Sitting here on twitter watching the Lib Dem leadership debate wishing we spent more time fighting on the REAL issues? Stop wishing, start organising, and start with your local party. A thread

What does your council group look like? A bit like this? (from the National census of local authority councillors 2018)

Find someone in your local party who is bloody talented who doesn't fit that mould - I guarantee you’ll be spoilt for choice - and become their cheerleader. Compliment them in front of colleagues, go to their hustings, vote for them, bring a friend. Campaign however you can.

Grab a copy of your local Focus - where are the issues you want to fight on? Chat to local residents, understand what a better street/town/city/country/world looks like for them. Pick a manageable problem that's geting in the way of that, stick it in the Focus, solve it.

I promise you potholes & that politician in a different colour rosette you hate SO MUCH that you have a photo album dedicated to them on your laptop aren't the biggest problems in their lives right now. Tell two positive stories proving you're better for every attack piece.

Call out the dodgy stuff you witness (over email to your local party chair if you aren't the confrontational type) from colleagues. The dodgy characters in your local party rely on your silence to get away with it - so make some noise.

Make your local party a welcoming place for everyone. Be friendly to new members and old-timers alike. Make a habit of complimenting and thanking at least one person at every meeting. Listen when members say something isn't right.

Try the rosette test: If someone in a different colour rosette said, did, (or didn't do) what you just witnessed would you call them out? Don't tolerate anything from a colleague you'd attack the opposition for.

Try the Times of London test: If what just happened got out to the press how much trouble would we be in? How would the average person see it? If the last people who did what you want to do ended up embarrassing the party in The Independent/Daily Mail for it don’t do it.

Think about guests you pick for your events: Are they inspiring? Are they going to speak on issues you care about? Will they challenge you, in a good way? Do they have skeletons in their closet that make other members feel unsafe? Always Google & social media search your guests.

Remember that every issue is a local issue. From poverty to policing, there's something you can do in your area to improve the lives of those around you - find it. The big lads in Westminster aren't coming to save any of us.

Make your campaigning inclusive - don’t wait for someone to ask you to. Pick wheelchair/pram accessible venues, organise events at different times of day, choose alcohol-free events, bundle some shorter Focus rounds (Please!). What works for you isn't one size fits all.

If you're thinking ’Why aren't more Lib Dems talking about x?’ make a habit of posting about it at least once a week, telling one Lib Dem you know about it, and asking them to tell someone you don't know. Spark the conversation you want to see.

And above all else, remember that every great Lib Dem policy starts with someone thinking ’Why aren't the Lib Dems talking about THIS real issue?’. Welcome to your place in our great and glorious decades-old tradition - now take the next step like so many others before you.