Mark Pack

I am an author and have been serving as the President of the Liberal Democrats since January 2020. My published works include titles like "Polling UnPacked: The History, Uses and Abuses of Political Opinion Polls," "101 Ways To Win An Election," and "Bad News: What the Headlines Don’t Tell Us." Additionally, I host the podcast "Never Mind The Bar Charts." From 2000 to 2009, I worked with the Liberal Democrats, where I held the role of Head of Innovations and managed the party’s digital and data efforts during the 2001 and 2005 general elections. In 2015, I collaborated with David Howarth to produce an important pamphlet outlining the party’s strategy: "The 20% Strategy: Building a Core Vote for the Liberal Democrats." I also played a key role in founding and later co-editing Liberal Democrat Voice, and I currently serve as the editor of Liberal Democrat Newswire, a monthly newsletter dedicated to providing updates about the Liberal Democrats.

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Conservative councillor joins Lib Dems in the Midlands

4 days ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

Councillor Emma Sims (Broadway, Sedgeberrow & Childswickham ward, Wychavon Council) has left the Conservatives and joined the Liberal Democrats. Worcester News reports:She takes the number of Liberal Democrat councillors on the council up to eight. “The key reason for me leaving the Conservative Party is the absolute lack of any policies that are important to helping residents and communities in these challenging times,” said Cllr Sims.
It's the Lib Dems who beat Reform, again, in council by-elections

1 week ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

Four principal authority council by-elections this week. Three have a Lib Dem candidate, which is one up on the previous time these seats were up.
Mark Broadhurst: Reform UK sheds another councillor

1 week ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

During the local election campaign I highlighted the extreme and unpleasant comments on social media by Mark Broadhurst, Reform candidate for Hatfield ward, Doncaster. Reform did not take any action back then and he was elected in the interim. But now the BBC reports:A city councillor in Doncaster has been expelled from Reform UK over historic social media posts deemed “unacceptable” by party leaders.
How MI6 tried to recruit Ed Davey (LDN#197)

1 week ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

Liberal Democrat Newswire #197 came out over the bank holiday and you can now also read it in full below. But if you’d like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, just sign up now: Welcome to Lib Dem Newswire #197 and before we get stuck into this edition, congratulations to our councillors newly elected since last time, along with their agents: Mark Harding, Lisa Webster, John Shepherd, Louise Potter, Tim Martland, Darren Gratton and Michael Skelton.
Donations to Candidates at Election Time: A Hidden Source of Mass Party Funding?

2 weeks ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

That is the title of a new piece of research out from academic Chris Butler and myself, looking at how people can donate directly to election candidates and so avoid much of the scrutiny that should apply to donors:The UK generally has a relatively transparent political finance regime, with donations to political parties being published quarterly, and more regularly during general election periods.
A trio of Lib Dem wins in council by-elections

2 weeks ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

There were three principal authority council by-elections this week, all Liberal Democrat defences and all resulting in a Lib Dem win. Carshalton South & Clockhouse (Sutton) Council By-Election Result:čöÂ LDM: 52.2% (+12.1)čî│ CON: 23.9% (-18.2)Ô×í´ŞĆ RFM: 17.9% (New)čî╣ LAB: 2.8% (-5.4)čîŹ GRN: 2.5% (-7.1)ÔťŁ´ŞĆ CPA: 0.7% (New)Liberal Democrat HOLD. Changes w/ 2022.
Lessons from the Lords #2: how to spend £19m badly, without anyone complaining

2 weeks ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

Welcome to the second of what may turn out to be, in decreasing order of likelihood, an occasional set of blog posts, the start of a regular series of blog posts, the birth of a new email list or the emerging first draft of my next book: some first impressions from the House of Lords, which I joined in February 2025. We have an abundance of governments unveiling drives to get the most out of public expenditure.
Labour deputy group leader Tina Bhartwas joins Lib Dems

2 weeks ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

Cllr Tina Bhartwas, previously deputy leader of the Labour group on Hertfordshire County Council, has joined the Liberal Democrats. The Bishop’s Stortford Independent reports:Cllr Bhartwas blamed a growing discomfort with some national Labour policies for her decision and said it was something she had been considering “for some time”.
Lib Dem candidate numbers continue to spread in council by-elections

3 weeks ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

Four principal authority council by-elections this week. They featured three Liberal Democrat candidates, which is two up on the last time these wards were up – a welcome continuation of the improvement in candidate numbers we saw in the May elections. This and the previous nearly identical ward have not had a Lib Dem candidate since 2015. Philip Matthew was the Lib Dem candidate; thank you. Thanks are due to Luigi Bille for getting the Lib Dems on the ballot here after the previous no show.
Reform puts up 4 candidates for 2 seats, but only 1 withdraws

3 weeks ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

A bit of variety from all the stories of Reform UK shedding councillors as this time it is a story about Reform having too many council candidates. The election for two councillors in Higham Ferrers ward, North Northamptonshire was scheduled for the start of May. But it got postponed due to the death of a Liberal Democrat candidate, John Ratcliffe. The new contest, with a new set of nominations, will be on 12 June.