Clegg announces formation of party reform commission

4.40.38pm GMT Fri 11th Jan 2008

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today announced the formation of a new body to ensure he can meet his commitment to more than double the party's representation in Westminster within two General Elections.

The Party Reform Commission, which was jointly commissioned by Nick Clegg, Party President Simon Hughes and Chief Executive Lord (Chris) Rennard, will carry out a root and branch review of the party.

The commission will be led by Chris Bones, Principal of Henley Management College.

The commission has a wide-ranging remit to look at all aspects of party organisation from structure to campaign capability. It will take evidence from a number of current and former parliamentarians and party staff, including all four previous party leaders. Its final report will be issued in May. More details of the commission's work, including its terms of reference and requests for views, are here.

Nick Clegg has also announced four key appointments to take charge of the party's campaigning. They are:

Chris Rennard, Chair of the General Election Campaign

Andrew Stunell MP, Chair of Local Elections

Willie Rennie MP, as Chair of Parliamentary Campaigns

Ed Davey MP, Chair of Campaigns and Communications Committee

Former Managing Director of Saatchi and Saatchi UK, John Sharkey, has also been named as the Leader's Adviser on Strategic Communications.

Commenting, Nick Clegg said:

"The Party Reform Commission is critical in ensuring that we make the best electoral impact over the coming years.

"I am determined that this root and branch review should take us towards meeting my commitment of at least doubling our number of seats within two elections.

"Chris Bones is highly respected and has a proven track record in organisational change management.

"I am delighted to announce these campaigning posts to focus our efforts away from Westminster and ensure that we are tackling the issues that people across the country care about."

Notes:

Chris Bones was appointed Principal of Henley Management College on 1st January 2005. Chris was previously Group Organisation Effectiveness and Development Director for Cadbury Schweppes, who he joined in 1999, taking responsibility for Executive Education and Development Culture, Communications, Change, Knowledge Management and Capability Development. In his 22 years in business Chris has worked for Shell, Diageo (both in GrandMet and Guinness) and Cadbury Schweppes. He started in industrial relations, working on the UK's largest oil refinery and progressing through management teams in brewing, retailing and property to Board roles covering Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. He has significant international business experience and a reputation as a leading practitioner in executive education and development, change and HR strategy. Chris writes a regular column for HR magazine and is a highly regarded speaker at international conferences on change, HR strategy and employment branding. He is a Board member of the Skills for Government, the sector skills council for the Civil Service and an Independent Non Executive Director of the Agricultural and Horticultural Levy Board.

John Sharkey is a Non-Executive Chairman of Ad-Air plc, an international airport outdoor advertising company, and Chairman of Sharkey Associates Ltd, a management consultancy chiefly engaged in communications and policy issues. He is a founder shareholder in Dorkheim Ltd, a new media company and Honorary Treasurer of The Hansard Society. Formerly, he was joint MD of Saatchi & Saatchi UK, then the UK's largest, most profitable and most creative agency. He had special responsibilities for P&G, Margaret Thatcher's 1987 election ad campaign and the Turkish Government's preparation of the case for entry into the EU.