9 November 2009
UKCP election result
| Total number of votes cast | 3,186 |
| Total votes for Andrew Samuels | 2,108 |
| Total votes for Carmen Joanne Ablack | 1,074 |
| Number of eligible voters | 6,714 |
| Number of votes found to be invalid | 4 |
The UKCP election for chair was won by Andrew Samuels. It is the first election in which all registrants were invited to vote. The new chair will follow James Antrican who steps down in December 2009.
Under UKCP's newly-adopted constitution, registrants - who will soon become members - were invited to stand for, and vote in, elections for officers for the new Board of Trustees. Voting took place during October and early November, with the polls closing at noon on 6 November.
David Pink , UKCP chief executive, said: 'I would like to congratulate Andrew on winning our first UKCP election to extend democracy to all the therapists on our register.'
There was a tremendous turnout, with almost 48% of registrants voting. Tom Colling of the Electoral Reform Services, the independent charity commissioned to administer the voting, said: 'Turnout was very high when compared to that of other organisations . Fifty per cent is impressive and reflects, I believe, the efforts made by UKCP and ERS to ensure that all members had every opportunity to vote, despite the difficulties caused by the postal strikes. Most of all it demonstrates that UKCP has an active and engaged membership, something that not all organisations can boast. '
David Pink added: 'This is the first time that UKCP has held an election of this kind and we are committed to holding an inquiry and review of the election process. The campaigning period has seen heated disputation and dissatisfaction with the election process. We will examine where things went wrong and what could have been handled better. This will be an important part of the process leading to healing and learning.'
Andrew Samuels said, 'This is an amazing result based on a very high turnout. Thank you to those who voted for me in such numbers.
'I was very detailed - maybe too detailed - about the kinds of changes in UKCP's direction, policy and style that I'd like to see. Hence I hope that those whose opinions and feelings are bruised by this result will strive to respect and accept what the democratic process has supported. But UKCP is not an organisation where you can just ram changes through and it will be important that the majority respects the positions of the minority. I now expect a period of bargaining and discussion to ensue. Nevertheless, some matters, such as HPC, do require urgent attention.
'I want to say something directly to friends and colleagues in HIPS. I think HIPS has been 100% right to be concerned at the way in which professional hierarchies, no matter how outmoded, can interfere with governmental approaches to psychotherapy. We really must establish a level playing field for all modalities of psychotherapy based on deep respect and understanding. '
Runner up, Carmen Joanne Ablack, said: 'The large number of registrants who voted, despite the postal strike, validates the changes approved by organisational delegates at the AGM and EGM 2009. All of us who have taken part in the election know we have further work to do together in ensuring that individual registrants - soon to be members - are at the centre of the work of the organisation. It is about learning from this first experience, and moving on with the real work that faces all of us.'
The Board positions which were uncontested are:
Vice chair - education, training, practice and research: Philippa Whittick
Vice chair - information and member services: Tom Warnecke
Trustees representing individual members: Steve Lewis, Joanna North and Rory Worthington.
Appointments are effective from 5 December 2009 when the new UKCP constitution comes in to effect. UKCP received no nominations for the two positions of trustees representing organisational members. These positions will be filled by the new Board.
UK Council for Psychotherapy | Registered Charity No. 1058545 | Company No. 3258939 Registered in England
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