The return of the Returning Officer...

Alright, I've had my refresher training, and am now able to be let loose on unsuspecting Local Parties once more. And, as there are so many more of you wanting to be Parliamentary candidates than there are wanting to be Returning Officers (and why is that?), I really ought to give you a flavour of what to expect.

No more nanny state

You will, henceforth, be under much less supervision as an applicant. You won't need the approval of the Returning Officer for your manifesto, your leaflets or your other campaigning material, online or otherwise. Instead, you will be responsible for ensuring your own compliance.

The revolution will no longer be organised on strict procedural lines

There will be greater freedom in terms of process. As long as the six key principles - fairness, accountability, robustness, inclusivity, democracy and manageability - are met, there will be scope to do things differently. The limits on campaigning will be relaxed - yes, you can use social media, yes, you will be able to include photographs with well-known people in them.

More flexibility, less cost

There is a new two tier approach, with a rigorous process for target seats but a more 'fast track' one for those 'less obviously winnable ones'. The latter will be cheaper - removing the requirement to place an full advert in Liberal Democrat News (although a brief slot in the classifieds column will still be required), and allowing other ways to advertise the vacancy. The timetable in such seats is significantly reduced too.

Diversity yes, but only where it really counts

We'll be less prescriptive on diversity issues for the less winnable seats because what really matters is getting better balance amongst our Parliamentarians, i.e. getting more women and minority ethnic candidates selected in target seats. The evidence is that diversity isn't a major problem is non-target seats anyway.

No more Returning Officers as paralegals

Hopefully, my job will no longer require forensic scrutiny of a complex rulebook, partly because the new version is half the size of the old one, but because it is a document based on fundamental principles, rather than on a fear that candidates need control. As someone who likes to think a little outside of the box, that pleases me, and gives me scope for a little experimentation.

And so, let the games begin... but only once I've got some spare time...