Yesterday, I attended the wind up of Women
Liberal Democrats and the inaugural meeting of Liberal Democrat Women; and
whilst it may sound like the most semantic of all name changes, there is indeed
a real change in the organisation as a result.
For a start, it is not so much a name change
as a merger of the two groups that promoted the role of women. The Campaign for
Gender Balance (CFGB), a top down organisation appointed by the Federal
Executive, is no more but the activities that it undertook are within the scope
of the new organisation, including a report to conference. A report to
conference that always seems to be timed for the fewest number of people to
attend, but a valuable voice for women in the party none the less.
What is left is a group of women, keen to
engage with the party on issues that affect all of us, not just women, but at
the same time are issues that affect women in a different way to the way they
affect men and to make sure that 'other' voice is heard. Following an all
member survey, key areas to campaign on have been identified and a number of
working groups are being set up to ensure those campaigns succeed.
Of course, women in the Liberal Democrats
have a wide variety of views and experiences, just as all Liberal Democrats do
and identity politics (which this is) is a difficult horse for us as liberals
to ride. But, we're not just liberals, we are also democrats and so, we
have to make sure that this campaigning organisation gives a voice for women in
the party who are not a minority but so often absent from the debates.
I know that all the activists, male and
female, that have gone abroad, to places such as the US and New Zealand have
been amazed to see how women organise within political parties to become a
caucus that cannot just be ignored as they often are in the Liberal Democrats.
If we do not organise, then we will not be
heard. Those that want to hear the voice of Liberal Democrat women will
have no one to go and ask or to speak to. Just last week when parliament
marked the centenary of Emily Davidson, militant suffragette, throwing herself
under a horse at the Epsom Derby, there was NO Liberal Democrat speaker!
A stitch up by the Labour and Tory organisers perhaps but also a sympton of a
lack of organisation by Liberal Democrat parliamentarians. I understand
that women parliamentarians are now looking to meet and organise themselves
into a group to ensure this kind of thing does not happen again.
In the mean time, the newly constituted
Liberal Democrat Women, has opened nominations for their first ever Executive.
Nomination forms need to be in by 2pm on Friday
5th July 2013. If you are interested in standing for Election for the
Liberal Democrat Women Executive (you need to be either a member of the old
Women Liberal Democrats or to have joined Liberal Democrat Women by the 14th
June 2013) then I believe the person to email for more info is Roxana Cimpeanu
at LDHQ (020 7227 1319 roxana.cimpeanu@libdems.org.uk).
I really enjoyed meeting my fellow (!!)
Liberal Democrat Women in Birmingham yesterday - there was a complete range of
ages and experiences that bodes very well for us but also a great deal of
energy and enthusiasm for the challenges ahead.
I will post more on the working groups
shortly when I have found all the contact details etc.
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