Oxford University Liberal Democrats
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Oxford University Liberal Democrats (OULD) is the student branch of the Liberal Democrats for students at both the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University. It is the successor to the Oxford Student Liberal Society — itself the successor to both Oxford University Liberal Club and Oxford University Social Democrats, which voted to merge early in 1987, about a year in advance of the national parties. As the OU Liberal Club was founded in 1913, OULD is amongst the oldest political clubs at British universities.
Its members are active in local campaigns, especially in parliamentary elections. Towards the late twentieth century, Oxford West and Abingdon was a Conservative-Liberal Democrat marginal, but since the election of Dr Evan Harris in 1997, it has consistently sent a Lib Dem MP to Westminster. At the 2005 general election, there was an 11.2% swing towards the Lib Dems in Oxford East, which had traditionally been a safe Labour seat. The margin of victory for Andrew Smith in 2005 was 963 votes - a 90% decrease from 2001.
The society organises social events each term, and attracts well-known Liberal Democrat speakers to address its members. Recent visitors have included Nick Clegg, Chris Huhne, Lynne Featherstone, Lord Razzall, and Lord McNally. The society also organises policy debates and forums with other political societies in Oxford.
[edit] Alumni
Some former members of Oxford University Liberal Democrats, Oxford University Social Democrats and Oxford University Liberal Club have gone on to have successful political careers, including:
- Danny Alexander, Lib Dem MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey since 2005
- Clement Attlee, later Labour Prime Minister, 1945-1951
- Alan Beith, Lib Dem MP for Berwick upon Tweed since 1973
- Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan, 1988-1990
- Ed Davey, Lib Dem MP for Kingston and Surbiton since 1997
- Robin Day, television interviewer and political broadcaster
- Dingle Foot, Liberal MP for Dundee, 1931-1945, and Labour MP for Ipswich, 1951-1970
- Andrew George, Lib Dem MP for St Ives since 1997
- Jo Grimond, Liberal MP for Orkney and Shetland and Leader of the Liberal Party, 1956-1967
- Evan Harris, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon since 1997
- David Heath, Lib Dem MP for Somerton and Frome since 1997
- John Hemming, Lib Dem MP for Birmingham Yardley since 2005
- Martin Horwood, Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham since 2005
- Susan Kramer, Lib Dem 2000 London mayoral candidate and MP for Richmond Park since 2005
- Eric Lubbock, winner of the Orpington by-election, and Liberal MP, 1962-1970
- Lord Razzall, Lib Dem campaign strategist
- Matthew Taylor, Lib Dem MP for Truro and St Austell since 1987
- Jeremy Thorpe, Liberal Club President in 1950, Liberal MP for North Devon 1959-1979, and Leader of the Liberal Party, 1967-1976
- Steve Webb, Lib Dem MP for Northavon since 1997
- Harold Wilson, later the Labour Prime Minister, 1964-1970 and 1974-1976
The society's Patron is Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West & Abingdon, and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for science.
[edit] Current committee
| Office | Office holder | College |
|---|---|---|
| President | Martin Nelson | Lady Margaret Hall |
| President-Elect | Jonny Medland | Queen's |
| Treasurer | Laith Dilaimi | Magdalen College |
| Secretary | Mark Mills | St. Edmund Hall |
| Press and Publicity Officer | Sean McMahon | St. Edmund Hall |
| Social Secretary | Grace Weaver | Corpus Christi College |
| Campaigns Officer | James Schneider | Trinity |
[edit] Recent Presidents of OULD
- Joe Ammoun (Hilary 2008)
- Katherine Wall (Michaelmas 2007)
- Alex Worsnip (Trinity 2007)
- Christopher Stanley (Hilary 2007)
- Julian Naden-Robinson (Michaelmas 2006)
- John Colgan (Trinity 2006)
- Sam Rowlands (Hilary 2006)
- Joe Chick (Michaelmas 2005)
- Frederik Herzberg (Trinity 2005)
- Kate Mieske (Hilary 2005)
- Jon Bochenski (Michaelmas 2004)
- Tom Lavercombe (Trinity 2004)
- Steve Harper (Hilary 2004)
- 2003 Chris Williams, Som; Tom Wainwright, StJ; Dave White, Wad
- 2002 Philip Thompson, Bal; Chris Hanretty, StA; Louise Radnovsky, Univ
- 2001 Sonia Sodha, SHI; Adam Killeya, Bal; Robin Gray, StB
- 2000 Nicholas Graham, ChCh/Jennifer Joslin, ChCh; Laura Davies, Keb; Daniel Griliopoulos, Mag
- 1999 Jane Blumer, SHI; Nina Percival; Wad; Lucinda Johnson, SHI
- 1998 Philip Reicherstorfer, Mfd; Alison Hughes, Som; Kate Treleaven, Ext
- 1997 James Chard, LMH; Andrew Hazlewood, LMH; Neil Carberry, LMH
- 1996 Roger Crouch, StH; Senay Boztas, Ext; Tim Ward, Univ
- 1995 Elizabeth Truss, Mer; Alan Renwick, Mer; Nick John, Univ
