Jonathan Copus

Why am I a member of the Liberal Democrats? Why do fish swim? The Lib Dems are my natural environment: they happen to stand for most of my core values, adding up to a just and caring society hallmarked by freedom, fairness and fellowship. Since I joined the Party my respect has increased for its commitment to democracy, both internal and by way of a more equitable voting system for the UK. Its unwavering internationalism in the face of senseless, post-colonial tristesse is another strong incentive to remain loyal to it and to its sister parties worldwide. All this has confirmed my conviction that the Lib Dems and all that they stand for constitute the only real prospect of a strong Britain within a strong Europe.

I also have particular respect for the Leader of the Welsh Party, and wholeheartedly support her three priorities: the NHS (especially its disappearing dental services), the provision of child care, and care for the environment.

‘Running’ sounds a bit authoritarian: I prefer to think in terms of ‘serving’ – a principle which in my view ought to be foremost in the mind of anyone seeking public office, within the Party or more widely.

Having said that, I have been in a position of leadership – albeit sometimes not very exalted – all my working life, and feel I can make those leadership skills available to the Party.

In particular, I have been heavily involved in broadcasting and journalism in a variety of roles for a good many years. From 1973 until 1986 I was a BBC Staff Producer, working largely in Local Radio (because I believe in staying close to the local community) in a number of areas, ending up editing a daily current affairs programme and then progressing to straight news. On the way I took in some television in London (where I turned down a substantial job three times because of my commitment to local affairs) and was the co-author and co-tutor of the BBC’s first direct-intake course for local radio journalists. I was head-hunted by a company producing audio books, where I produced many of the top film and television stars of the day.

After that, I formed Immedia Television and Radio Services, under whose banner I and my team of prominent broadcasters spent many years training leaders of industry and senior officers of the armed forces in media interview techniques.

Turning to medical research I founded Dentron Ltd to market my inventions, which included most importantly the world’s first (and so far only) electronic ‘antibiotic’.

My wide experience has confirmed my belief that any organisation’s main asset is its members; and it is in this context that I seek to put such skills as I have in the service of the Lib Dems.

I refer the honourable reader to the answer given above.

In summary, I submit that my wide experience would prove useful to the Welsh Party, especially to the MDC, and particularly in the area of media and communications training.

It would be a shame, though, to think of me as solely a trainer in making the most of the media, even though I have written a book on exactly that subject.

I have also been an ordained Anglican priest for 50+ years, and so could bring my pastoral training, experience and instincts to the role. I do feel that this aspect of governance should be given due weight. Members need support in all their endeavours, whether they win elections or – perhaps even more importantly – if they strive and yet do not succeed. Then, support and encouragement are vital to maintain morale and momentum, and to form a springboard for future action.

I am also a member of the Federation of Small Businesses, having had experience of running three SMEs. Also, my Fellowship of the Institute of Patentees and inventors (I was Chair of the Education Committee) and my patents in electronics and microbiology have given me insights into various areas of scientific research. I am the joint author of a paper in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.

On the wider stage, it is a truism that a ‘nasty party’ does not easily enjoy public support; whereas a party with a reputation for caring (and after all, that’s what we’re basically about!) can hope to win backing. I have personal experience of this, not least when a woman who when canvassed declared stoutly that she was ‘not voting for you lot’ but who changed her mind completely when I showed an interest in her personal affairs. This was not a cynical attempt to gain votes: it was an expression of the sort of genuine concern which I submit we ought to take every opportunity to show, because at heart that’s what we stand for – a society where we care for and support each other.

What we propose in public we ought to practise in private.

If elected, I hope to enhance the CARE of Party members, whether in times of success or – more importantly – in times of apparent failure. I would aim to help improve even more the Welsh Party’s reputation for being full of ‘nice people’ – a term which I regard not as a vapid epithet but as a term denoting a positive attitude of mutual support, an internal example of the kind of understanding and caring society we are proposing to instigate throughout the UK.

I think Welsh people as a whole (if it’s reasonable to generalise) instinctively lean towards this kind of egalitarian and supportive community, and incomers from other parts of the UK (I’m from Scotland) stay because they become entranced and in a sense infected by it.

I also hope to help achieve a Party better equipped with communication skills, both in the media and within the Welsh Party. Federal communications are already in a high gear. Nationally, the excellent skills of the personnel involved are very evident, but there are gaps, due, no doubt, to lack of staff: there’s only so much even the best of us can achieve in 24 hours. So, if elected, I would hope to able to be contribute something in this area, under the direction of the individuals whom I know to be masters of their art but who I suspect would nevertheless welcome further support.

Finally, I would point to my expertise in the field on inventions and inventiveness. I am a Fellow of the Institute of Patentees and Inventors, and was for some years Chair of its Education Committee. To achieve even one patent (I have three) you have to battle with an adversarial examiner to prove that your idea is (among other things) completely novel and original worldwide (roughly how my university defines a DPhil or PhD). This process entails becoming familiar with a wide range of disciplines, in my case electronics, microbiology, medicine, dentistry and podiatry. You don’t have to be an expert in them all, of course; just to know enough about the relevant bit of each to be able to converse intelligently with the professionals.

The other abilities you need are business expertise (we took half a million quid from my inventions), negotiating skills, and to be able to motivate, manage and inspire people effectively.

These understandings form another part of the skill set which I would be able to bring to the role if elected.

Oh dear – this is becoming more and more like one of those application forms for a Small Firms’ Merit Award for Research and Technology (of which I have won seven, incidentally) where you have to find fourteen different ways of saying the same thing!

Basically, I have been in a position of managerial responsibility for most of my working life; I have specialist experience in media presentation, production and training in radio and television; I have written a main BBC course in journalism; I have been a priest for over 50 years and therefore have wide experience of pastoral responsibility, including counselling; I am a Fellow of the Institute of Patentees and Inventors and a former Chair of their Education Committee; I am also a member of the Federation of Small Businesses and am therefore familiar with the challenges of running an SME actually, three); my inventions have necessitated at least a brushing familiarity with disparate areas if science, so I know a bit about things like medicine and green energy; and above all I am a Liberal Democrat to the core and a former local Party Chair.

I leave it to you to choose the biggest of these ‘achievements’; but if I can bring any of them to the service – the service – of the wider Welsh Party, then please let me know.