Royal Liver Group

In July 1887, 100 members were elected to become the first Delegates of the Society under its new system of governance. Their tenure of Office was, however, short-lived as under the 1886 Rules, Delegates were not eligible for re-election at the end of their one year term of Office. As a consequence, those 100 Delegates had to relinquish their seats in 1888.

The problems arising from the replacement of the entire Delegation every year can only be imagined since, the following year, the Rules were amended to allow Delegates to be re-elected.

This facilitated continuity and a degree of stability in the position of Delegate.

Although the Rule amendment in 1889 made it possible for the original 100 Delegates to re-enter the Delegation, only 40 achieved this. It would appear that the remaining 60 either did not wish to re-enter or were unable to unseat those who had succeeded them in the elections of 1888.

Currently, there are around 200 Delegates representing the Society's Members and they are split into 12 Electoral Areas within the UK and ROI in proportion to the numbers of policies in force in those particular Areas (by reference to postcode groupings in the UK and County Boundaries in the ROI).

Delegates are elected to office for a term of 6 years and are able to seek re-election provided that they are able to fulfil the eligibility criteria set out in the Society’s Rules in both instances. Delegates may be opposed for their seat by any other Member of the Society as long as they fulfil the same criteria.