Is it? The website says it's from 2001. From a technical point of view, it's dire. Accessibility is nil, due to use of frames, searchability is nil due to use of frames, doesn't validate according to any standard form of HTML and the markup is not semantic. From a design point of view it's tired, lacking, outdated but acceptable. Usability-wise, the use of a PDF for the membership application is dodgy - the site doesn't warn you that it's a PDF, it doesn't stream the PDF so you can download it nor does it offer that optionally and just generally the site is a little oddly laid out. All of that is completely fixable, and quite cheap to fix. The site could be completely overhauled in a few days.

I've seen websites designed by Alex and I can confirm that he is good. What he says about the main Liberal Party website seems about right to me. I hope they might consider getting Alex to fix it, though everyone is understandably very busy with the preparation for the May 1st local elections just at the mo. I think that when it was created circa 2001, the website probably looked pretty snazzy. However, standards and expectations regarding websites have risen in the 6-7 years since then. There are actually two big problems with the website. Firstly there are the design problems described by Alex. Secondly and separately is the problem that nobody seems to be updating the website at the moment. So far as I can see, nobody has touched it since last November. I actually think that putting press releases on the main page of the website is quite a good feature of the existing design, but when those press releases stay the same for month after month, it gives visitors the (quite incorrect) impression that the Liberal Party isn't doing much.

I meant to touch on the lack of updates but forgot. I get way too technical sometimes. :) To clarify I would be interested in doing the website but that is not why I am pushing about it. In the run up to the next General Election, the Liberal Party is quite likely to, and should be aiming to, attract the attention of professionals. A large body of these professionals will be involved with IT and will be unimpressed with an outdated website. It is even more important to ensure that the content is balanced, legible, accessible and regularly updated. A professional website is a very significant asset for smaller political parties who by their very nature attract the attention of people who, like myself, use the internet to help form their political opinions.

Hi! I agree with both of you. There was a slight revamp on the main page, but other than that it is looking tired. One of the biggest things for me is that you can't join online. This would be quite easy to fix - you could even use PayPal which is a very simple and cheap option! Of course, the May 1st local elections are probably taking everyone's eye off the ball, but once they are over, we should look seriously at the website. Would anyone be willing to email the party and discuss this? Alex, would you be prepared to help update the site? I am not in a position to do anything, but I would support whatever action is taken and would willingly send an email about this if it would help.

I've emailed Steve Radford to suggest that Alex be hired to redesign the website. I've just heard back from him. He says that unfortunately the party doesn't have any budget for extra IT work, and that the guy who has been doing the job has been in hospital. (That may explain the lack of any recent updates to the site.) I have replied to Steve Radford that if the website guy (I don't know his name) is looking for a volunteer to help with basic updates, eg putting press releases online, then I might be able to help. I've also said that if he wants help with a redesign of the main site then I'm happy to contribute something to a fund for that purpose. Hi! One of the biggest things for me is that you can't join online. This would be quite easy to fix - you could even use PayPal which is a very simple and cheap option! I agree. I have friends who have an online shop. They recently looked into the best way to take card payments as they weren't happy with their existing arrangement. They concluded that PayPal was the easiest to set up and also the most flexible. The entry level service offered by PayPal would enable the party to accept payments only from people with PayPal accounts, but it would be very simple to set up, as you say. There is also a more advanced level available by which we'd be able to accept payments from anyone with a credit or debit card, but that involves slightly more paperwork to set up. If it was up to me, I'd start with the simpler option and then upgrade later if it worked well.

This sounds like excellent news. Please keep my updated as to how things are going and if your offer of help is accepted.

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I think the party needs to be seen out there more often and this means taking risks. People are not clear on what we stand for and this needs to be communicated in a few simple messages.