MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY REPORT 2020

Hello Everyone.

Understandably, 2020 has been a difficult year for maintaining momentum in social contact.

By contrast, last year was a success with a Safari Dinner, an Open Garden event as well as a dinner with Stephen Lloyd. Of course, the last AGM was followed by lunch at the Royal Victoria Hotel with guest speaker Baroness Olly Grender.

Member numbers have fluctuated with significant gains following the 2019 May local council election successes and again following the European election. A new leader, our unambiguous pro-European stance all contrasted with Labour's position and attracted local Labour supporters to us.

Since the December 2019 general election membership numbers have declined as gains from Labour returned to the fold with Keir Starmer's election to Party Leader. This is in line with a decline in membership numbers nationally.

Encouragingly, supporter numbers have been stable.

I would like to thank Katy Hunter-Burbridge (who can't be with us tonight) for her hard work in sharing the membership development officer duties and being the human interface with members.

We look forward to better times in 2021 with everyone being free to get out and about, keeping more in touch with our members and supporters and seeking out some new ones.

Best wishes,

Emlyn Jones

Membership