The Executive Committee report on activity for the year 2025/2026

including:

1. Alerting members to changes within the Party that may affect them whether as aspiring, approved or selected candidates. In particular alerting members through our newsletters to when selections are taking place.

2. Ensuring the PCA has an Exhibition Stand throughout both Spring and Autumn

Conferences so that we can provide face to face advice to both approved candidates and those seeking to get approved.

3. Arranging events at the House of Commons so that candidates standing in nontarget and target seats get the opportunity to go to the House of Commons and to hear from several of our MPs including leading spokespeople such as Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP, President Josh Barbarinde MP and many others.

4. Considering Motions that are brought forward to Conference and putting in Speakers Cards on any likely to impact candidates and our members

5. Attending Party meetings so that the point of view of Parliamentary Candidates is taken into account in decisions that affect the Party and its candidates.

6. Working extremely closely with the Candidates Office team so as to minimise delays in the approval and selection processes and support those going through the processes so that our campaigning time in the constituencies is maximised before the next General Election.

In the past year we have had a PCA stand at both the Spring Conference in York and at the Autumn Conference in Brighton. Both stalls were kept really busy throughout the Conferences, especially in Brighton this September where throughout conference we received constant questions about approval and selection from very many people interested in standing and/or going through the processes. It was great to feel such enthusiasm and we are grateful that several members of the Executive were available to be on the PCA stand throughout providing advice and support to members and others coming to our stalls.

Spring Conference Fringe Event with Daisy Cooper MP, Josh Babarinde

MP and Maria Goldman MP:

At Spring Conference in March 2026 we held a Fringe Event for our members that was very well attended. The event was an opportunity for two people who had been Lib Dem candidates in “no-hope” Parliamentary by-elections to outline what that experience was like.

Paul Duffy spoke of his time as candidate in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in May 2025, and Jackie Pearcey spoke of her experience in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February 2026. We also had contributions from our President Josh Babarinde MP, from Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP and from Marie Goldman MP sharing their invaluable experiences with candidates in how to develop a winning seat.

Paul, Jackie and Josh . Spring Fringe House of Commons Committee Room

May 2026 - House of Commons Update for Members:

In May 2026 we held a very special event for our members at the House of Commons. We were delighted to welcome more than 40 PCA members who came mid-week to a Committee Room to listen to updates from Josh Babarinde MP, Daisy Cooper MP, Victoria Collins MP, Marie Goldman MP and Caroline Voaden MP. Former member of the PCA Executive Luke Taylor MP kindly hosted the event. For many of our members this was a rare opportunity to experience coming to the House of Commons and attending a meeting in a Committee Room. Each of the speakers gave a very different and personal perspective on their route to becoming a Lib Dem MP.

Coming to an event at the House of Commons is truly an experience not to be missed and the PCA plans to continue to provide more of these opportunities going forward – watch this space!