How Herefordshire Lib Dems Fielded 53 Candidates and Grew Stronger
I’ve been a Liberal Democrat since I was 14 and have spent many years involved in candidate approval, selection, and campaigning. One thing has always frustrated me: turning up at the ballot box and not seeing a Liberal Democrat on the ballot paper.
It’s not just about that one election – the absence of a Lib Dem candidate sends a long-lasting message. It signals that it’s acceptable to vote for someone else, and worse, that we’ve given up. We can’t afford to let that happen.
So when I moved to Herefordshire, a place where the Lib Dems once held the MP and ran the council, I was determined to make sure we stood a candidate in every ward. The local party agreed – and we made it happen. We fielded a full slate of 53 candidates. That decision sent a strong message that we were back – and serious about winning.
The results spoke for themselves. We achieved a 14% swing and are now the Official opposition on Herefordshire Council. Our goal for 2027: an active local candidate in every ward.
How Did We Do It?
We started by mapping out all 53 wards:
- Returning councillors were slotted in first.
- Then came previous candidates and those who had expressed interest (a small but important group).
- The largest source, though, came from the community.
We reached out to people we’d worked with: the bookshop owner, the local chippy, the traffic warden, a retired nurse, a vicar new to the area, and even a former council officer turned IT professional. They weren’t all members (yet!) – but they cared about their communities and wanted to help.
No one was struck off that list unless they gave a firm “no” – and even then, they often stayed as a “maybe”!
Finally, we turned to our membership. They’d already had two emails explaining why a full slate mattered. For those worried about “accidentally winning,” we reassured them – this was about visibility, not victory (yet!). A few brave volunteers helped us fill the final spots.
Everyone went through approval, and we selected our target seats by December. That early organisation meant we could campaign properly, grow as a team, and build momentum.
Please use ALDC’s Approval and Selection Toolkit to guide you through that process.
Top Tip:
Under the current rules in England, nomination papers now only need a proposer and seconder. If the candidate lives in the ward, they can sign their own form (though it’s always best to find two other nominators). That’s one less barrier to standing.
💬 Thinking of aiming for a full slate in your area?
It’s absolutely achievable – and the impact is huge. Whether you win or not, voters know the Liberal Democrats are serious and committed. That alone changes the conversation on the doorstep.
Let’s make sure every voter has a Liberal Democrat to vote for in 2026.