English Young Liberals

English Young Liberals is the youth and student wing of the English Liberal Democrats.

English Young Liberals
ChairpersonWilliam Tench
Headquarters8–10 Great George Street,
London SW1P 3AE
IdeologyLiberalism (British)
Community politics[1]
Internationalism[2]
Mother partyEnglish Liberal Democrats
International affiliationInternational Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth (IFLRY)
European affiliationEuropean Liberal Youth (LYMEC)
UK affiliationYoung Liberals
WebsiteOfficial website

English Young Liberals has branches across England including various English universities, and seeks to promote the work and campaigning of Young Liberals as well as the English and Federal party. The wing works to encourage and support young candidates across England, and works with Federal YL and the main party to do this.[3] It is also a part of the Federal Young Liberals.

The English Young Liberals operates as a federation of regional parties, which each have a level of independence, though working within the overall English wing. Regional branches, lead by their Chair, are responsible for organising and supporting local branches and societies and co-ordinating activities to recruit and expand membership in their region[4]

The current Chair of English Young Liberals is William Tench.

Structure

The English Young Liberals Executive is made up of a Chair and Regional Chairs. The Vice Chair is elected from among the Executive. The current Executive was elected in October 2020 and took office on 1 January 2020.

Role Name
Chair William Tench
Vice Chair Fergus Ustianowski
Regional Chairs Devon & Cornwall Luke Jeffery
East Midlands Loukas Christou
East of England Kieron Franks
London Sam Cumber
North East Oliver Jones Lyons
North West Taylor Donoughue-Smith
South Central Julius Parker
South East Yan Malinowski
West Midlands Patrick Gilbert
Western Counties Fergus Ustianowski
Yorkshire and the Humber Adam Belcher
Also Attending Executive Federal Accessibility, Diversity and Standards Officer Katharine Macy
Federal BAME Officer Jessica Lee
Federal co-Membership and Branch Development Officer Elizabeth Bernard

English Council

The English Young Liberals also elects five members to send to the English Liberal Democrats English Council, which is the sovereign body of the English Party, in addition to the Chair who attends in their own right.

History

List of former Chairs

Name Term in Office Notes
Young Liberals English Chair William Tench 2020 - present Interim Chair from 1st November 2020; full term began on 1st January 2021.
Jack Worrall 2019 - 2020 Second term ended on 31st October 2020 due to becoming Federal Young Liberals Chair
Ems Simpson 2018
Erin Yarrow 2017
Liberal Youth English Chair Declan Stones 2016 Elected in by-election
Isabelle Cherry (Acting) 2016 Acting chair following resignation of Sophie Thornton, until byelection in September 2016
Sophie Thornton 2016 Resigned June 2016
Conor McKenzie 2015 From 1 January 2015 onwards, term dates followed calendar year and role was renamed to Chair.
Liberal Youth English Convenor Stuart Wheatcroft 2013 - 2014
Conor McKenzie 2012 - 2013
'Vacant' 2011 - 2012
Harry Mathews 2010 - 2011
Thomas Hemsley 2009 - 2010

Regions

Like the English Liberal Democrats, EYL is a federation of eleven regional branches. These branches have their own Chairs, who sit on the EYL Executive, are independence in their organising, events and campaigning. Each region has its own constitution and Executive.

Devon and Cornwall

There are six members of the Devon and Cornwall Young Liberal Executive - Chair, Campaigns Officer, Events Officer, Finance Officer and two Non Portfolio Officers. All but the Chair are co-opted. A Vice Chair is elected from among members of the Executive.

East Midlands

The East Midlands Young Liberals cover the counties of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Rutland and Northamptonshire. There are six members of the EMYL Executive - Chair, Finance Officer, Communications Officer, Campaigns Officer, Events Officer and the Chair of the EMYL Women's Network. Members of the East Midlands Constitution are co-opted, except the Chair who is directly elected. Young Liberal members of the East Midlands Lib Dem Executive and Chairs of accredited branches or University societies also attend the Executive.

East of England

The East of England Young Liberals cover the ceremonial counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. The are seven members of the East of England Regional Executive - four regional members and three members at large who are co-opted. The Chair is directly elected. The Chair may give Executive Members portfolios, one of which must be Vice Chair.

London

The London Young Liberals covers members across Greater London and the City of London. There are seven Executive members, who are co-opted, in addition to a directly elected Chair. The Chair may give Executive Members portfolios, one of which must be Vice Chair.

North East

The North East Executive is the oldest constituted Executive in the English Young Liberals. There are eight positions - Chair, Deputy Chair, Communications Officer, Campaigns Officer, Deputy Campaigns Officer, Events Officer, Finance and Fundraising Officer and Chair of the North East Young Liberals Women's Network. The Chair and Women's Network Chair are both directly elected, whilst the rest of the Executive is co-opted. Additionally, there are four Honorary Presidents who provide a link between the Young Liberals and the wider party.

North West

The North West Young Liberals cover the areas of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire. The North West is currently un-constituted.

South Central

The South Central Young Liberals represent Young Liberal members in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. In addition to the directly elected Chair, there is one ordinary executive member for each county, a Vice Chair and four diversity representatives who are elected by the regional annual general meeting. Members of the South Central Liberal Democrats Executive and a representative from each branch are also ex-officio members of the regional executive.

South East

The South East Young Liberals represent the areas of East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent and Surrey. With the exception of the directly elected Chair, all seven members - one from each county and three at large - of the South East Regional Executive are co-opted. The Chair may give Executive Members portfolios, one of which must be Vice Chair. The chair of each affiliated branch or university society are full voting members of the Executive, but may not hold portfolios.

Western Counties

The Western Counties Young Liberals represent Wiltshire, West of England Combined Authority, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Somerset. The make up of the regional executive is; the federally elected Chair, an internally elected Vice Chair, the five Branch Reps from all of the counties, an Access and Diversity Officer and two Non-Portfolio Officers.

West Midlands

Members of the West Midlands Executive are elected at the West Midlands Regional Annual General Meeting.


Yorkshire and the Humber

Members of the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Executive are co-opted. There are no fixed positions in Yorkshire and the Humber.


See also

References

  1. A challenge to Community Politics, Iain Roberts, 13 June 2011, Liberal Democrat Voice
  2. How Lib Dem members describe their political identity: ‘liberal’, ‘progressive’ and ‘social liberal’ top the bill, Stephen Tall, 30 April 2011, Liberal Democrat Voice
  3. Hussain, Tara (21 June 2018). "Tara Hussain on Future Women MPs Weekend". Liberal Democrat Expand. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. Samrai, Jasneet. "The South East region: Increasing youth membership is essential for political survival". Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
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