About Liberal Left
Chair: Linda Jack
Linda Jack is a well known figure in the Liberal Democrats, both as a policymaker at national level and as a grassroots activist. She is currently a member of the partys Federal Policy Commitee and stood for Parliament at the last two elections (Luton North in 2005 and Mid Beds in 2010). In the 2009 European elections, she was number two on the East of England list. Between 2002 and 2007 she was a councillor on Bedford Borough Council. Beyond the party, Linda was until recently Youth Policy Adviser at the Money Advice Service. A former analyst in special intelligence (H.M. Forces), teacher and youth worker, Linda also has a strong record of service in trades union. She is a former chair of Unisons national Youth and Community Workers Forum and was the unions Branch Secretary at Beds County Council.
Vice-Chair (Strategy): Cllr Ron Beadle
A founder member of the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Ron Beadle has represented Low Fell Ward on Gateshead MBC since 1996. He was a target seat Parliamentary Candidate in 2010 for Newcastle North, having fought the seat in 2005. Ron has held a large number of positions in the party including Chair of the Northern Region Liberal Democrats (2001-2004) and Campaign Manager for the North East Constituency in the 1999 European Election. He has written policy papers and articles for the Social Market Foundation and Liberator amongst others. Outside politics, Ron is an academic at Northumbria University where he specialises in Organization and Business Ethics.
Vice-Chair (Membership): Ruth Bright
Ruth Bright has been a Liberal Democrat member and activist for 26 years. Ruth graduated in Government from the LSE in 1992. She was a member of Southwark Council between 1994 and 2002 where she served as Lib Dem Deputy Leader and Spokesperson on Social Services and Health. She was Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Hampshire East in the 2005 General Election. Ruth has a professional background running services for people with dementia.
Publications Editor: Dr Jo Ingold
Jo Ingold joined the Liberal Democrats in 1998 and since then has been an active party member in the various locations in which she has lived. This has included standing as a candidate in Sheffield City Council elections, being an approved Parliamentary candidate and a member of the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Executive. Jo has previously worked in the voluntary sector and in central government. Jo has an academic background in social policy and is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds with specialisms in the policy process and in welfare to work policy. She lives in Leeds with her husband and young son.
Treasurer: Cllr Stephen Knight
Stephen was elected in May 2012 as one of two Liberal Democrat Members of the London Assembly and speaks for the party on economic, environmental and health issues affecting the Capital. He also serves on the London Fire authority.
Stephen has also been an elected councillor for over 14 years, and is currently Leader of the 24-strong Liberal Democrat Group on the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Council. He was Deputy Leader of the Council between 2006 and 2010.
Stephen is the national spokesperson for Liberal Democrats in local government on workforce issues, as the party’s lead member and Vice Chair of the Local Government Association’s Workforce Board. He is also Vice Chair of the National Employers Organisation for School Teachers.
Stephen has been an active Liberal Democrat for over 23 years and was the first Lib Dem elected President of the Students’ Union at Southampton University in 1992. He later worked for London Councils (formerly Association of London Government) as a political adviser to senior London Liberal Democrat councillors. He has been chair of governors of St Mary’s & St Peter’s Primary School in Teddington for more than a decade.
External Liaison: Simon Hebditch
Simon is a longstanding Liberal Democrat activist and is a member of the Council of the Social Liberal Forum. He was one of the original founders of Liberator and is currently a member of Dulwich and West Norwood local party. Beyond the party, he is a member of the Compass Management Committee. Between 2000 and 2005 he was also a member of a Progressive Foreign Policy Forum, bringing together people from across the centre-left on foreign policy issues. Professionally, Simon has held senior positions with a wide variety of voluntary and community organisations. He was Director of External Affairs and Policy Development at the Charities Aid Foundation in 1994 to 2006, prior to whcih he was Assistant Director (Policy and Researhc) at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) in 1987-94. Previous roles included work at MIND, Age Concern England and Bradford Metropolitan Council for Voluntary Service. Simon currently works as an independent consultant.
Advisory Board Members
Prof Stephen Haseler Founder of the Social Democratic Alliance and a founder member of the Social Democratic Party. Now Professor of Government at London Metropolitan University and Director of the Global Policy Institute
Pauline Jenkins 2010 Parliamentary Candidate in Newark, a former councillor on both Southwell Town Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council, and a member of the Women Liberal Democrats Executive from 2005 to 2011.
Margaret Phelps A former teacher and Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate in Cynon Valley (2005) and Witham (2010).
Ed Randall Liberal/SDP Alliance, then Liberal Democrat, Councillor in the London Borough of Greenwich, 1982-98, and now Senior Lecturer in Politics and Social Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Cllr Nader Fekri
A Labour Councillor on Calderdale MBC. He was formerly a member of the Liberal Democrats, serving as Calderdales Mayor, Parliamentary Candidate for Keighley in 2005 and 2010, a European Parliamentary Candidate in 2009 for the Yorkshire and the Humber region, and Vice-Chair of Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats.
Nick Rijke Former senior manager at the Environment Agency, former head of the Liberal Democrat Unit at the Local Government Association, and 2001 Parliamentary Candidate for St Albans.
Baroness (Jenny) Tonge As Dr Jenny Tonge, a General Practioner, and later Senior Medical Officer in Womens Services and manager of Community Health Services, both in Ealing. Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, 1997-2005.
Cllr Lester Holloway Journalist and communications manager and former editor of the New Nation weekly newspaper. Previously worked for cross-party campaign group Operation Black Vote. Councillor in Sutton (Surrey).
Cllr Mathew Hulbert Liberal Democrat Councillor on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Barwell Parish Council in Leicestershire. Chair of the East Midlands Social Liberal Forum. Liberal Lefts East Midlands Co-Ordinator and Press Contact.
