High Peak Liberal Democrats

First of all, though, I will take advantage of my position as Returning Officer to thank all the candidates for standing. There were a good number of them too, with many of the positions being contested. You normally have to use significant powers of persuasion to get candidates for treasurer of anything - yet Liberal Youth had three.

The lively campaign and the move to an easy-to-use online voting system has also increased turnout significantly. I have blotted out the frustrating hours when I couldn't get the Opavote system to accept the data, but that was more my fault than its, and I know exactly what to tell future Returning Officers to do. Other than that, it was very easy for me to set up and, I understand, for the voters to use.

Liberal Youth have won many new friends this year with its GoldGuard campaigning initiative and its constant EastLY presence. It can look forward with confidence to the undoubted challenges of next year. During this Executive's term of office, which lasts 15 months, the first major election will take place in which 16 and 17 year olds can vote, the Scottish Independence referendum.

So, without further ado, here is the whole Liberal Youth team which takes office on 1 July.

Chair: Sarah Harding

Vice Chair: Hannah Thompson

Campaigns Officer: Robin Rea

Communications Officer: Steve Haynes

Membership Development Officer: Matt Downey

Finance Officer: James King and Robin McGhee (just wait till they see the RO's expense account. The wine bill alone….)

Events Officer: Conor McKenzie

Policy Officer: Morgan Griffith-David - Nottingham

International Officer: Ab Brightman

Policy Committee: John Ashton, Euan Davidson, Conor McKenzie, Tim Oliver

International Committee: Hannah Bettsworth, Lucy Browett, Katie Wetherall, Maria Wilder

Non Portfolio Officers: Andrew Emmerson and Linden Parker

Conference Committee: David Evans and Linden Parker plus 2 vacancies

England Convener: Stuart Wheatcroft

English Council Representative: Matthew Holden (Gedling) plus 6 vacancies

London Chair: Craig O'Donnell and Syed Imam

NW Regional Chair: Daniel Lewis

Western Counties Regional Chair: Joshua Godfrey

East of England Chair: Kevin McNamara

West Midlands Chair: Ellis Palmer

Yorkshire & Humber Chair: Lance Idiabor-Moses

Devon & Cornwall Chair: Alexander Whattam

East Midlands Chair: Tom Polak - Nottingham

South East Chair: Tallulah Frankland

South Central Chair: Vacant

North East Chair: Vacant

You can keep up with Liberal Youth and their activities on their website, on their blog, The Libertine and follow them on Twitter.

* Caron Lindsay is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings