Bones - let's stop messing about and get on with it

Many thanks indeed to Ryan Cullen for whipping up a link to the Bones Comission Report pdf.

Thank goodness this report, albeit a summary, has now been released. It really is a classic lesson. The more information you release and the earlier you release it, the less furore/conspiracy theories whip up.

Generally the report is written in sensible terms and I agree with the overall proposition: that professional managers should manage and democratically elected people should set direction and question execution at appropriate intervals. Think of a school governing body. It's exactly the same. The headteacher does the business day-to-day. The governors set direction and question occasionally.

I also agree that it is a bit ridiculous that only 10% of the party's budget is controlled at federal level.

By the way, I like the way that this report is very much geared towards doubling our MPs. I note also that there are some interesting rumbles in it about "wholesale constitutional overhaul". Although it says that this can't be done two years before an election, it appears to leave hanging in the air the question as to whether this is needed - with the apparent implication that it is. That should lead to some interesting debates!

Realign regional parties to fit European constituencies. A brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of that? (Or anyone else for that matter?...they probably did somewhere in the debates on this subject. I remember the protracted heart-searching about the future of the former Chilterns region, for example). It would nice to give the European constituencies some sort of relevance other than for every five years.

Radically, the report recommends doubling the size of the campaigns department! Wonderful! Got for it!

I see that there are comments that we do not extract best value from our parliamentary staff. I can quite believe that, given that they are employed by many separate MPs of differing levels of management skill.

A radical overhaul of fundraising is recommended. Excellent.

The idea of emphasising specific "packages" for donors to support is excellent.

I am glad that the report emphasises the need to uphold the highest standards in public life.

The COG/management board seems to me to be entirely proper and required. Let's stop messing about and get on with it.

I am all for the suggestions to treat our members better. I used to push the idea of monthly contact with members via handing them their latest Focus or whatever. A few words go a long way.

Embracing the supporter network (in addition to the member network) is absolutely right.

Thanking and rewarding members and supporters?! Crikey! Just what I used to harp on about when I was a membership secretary!

Create a Techonology Board? Excellent idea!

Organise bloggers and commenters? Superb.

"...ensure that...all elected Liberal Democrats tithe to the party...". Quite biblical that and something I entirely applaud.

New forms of communication to attack the general election after next. Excellent.

A £10K "diversity premium" for seats which select a BME candidate. Excellent.

There followed a whole series of reasonable and exciting ideas.

What holds us back is not our policies, nor our values. It is our structures, our culture and our decision-making processes.

I agree with that and the whole report. Now let's get on with it and here is some light relief: