Brighton Conference Review - Day Two Sunday

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

In the third part of the review of the programme and agenda for the forthcoming Brighton Conference, we are looking at the Sunday events.

DAY TWO - SuNday 16th September

Far from being a rest day, Sunday is probably the busiest at Conference especially for those with a just weekend pass, packing in as much as they can.

In the main Conference Hall the day starts with Party Business and reports from the Campaign for Gender Balance (CGB) and the Parliamentary Parties in the Lords and Commons and European Parliament. Former Party Chief Executive and now Leader in the Lords, Lord Newby, Party Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael MP and MEP Catherine Bearder review the work of their respective group.

The first debate on Sunday chaired by Baroness Dee Doocey is on Mental Health and builds upon the excellent work of party spokespeople including Norfolk MP, Norman Lamb former Minister of Health. The motion entitled Ending Discrimination in Mental Health Provision, reiterates support for the party policy of ensuring that mental health services are fully funded and given parity with physical health so that patients can receive care without unnecessarily being detained. The motion states that everyone has the right to control their own body and should not be forced to receive treatment unless they lack the capacity to make that decision and a person with a mental disorder should not have fewer rights than a person without one. The motion calls for a reform of the 1983 Mental Health Act replacing the 'mental disorder'test for involuntary detention with a 'mental capacity'test so that a person cannot be involuntarily detained or treated unless they lack capacity and "Restriction Orders" are not used unjustifiably to detain rather than treat patients.

The second debate is moved by Sir Ed Davey MP, Home Affairs spokesperson. A Fair Deal for Everyone: Prosperity and Dignity in Migration celebrates the positive impact migration has had on the UK, rejects the Government's hostile language and policies towards migrants and calls for a positive, liberal consensus on immigration and the building of trust, requiring us to listen and engage with those who link pressure on public services and housing to immigration rejecting the labelling of those people as racist

The motion calls for the abolition of net migration targets, an end to the hostile environment policy, reform of the Home Office and the transfer of work permits and student visas to Business and Education Depts. Furthermore it seeks a right to work for seekers of sanctuary whilst their case is considered, a new policy of 'detention as the last resort' and major investment into tackling illegal immigration, strengthening the Border Force and investment into community and school programmes aimed promoting social cohesion. Measures are set out to make family migration more humane and efficient, support to people coming to work, making student migration work for the UK, improving our record on assisting people seeking sanctuary and tackling illegal migration.

The morning session concludes with a keynote speech by the Party's Deputy Leader Jo Swinson MP.

The main hall will undoubtedly be packed for the first platform appearance of Sir Vince Cable MP for the popular Q&A session. Vince has allocated a full hour to answer questions on any topic and posed by members and supporters in advance via the website or submitted before lunch on the day.

The Leaders Q & A will be immediately followed by the Party President Baroness Sal Brinton for her main speech to Conference.

There is one remaining main debate on Sunday with 75 minutes set aside to consider foreign policy and Britain's place in a changing world. Foreign Affairs spokesperson Jo Swinson MP is back on the platform to move the motion: Britain at the Heart of a Changing World.

Recognising that the world feels increasingly unsafe and unstable with nations retreating into isolationism and nationalism, the UK foreign policy lacks focus and vision, the motion endorses the policy paper Britain at the Heart of a Changing World. The paper sets out six areas to develop our vision and commitment to improving the lives of people.

• Strategic priorities and goals linked to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals covering gender equality, combating climate change and environmental crises, human rights, reducing inequality and a lead in the response to new technologies.
• Investing in strong diplomatic relationships and promoting national strategic priorities incl maintaining the closest possible relationship with the EU and increasing the FCO budget to replace functions if we BREXIT.
• Building on our international obligations to security and defence incl commitment to NATO, parliamentary votes before military engagement and a treaty covering technology in modern warfare.
• Development of trade, aid and investment incl the aid commitment of 0.7%, prioritising aid on the poorest, trade regulations to ensure no worsening of human rights and inequalities, remaining in the Single Market and Customs Union and tackling tax avoidance.
• Harnessing UK's soft power and influence incl altering British Council funding to benefit countries of strategic importance, restoring BBC monitoring funding, uniting global scholarship to expand number of beneficiaries,
• Projecting the rights of citizens around the world incl strengthening multilateral institutions, requiring NGO's military and defence contractors to report all documented abuse overseas, whistle-blowers and reporters of abuse free from discrimination, eradicating sexual violence in conflict by military and UN peacekeepers.

The plenary programme for the day concludes with two Party Business Reports, first the Federal Appeals Panel and followed by a report of the Party's Federal Board.

Highlights of the Fringe programme on Sunday include:

The National Education Union's education event with Layla Moran MP, Social Liberal Forum conversation with Vince Cable, Your Liberal Britain's You can stop Brexit! and the Green Lib Dems asking 'Is climate change accelerating? Among the evening social events are the Lib Dems popular annual Conference Quiz with Alistair Carmichael MP and Communi-Oke - the mass karaoke of disco favourites organised by London Liberal Democrats.

Amongst other fringe events are a launch of Lib Dems Abroad, receptions by the Young Liberals, LGA Lib Dem Group including Next Generations leadership scheme and the Education Policy Institute with David Laws. Regular exhibitors and Conference contributors HM Government of Gibraltar host an event Brexit - 2 years on - views from the UK countries. Our own James Sandbach chairs an LDLA and the Law Society event on the impact of Brexit on the legal profession and Justice System.

There are plenty of options in the busy schedule of 32 training events on Sunday. The programme includes Election Law, Part 2 for Agents, Parliamentary selection processes for budding Returning Officers, another Campaign Masterclass by Mark Pack, a Whistlestop tour around the party and how it works, media skills for candidates, supporting candidates with disabilities and data protection.

The next part of the Conference Review will feature the programme for Monday commencing with the important housing debate and hopefully our amendment on second homes.

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

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