Council
The 2010/12 Unlock Democracy Council consists of:
- Vicky Seddon (Chair)
- Stuart Weir (Vice Chair - Policy)
- Phil Starr (Vice Chair - Rodell Properties)
- Andrew Blick
- Peter Davidson
- Alan Debenham
- Stuart Hill*
- Peter Hirst
- Linda Hoffman*
- Tamsin James
- Finola Kelly
- Susan Murray
- Mick Pitt
- Nan Sloane
- John Strafford
- Mark Valladares
* Stuart Hill and Linda Hoffman joined the council in September 2011 following the departure of Philip Latham and Amy Rodger.
Unlock Democracy's Management Board deals with the administrative and staffing functions of the organisation and is appointed by the Council from amongst its number. The Management Board for 20010/12 consists of:
- Vicky Seddon (Chair)
- Stuart Weir (Vice Chair - Policy)
- Phil Starr (Vice Chair - Rodell Properties)
- Peter Hirst
- Tamsin James
- Finola Kelly
- Nan Sloane
- Mark Valladares
Biographies and Contact Details
Vicky Seddon (Chair)
Vicky signed Charter 88 in 1992, and has been active ever since, on Council, and in her local, Sheffield, Group. Co-Chaired when Unlock Democracy was formed (she was a member of Charter and the New Politics Network). Heavily involved in the Yes Campaign in Yorkshire. She welcomes supporters from across the political spectrum
Email: vseddon@btinternet.com
Stuart Weir (Vice Chair)
Professor Stuart Weir is policy vice-chair of Unlock Democracy and he drafted Unlock Democracy's recent submission to the Bill of Rights Commission. While editor of the New Statesman, Stuart founded Charter 88, now incorporated in Unlock Democracy, and was director of Democratic Audit from 1991-2008. He is committed to a vision of a pluralist democracy governed by a written constitution and under the rule of law.
Email: s.p.weir@hotmail.com
Stuart Hill
Currently: Director of Equal Pay Action and independently-minded campaigning councillor on North Tyneside.
Previously: National Vice-President of union and member of TUC General Council Sub-Committee.
Address: 14 Park Drive, Forest Hall, Newcastle, NE12 9JP
Phone: 0191 266 2988 or 0797 0011 375
Email: stuart.hill4@gmail.com
Finola Kelly
Email: finola.kelly@yahoo.co.uk
John E. Strafford
John Strafford is the author of “Our Fight for Democracy” – a history of democracy in the United Kingdom.
Member of the Conservative Party’s National Union Executive Committee for nine years and three years on the Conservative Board of Finance.
Chairman of the Conservative Yes Campaign in the referendum on the Alternative Vote.
Email: johnstrafford@btinternet.com
Phone: 01494 730599
Mark Valladares
A Liberal Democrat and parish councillor, Mark has spent twenty-five years trying to find ways to encourage people to get involved in politics. He lives in Suffolk, blogs from the perspective of a rural bureaucrat, likes process and asks awkward questions as diplomatically as he can.
Email: markv233@aol.com
Blog: www.liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
Phone: 07912 620187
Address: Belmont Cottage, The Lane, Creeting St Peter, Suffolk IP6 8QR
Twitter: @honladymark