The English Party Assembly

The English Party Assembly is the Primary Governing Body for The Liberal Democrats in England and its members. In the Party structure, it sits below Federal Conference and above the English Party Board. It is responsible for all major constitutional and rule changes affecting the membership.

The English Party Assembly exists to pool the resources of the 11 English Regional Parties and the English Young Liberals where appropriate in order to maximise their effectiveness, secure good practice throughout the Party in England and reduce wasteful duplication.

The English Party Assembly meets at least once a year. One such meeting shall constitute the Annual General Meeting of the Liberal Democrats in England to which an annual report and the accounts of the Liberal Democrats in England shall be presented

Article 5.4 of the English Party Constitution states:

The Chair (of the English Party Assembly) shall be:

(a)  directly elected by members of the Party in England for a period of three years, except that the first election in 2026 shall be for a term of office covering the period from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028

(b)  eligible for re-election, save that he or she shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms;

(c)  a member of the Federal Board as per Article 9 of the Federal Constitution, save that he or she may appoint a substitute in relation to a particular meeting of the Federal Board that he or she is unable to attend

(d)  the Chair of the English Liberal Democrats in accordance with Article 20 of the Federal Party Constitution,

The Chair of the English Party Assembly is directly elected by members of the Party in England for a period of three years. 

Baroness Caroline Pidgeon is the current Chair. Elections will be held in autumn 2026 where a new Chair will be elected for the remainder of the term, until the end of 2028.