Personal Statement: 

I’m standing to continue as one of your representatives on Federal Council because I think I can make a positive difference to its operations in its second term, learning the lessons of its first where it has rarely done its job and provided the Federal Board with effective scrutiny.
 Over the past 13 years, I’ve stood up for the Scottish Party on the Federal Board, Federal Council, Federal Finance and Resources Committee and Federal People Development Committee. I have a nose for sussing out centralising power grabs and an instinct to stop them or ensure that ultimate control stays in Scotland.
 I have never been afraid to challenge the party establishment when I think they are getting it wrong. I try to do so constructively and collaboratively, but with spirit and passion.
As a lifelong feminist and supporter of LGBT rights, I have worked to improve the diversity and inclusivity of our party.
 I’ve written extensively about Lib Dem policy and values as Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and elsewhere and have extensive tv and radio experience representing the party.
 Any questions? Email caronmlindsay@gmail.com or call 07946 169798

What skills/experience will you bring to the role?

The experience of being on the Council for the past three years has shown where its problems lie. It has not been motivated enough to provide the Federal Board with effective scrutiny and this has not been healthy for accountability and internal party democracy. Meetings are habitually cancelled because no items have been called in and that has to stop. I want to change its processes and culture in this new term to get it focused and working as it should.  The Board needs scrutiny to ensure that the party is best placed to carry out its mission of winning elections at all levels and increasing membership and diversity.
 I have extensive experience of representing the Scottish Party on federal committees and being elected to them directly, I know how the Scottish and Federal parties work and how to get the best out of our interactions
 I have a 42 year record of involvement in campaigns at local and national level, helping to elect Councillors, MSPs and MPs.
 I have motivated volunteers to keep coming to campaign during good times and bad. That 2019 campaign in the Winter was a low point, but we still managed to have fun and win.
 I’m good at supporting people and keeping up morale.
 I’ve been a Westminster, Holyrood and Council candidate, candidate assessor, returning officer and Campaigns and Candidates Convener.
I have a long involvement in Scottish Lib Dem Women and LGBT+ Lib Dems and am also a member of the Lib Dem Campaign for Racial Equality and the Lib Dem Disability Association. I understand the importance of these organisations both in increasing our party’s membership and making it more diverse and inclusive. I have also supported the Young Liberals in various incarnations.
All of this means that I know what it takes for us to win. The Federal Board is responsible for developing our strategy which needs to ensure that our activities reflect the political environments in Scotland, Wales and parts of England where we are currently not strong as well as our new seats in the south. I will always argue for greater understanding of and assistance for Scotland. Sometimes our campaign messages and internal communications do not play well up here and this needs to be fixed before it becomes a problem.
 I am asking for your support to continue on Federal Council to make it fit for purpose.

What do you hope to achieve if elected?

The Federal Council was created in 2022 to hold the Federal Board to account. The Board had been massively reduced in size so it did not have the breadth of input into its decision making. The Council was supposed to provide scrutiny but it has proved to be pretty toothless in its first term.
Part of the problem is its structure. 27 of its 40 members need to vote to overturn a decision and often there are not 27 people present. An attempt to change this to a majority of those present failed at Conference. If re-elected, I would work with stakeholders to find an alternative solution that takes into consideration the points raised in the debate.
I'd seek to change the standing orders to tackle persistent non attendance.
 I would also support the election of a chair who has a plan for providing the constructive scrutiny the Board needs and ensure that cancellation of meetings is a rarity rather than the norm.
 I will also do what I can to make sure that the Council is a more inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect.