A night at the AGM

In truth, I haven’t really engaged with my current Local Party - Ipswich - as much as I perhaps have done in the past. I’ve attended the odd meeting, delivered leaflets when asked and vaguely offered my services as required. So far, so good, especially as my services haven’t been required.

But I do take an interest and, when I received an invitation to the Local Party Annual General Meeting, I checked my diary and concluded that I might turn up, if only to see what was happening.

Ipswich Liberal Democrats do remind me of many of the Local Parties that I’ve been involved with over the past forty years - enthusiastic, short of numbers and activists but dedicated to the cause. And, in a town which was historically a swing seat between Labour and the Conservatives, we’ve been rather squeezed, even at Borough level. Despite that, our presence in the leafy streets north of the town centre - St Margaret’s ward - has become something to rely upon in recent times.

Our outgoing Chair, Martin Pakes, outlined the activity in 2026, which had focused on the likely impact of Local Government Reorganisation which, after all the effort of Council officers and councillors, had then been suspended by the same Government that had pushed so hard for it in the first place. There was, it is fair to say, a degree of scepticism about what will happen next.

The finances were declared to be healthy, if not lavish, and elections to the incoming Executive Committee were held. Nobody tried to twist my arm to stand - which was strangely reassuring - and I didn’t feel any obligation to take any formal role, so I continue as “occasional third spear carrier” for now, at least.

That is kind of consistent with my current tendency to take on one-off tasks which allow me to be helpful but not committed. For, whilst I will probably be a Liberal Democrat until I die,  I’ve spent two-thirds of my life as a minor apparatchik of the Party, and perhaps it’s time for others to shine. Alternatively, perhaps I’m just jaded and need some time off. Either way, if I can’t fully commit to a role, I’d rather not do it badly or half-heartedly.

As I made my way out into the darkness at the end of the meeting though, Martin stopped me briefly and asked if I’d be available to deliver some leaflets. I think that I could manage that…