public representative of the Party and Chair of the Federal Executive".

Nominations for the Party Presidency closed at noon today and there are three very different candidates for members to choose from.

My brilliant team has been working hard for months now, and are in really good spirits for the campaign ahead.

Ros skipped the formal dinner this evening to go leafletting and campaigning for the Kentish Town by-election. The by-election team said they wanted to share with Ros "another more cerebral evening when the current burst of activity is over!". Ros said "the doorstep views were really interesting as London is changing under a Tory Mayor and Labour political collapse; only the Lib Dems are offering real, fresh leadership"

Ros is with Kentish Town campaigners Jo Shaw and Nick Russell

Attention all bloggers, social networkers and website admins - you can now embed any of our videos into your own site, and add an I'm4Ros button on your blog! Just go to the 'help Ros' page and follow the links.

[UPDATE: 23/09/08 - We now also offer an RSS feed of the news section. See the link at the top the page]

We're delighted to announce that Paddy Ashdown is lending his support to Ros's campaign by recording a video at Bournemouth

Ros has been truly touched by the number of people signing up - so far she has 440 public backers. Don't forget anyone can sign up and register to volunteer on the campaign, distribute leaflets, make calls, and spread the word.

Ros has recorded a video message elaborating on her three campaign themes 'members, time, candidates'. Ros will publish a full manifesto after close of nominations - check back soon

We have uploaded the first set of "I'm4Ros because..." videos onto the wall, recorded at Bournemouth Conference this week. Ronnie Fearn, Roger Roberts, Kirsty Williams and Navnit Dholakia all made some time to record their support for Ros.

Look out for more video endorsements as they go up.

[UPDATE:19/08/08] Also look out for Cathy Bakewell, Stan Hardy, Bridget Fox, Gerald Vernon-Jackson and Lydia Livingston who all kindly recorded endorsements at Spring Conference in Liverpool this year.

Caroline Pigeon (London Assembly Member) and Elspeth Attwooll MEP both confirmed their public support for Ros this week.

Since Ros launched her campaign a fortnight ago the site has attracted 100 more public supporters from across the country.

Ros said "I have been touched by the genuine enthusiasm we've created for this campaign, especially as we are proving we have the backing of the grassroots from every part of the party."

At the start of Conference we had nearly 1,000 badges to give away and these are the last to go! If you are at Conference do come up and ask any one of Ros's team for your very own im4ros badge.

Ros met up with many of her volunteers and supporters at Conference this week, for a smoothie and chat about Ros's ambitions in this contest. There are many people who have volunteered and are handing out Ros's leaflets to the whole of conference.

Ros has won an award at the Lib Dem Blog Awards, for best use of blogs and social networking for a campaign.

Ros said "I have deliberately set out to use and combine all the traditional techniques of running a campaign - shaking hands, talking to people, handing out literature - with new ways which people are coming to expect more and more as the mainstream - emails, websites, blogs. My congratulations to everyone who won awards this evening."

Lib Dem Voice

Lib Dem Voice this week published a poll of Lib Dem activists asking them who they'd vote for in a Presidential contest.

The results, including the other (as yet undeclared or not standing) potential candidates, were as follows:

• Ros Scott: 65.6%
• Lembit Opik: 19.8%
• John Smithson: 14.6%

Ros said "I am really gratified that Lib Dem Voice readers are overwhelmingly backing me. Thank you!"

Ros's blog has been shortlised for three awards, to be announced at Lib Dem Conference next week.

The three are for

• 'Best new Liberal Democrat blog'
• 'Best use of blogging or social networking by a Liberal Democrat'
• 'The Tim Garden Award (for the best blog by a Liberal Democrat holding public office)'

Ros's blog: Because Baronesses are People Too Find out who else is shortlisted:Lib Dem Voice

To celebrate the opening of nominations for the Liberal Democrats Party Presidency, Baroness Ros Scott and Ed Davey MP are inviting the party's youth wing, Liberal Youth, all Parliamentary staff and the volunteers on her campaign, to join her to meet and chat to discuss the impact and importance of youth perspectives on the ambitions and future of the Party.

I'd like to introduce you to the great team who have been volunteering behind the scenes to put my campaign together- its been a great experience working with them over the last 6 months. Everyone is volunteers - working in their evenings and weekends, juggling full time jobs and family commitments at the same time.

Humane alternative to repossessions

Steve Brickle and Neil Lowrie (letters, 29 August) are wrong to assume that people who get into difficulties with their mortgage are necessarily guilty of bad judgement and gambling. Socially rented housing is available only to the most disadvantaged. Most people have to opt between an expensive and insecure private rented sector, or buying a home with a mortgage they struggle to afford.

If their homes are repossessed, they will have to turn to the government for rehousing. Surely it's better to keep them in their homes with short-term help, than to throw them out, and further depress the housing market? Vince Cable's proposal that those in trouble could sell some of their equity to housing associations is pragmatic and humane.

BARONESS ROS SCOTT (LIBERAL DEMOCRATS), HOUSE OF LORDS, LONDON SW1

'Because Baronesses are people too' Blog gets rated 12th most popular of all Lib Dem Blogs sites! (1,142 people cast a vote).

Top 50 Blogs

Letter published in New Statesman

28 August 2008

Boom and bust

Your leader (25 August) comprehensively makes the case that Labour has consistently failed to deal vigorously with the consequences of the credit crunch. The government has at every turn favoured bankers over savers and lenders over borrowers - indeed, this was the very logic of the credit-led boom that Labour imprudently fuelled. This led to the dithering over decisive action on Northern Rock - with Vince Cable long having the right solution. What is now needed, as Nick Clegg argued on 12 May, is a new regulatory structure for the banking system, as well as some overdue thinking on taming the bonus culture in the City. Without this we will find boom followed not only by the current recession, but by a severe bust.

Baroness Ros Scott (Lib Dem)

House of Lords

London SW1

Ros writes in Liberal Democrat News, July 2008

Barack Obama

Barack Obama has, let's not deny it, swept through Europe leaving adulation and stardust in his wake and a lot of envious European politicians on the sidelines. The contrast between him and the utterly defeated looking Gordon Brown could not have been more marked. So what does he have that our leaders, indeed our political classes, haven't and (speaking as a politician myself, here) how can we get some of it?

Ros writes in Liberator, August 2008

Developing narrative

The question of narrative has been discussed in Liberator and in the Lib Dem blogosphere for sometime now, with the likes of David Boyle, Simon Titley and Neil Stockley the leading proponents. Our Party isn't alone in this pre-occupation - the fact is that none of the three main political parties has a strong narrative, unlike the Nationalists, Greens, UKIP and the BNP. It's a sign of how political debate has, by and large, failed to keep up with the way the world has changed. None of us has found a narrative to replace the old left/right, class and economic based political themes.

Ros's original blog posting

What should the Party President do?

In a post published yesterday, Andy Strange returned to the question of the role of the President, a topic to which I have given some considerable thought! Linda Jack has expressed the hope that the potential candidates for the post will talk about their vision for the role.