Brighton Annual Conference - Day One, Part One

Annual Conference - Brighton 15-18 September 2018 Liberal Democrats - DEMAND BETTER

Over the next three weeks we will be reviewing the programme and agenda for the forthcoming Brighton Conference, highlighting the policy motions to be debated, keynote speeches and the fringe and training events.

DAY ONE - Saturday 15th September, Part 1

The four day autumn Conference at the Brighton Centre is the the largest annual gathering of Lib Dem members and supporters in the UK. Kicking off at 9am on Saturday morning, its an early start for those making their way along Brighton seafront to training and fringe events in the Centre's adjoining rooms or in nearby Conference Hotels. For some its a seat in the main Hall for the opening address from Party President Sal Brinton followed by a Party Business session and reports from the Conference and Federal Policy Committees. For others its finding their way around the Exhibition Hall or enjoying a cup of coffee and catching up with friends old and new and reading the first edition of Conference Daily - a summary of the day's programme issued as you negotiate you way though security waving your pristine conference badge.

The opening debate on Saturday is on Animal Welfare. Moved by Baroness Cathy Bakewell (below), the motion focuses on the implications for animal welfare of the UK leaving the EU and the possible pressure from new trading partners to open markets to low welfare products. It reinforces the demand that all existing protection measure are transposed into UK law with support for UK farmers to produce a safe and affordable supply of food. The motion calls for an end to unnecessary painful practices in farming, phasing out of experiments on animals that cause extreme suffering, responsible breeding of companion animals to avoid avoidable disease, an EU wide harmonised system of ID and registration and an independent regulatory body for horse welfare, a ban on wild animals in circuses and the use of glue traps, and culling as a last resort. Finally the wide ranging animal welfare motion calls for a ban on the sale of ivory and parts of endangered species.

Conference moves rapidly on to the second of three morning debates on the Prime Ministers legacy as former Home Secretary; the scandalous 'hostile environment ' immigration policy and its impact on the Windrush Generation.

Introduced by Federal Board member, Pauline Pearce (below) the motion is entitled Righting Wrongs - Restoring the Rights of the Windrush Generation. The motion calls for a public enquiry into UK immigration policy and practice between 1997 and 2018 and the righting of wrongs perpetrated by the Home Office in each case and full restoration of individual rights. The motion also calls for a task force to apply justice for victims including the release of those currently wronged or detained or facing deportation and a system of compensation.

The final Motion of the morning Establishing Real Freedom of Choice focuses on reproductive healthcare and the rights regardless of gender identity to make independent decisions over their reproductive health. Following the recent referendum to liberalise abortion in Ireland and calls by professional medical and nursing bodies for abortion to be treated as a medical not criminal issue, the motion calls for a repeal of sections 58 /59 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, removing criminal sanctions for receiving an abortion of a non-viable foetus and allowing registered and regulated medical professions to provide safe abortion. It also calls for 'safe zones' around abortion providers and funding to enable clinics to provide services free and calls for support to the people of NI to have access to abortion facilities.

The Conference Hall will be full for the final keynote speech from Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran, the party spokesperson on Education.

Layla will receive the total support of Conference and wont be facing the bullying and barracking that she experienced as a newly elected MP. When Layla stood to ask a question - about the lack of free childcare for her constituents - she could hardly get through the sentence before the opposite benches broke into laughter and jeers followed by a patronising rebuke from the Speaker.

For those unable to get to Brighton, Layla is the guest speaker at the forthcoming Eastern Regional Conference in October.

Training and the Fringe

The Fringe programme on Saturday morning includes:

Your Liberal Britain hosted by Lord Paddy Ashdown invites attendees to bring along innovative policy ideas for a test drive in a Policy Lab

ALDC host a session with Layla Moran, Bedford Mayor Dave Hodgson and the new Leader of South Cambridgeshire on the 2019 elections. Lib Dem Voice feature a session on the media and transgender and intersex rights. Green Liberal Democrats including Alistair Carmichael MP support the drive to a more renewable future, Save our Seas and the impact of plastic. WAVE TRUST looks at radical solutions to violence, mental ill health, disease poverty and inequality.

A comprehensive training programme operates throughout the four days of the Conference with Saturday sessions on Digital Campaigning, training for Councillors new and young, Organising Party Events. Mark Pack runs a Masterclass on social media and ALDC look at Campaign Videos.

The second part of the Conference Review will feature the rest of the first busy day at Brighton.

There is still time to reserve your place for the Brighton Conference- www.libdems.org.uk/conference

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