Writing a clear complaint

The people deciding your complaint are volunteers who start knowing nothing about it. A clear complaint is easier to decide fairly and quickly.

One allegation, one thing that happened

Each allegation should describe one thing the member did. If several things happened, make each a separate allegation.

Hard to decide

“Jo has been awful to everyone in the local party for years and it needs to stop.”

Clear

“At the Anytown executive meeting on 4 March 2026, Jo Bloggs called the treasurer ‘useless’ and ‘a liability’ in front of about twelve people, and said she should resign. Sam Smith and Alex Jones were there.”

Say who, what, when and where

Who: the member, and anyone who saw or heard it.
What: what they said or did, as exactly as you can. Quote words if you remember them.
When: the date, or as close as you can get.
Where: a meeting, an event, a message thread, a post.

Describe, then explain

Describe what happened before saying what you think of it. “He shouted at me and blocked the doorway” is more useful than “he was intimidating”, and lets the Panel reach that view themselves.

Evidence

Screenshots of messages or posts, showing the date and who sent them.
Emails, with the full thread.
Names of people who saw or heard it. They may be contacted.
Notes you made at the time.

Keep the originals. The Standards Office will tell you how to send evidence after you submit.

What does not help

Opinions about the member’s character in general.
Disagreement with a political position or a decision properly taken.
Things you heard second-hand, unless you say so and name the source.

Questions to standardsofficer@libdems.org.uk · Make a complaint