Tag Archives: navnit dholakia

Finishing fifth in the leadership election

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Time to catch up now on the day of the leadership election. Early in the morning I go to the Electoral Services building in Clarendon Road where the count is to be held – and it’s actually in my Hornsey & Wood Green constituency. As I arrive it is great to be the local MP and we agree that I will come back another day to make an ‘official’ visit as there are some issues they need to discuss with me.

We (and there are six members of each of the leadership contenders’ camps admitted to the count) are first in a coffee room – where our mobiles and Blackberries are taken off of us. The count is to be absolutely rock solid in terms of no leaks of the result or how it is going during the day. And then we go in – and it begins. It is always strange to watch the ballot papers as they begin to tell the story of the result. At first it looked as if Chris and Ming were pretty much even with Simon trailing slightly. I thought we were in with a chance until after about an hour or so – I went over to the table where Ming’s first preferences were being checked – and whilst on the initial counting tables the piles looked even – it was pretty clear over here that Ming’s votes were piling up ahead. But one hopes against hope and experience – but the differential was clear and by midday the first stage of the counting was finished and the contender with the least first preferences (Simon) was eliminated.

Simon’s ballot papers were there distributed to Chris or Ming – depending who had got the second preference after Simon. Ming had more of Simon’s secnd preferences than Chris – so the differential increased. And Ming’s pile grew higher – and around 1.30pm the count was finished and Ming was our new Leader.

A moment of light relief! The ‘spoilt’ ballot papers were checked by the three agents. There were a few with Charles Kennedy written on them – and there was one with Lynne Featherstone written on. So technically I came joint fifth in the leadership campaign with a couple of others also having one vote!

So at 1.30pm we knew the result but no one outside must know. We were put back in the coffee room and our mobiles etc were given back – but we were on pain of death not to text or phone out. At 2pm three cabs came to take us to the LGA (Local Government Association) in Smith Square where the result was to be announced.

Packed to the rafters with MPs and journalists and broadcasters – Navnit Dholakia came in and read out the results – which you can read on the Lib Dem website.

The two losing contestants gave short speeches. Chris paid full tribute to Ming. And Ming, I am glad to say, cheered me up by saying that he would not simply be ‘a safe pair of hands’ and that consolidation would not be enough. Too right! Ming said he would take risks, wanted power and would have a radical reforming agenda and a crusade on poverty’ – so whilst disappointed over Chris – at least the promise is dynamic.

Following the speeches, there was the usual media scrum for interviews with the new leader, the losing candidates and anyone else that the journos could get hold of. I did a piece for BBC London who asked how I felt. So I simply said that on the day when my candidate had lost I was obviously sad – but by tomorrow I would pick myself up, dust myself off – and be happy that we can now move forward as a party. I did a piece for the Today program and then we walked from the LGA to our LibDem HQ in Cowley Street.

Ming lead and we walked with him – the MPs – and then on the spiral stairs of the HQ literally packed to the rafters, Ming greeted the HQ staff. And he was very good. And then we all went off to our three separate ‘parties’ and I drowned my sorrows with a glass or two.

Saturday in Southport

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Have breakfast with the Kingston mob at Lib Dem conference in Southport. Includes Jenny Tonge who was to be speaking in a fringe that evening on Palestine. Since her outspoken statements on the plight of the Palestinians she has rarely been out of the headlines. We have a discussion around the issues – and I get the impression that she is bullish but defensive about her position on the issue and definitely not keen on Charles K since he sacked her from the front benches.

Dash over to Conference Hall to listen to debates. Vince Cable (shadow chancellor) gives excellent finance speech. Then I chair Navnit’s speech. Lord Navnit Dholakia is the President of the Liberal Democrats and (in the three times I have chaired for him) has never, ever run to time. I guess that is why he always gets the spot before lunch – so that if there is an overrun on his speech it runs into the lunch break rather than the scheduled program of debates!

Waiting to go on in the wings I have a chance to chat to Charles K. The Leader is always on stage for the Presidents’ speech. He congratulates me on our tremendous victory in the Stroud Green ward by-election (30% swing Labour to LibDem – LibDem gain). Not unnaturally, I ask after his health. He assures me he is fine now, but you can still see the after effects of the nasty stomach bug. Can’t stand the vultures gathering to see if will be able to get through his speech tomorrow.

Needless to say – Navnit’s ten minute slot extends to 25 minutes – 15 minutes over the session end. On finishing, I remind the audience that the map in their programs is wrong. It shows the Conference Hotel (where the lunchtime fringe meetings will take place) in entirely the wrong location. And no – it wasn’t the LibDems reproducing it wrongly – it was supplied by the Southport Tourist Office!

Duncan Brack (Chair of the Conference Committee and a good mate) comes up onto the stage at the end to have a chat and make arrangements to meet for dinner and comments on Navnit’s overrun – and I say, “yes – but I couldn’t stop him – you can’t stop the bloody president…’ at which point Duncan points out to me that I’ve left the microphone on and have just broadcast to not only the auditorium – but the exhibition halls too!

No doubt that cheers everyone up.

I run back to the hotel to speak at a fringe meeting on Young People and Transport and then drift back to the Conference hall for afternoon debates. The debate on euthanasia was one of the best I have ever heard. Stunning speeches, powerful emotions – on both sides. Although a supporter of euthanasia with living wills – I found myself swayed from one side to the other with the force of the debate. Fabulous. Had to leave before the vote to rush back to speak in another fringe.

This fringe was for the geek brigade. No offence – but if you are not into techno campaigning, you would not have understood a word of the second half of the meeting. Happily for me – I was there as the light entertainment part of the proceedings. Since coming runner-up in the Guardian Political Blog of the Year my fame has spread far and wide and

I have been invited to address LibDems Online about my blogging.

So I give the low down on blogging, my blog, the pitfalls (i.e. people now read what I have said about them and get offended) and encourage them all to engage with the populace. And as I said – the rest of the meeting was for advanced geeks in techno terms. I didn’t understand any of it – but they all seemed to enjoy themselves greatly.