Liberal Youth: Returning Officer as performance artist

Whilst John Dixon has reported on the unexpected 'excitement' of Saturday at the Liberal Youth conference, my role at the event today was somewhat different in tone.

I was recently appointed as Returning Officer to Liberal Youth, and this was my first turn of duty. I wanted to impress, so I brought my own ballot box (yes, I know...) and, on arrival, I was presented with a package consisting of ballot papers, a numbering stamp, some blank slips and a hole punch (very professional, I must say).

I was in a good mood, so I decided to put on a show. An animated account of the vote for the new Honorary Vice-Presidents, with tales of transfers and philosophical debates that didn't matter was my contribution before lunch.

After lunch, I was called into action again to run an impromptu contest for the endorsement as Liberal Democrat candidate for the forthcoming NUS election. As a gesture towards transparency, I counted the ballot papers in front of the whole conference. Ben Mathis 'called me' on the arithmetic so we had an audience participation recount before I declared the result.

It was great fun, and I look forward to working with Liberal Youth at their Spring Conference next year...