Day Three at the Brighton Conference
Annual Conference - Brighton 15-18 September 2018 Liberal Democrats - DEMAND BETTER
In the fourth and penultimate part of the Federal Conference preview, we take a look at the programme and agenda for the events at Brighton on Monday.
DAY Three - monday 17th September
Conference hits the ground running at the start of Day 3 with a motion on affordable housing.
Moved by Lord John Shipley, who raised the second homes loophole in the Lords, briefed by the East Suffolk Party and campaigner District Councillor David Beavan, the motion An Affordable, Secure Home for All follows the Party's long standing commitment to build 300,000 homes a year for the next decade. The motion notes the levels of homelessness, the tripling of housing benefit payments, 10 to 1 ratio of house prices to gross earnings, the number of private rented properties below the Decent Homes Standard, a massive decline in the number of social homes contracted, hoarding and restricting supply of land being rewarded and a poor replacement level of 1.5 million lost council homes. The motion calls for the creation of a British Housing Company, an arms length not-for-profit body to purchase low value amenity land through compulsory purchase, the cap on local authority borrowing removed, annual construction of 50,000 social homes for rent rising to 100,000, 'right to buy' availability subject to LA's and with receipts reinvested, 'rent to own' expanded, higher environmental standards, an increase in council tax for investment properties left empty and a requirement that the government delivers on its targets.
(It is so far unclear whether the East Suffolk LD's amendment seeking a change to second homes tax loophole has been accepted.)
Emergency Motion on Europe
Immediately following the Housing Debate space has been allocated for a debate on Europe. A decision on the final motion selected from those submitted by members will be announced on September 10th.
The first timely keynote speech following the debate on Europe should ensure a packed Conference Hall to hear businesswoman and campaigner Gina Miller.
Gina Miller set up the True and Fair Foundation in 2009, with the stated aim of increasing philanthropy and common good in an era of growing inequality, social fragmentation and small state funding. It aims to encourage those who have been successful to give back to the communities that afforded them their success, lessening the burden of giving for donors and philanthropists who wish to give smarter and in an efficient and transparent manner but may be time poor
In June 2016, in the aftermath of the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, Miller privately engaged a City of London law firm to challenge the authority of the British Government to invoke Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union using prerogative powers, arguing that only Parliament can take away rights that Parliament has granted. The legal challenge met with a "torrent" of abuse from some of those supporting Brexit, including racial abuse and death threats. Miller's solicitor, was subjected to abuse as a result of its involvement in the case, and Brexit supporters mounted a protest outside the firm's offices.
The first session of the afternoon is the debate on Taxing Land, Not investment. The session opens with a debate on Business Rate reform believing that taxing business premises and equipment is a disincentive to investment and a burden on capital-intensive sectors such a manufacturing and renewable energy, adding that it would be more efficient to solely tax land value.
The drafters of the motion moved by Andrew Dixon call for the replacement of Business Rates in England with a four year transition to a Commercial Landowners Levy (CLL) based solely on the land value rather than their capital value and shifting the tax burden from tenants to landowners. The motion also calls for the abolition of Non-Residential Stamp Duty, ending discounts for empty and derelict premises and the current system of Small Business Rates Relief. The changes would ensure that local authority revenues from Business Rates were protected by an adjustment to the redistribution under the change to CLL.The motion also calls for an annual revaluation of commercial land values and a publicly-accessible Land registry.
Conference always attracts a large contingent of Welsh Lib Dems who will sure to be in the hall for the first keynote speech of the afternoon bringing the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds to the platform.
Treasury Spokesperson Baroness Susan Kramer follows with the main economic debate on the party policy paper Good Jobs, Better Businesses, Stronger Communities: Proposals for a New Economy that Really works for Everyone. Included in this wide ranging policy paper, the Party is calling for, a reform of the labour market to give back control to workers under a new Worker Protection Enforcement Authority,investment in skills and lifelong opportunities for retraining, immigration policy that supports growth and steps to strengthen diversity and equality in the workplace including mandatory pay ratio reporting.The Lib Dems wish to create a sustainable economy for future generations with a new 21st century Companies Act reflecting stakeholder interests, accountability and annual Fair Play. The proposals include a UK Lab for new forms of enterprise, a boost for employee ownership, an extended public interest test for takeovers, a stronger regulation of monopolies and a Citizens' Wealth Fund to share economic benefits more widely. The Party also hopes to lever additional financial resources for innovative business, the green economy and hyper fast broadband by harnessing the public sector balance sheet. The policy seeks to devolve more economic development powers to cities and regions developing sustainable cities as growth hubs and creating city and regional integrated economic development with an enhanced mandate for the British Business Bank
Finally, before a Business Debate on the Membership Subscription and Federal Levy, former Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham, Cllr Martin Horwood opens a debate on plastic pollution.
The motion entitled Plastic Pollution and UN Sustainable Goals recognises that the use of plastic especially single use plastic has now become a major environmental problem. The UN pledge signed by 200 nations to eliminate plastic from the sea, the EU's proposed ban on most common single use plastic and actions by retailers and service industries to end the use of straws is heralded as a first step but calls for more action by the UK government to introduce legislation to ban non-recyclable single use plastics, with alternatives within three years, require retailers and others to reduce plastic packaging and set public sector targets for organisations such as the NHS to reduce the use of plastic. The motion calls for a deposit system for food and drink bottles and a levy on retailers and businesses to contribute towards the cost of recycling. On a wider scale the party calls for an international task force to work with developing countries on initiative to eliminate single use plastic.
Training and the Fringe
Highlights of the Fringe programme on Monday include:
A lunchtime meeting with Nick Clegg and Tom Brake MP on Exit from Brexit -where do we go from here? An evening meeting hosted by the Prospect Magazine with Editor Tom Clark in conversation with Sir Vince Cable MP.
ALDC take a look at Emergency Planning for a crisis in a community, Liberal International look at Iran and the Nuclear Deal and the Social Market Foundation and the City of London Corporation discuss how innovations in financial technology can be utilised to empower all consumers. JUSTICE and Lib Dem Lawyers take a look at the future of Legal Aid and the LGA consider how to unleash the talents of local people.
UK Music with Christine Jardine MP consider how best to support future musical talent, The Rural Reception hosted by The Angling Trust and the British Assn of Shooting & Conservation takes place during lunctime and the Pharmacy Assn look at well-being at work. HM Government of Gibraltar and The Royal British Legion host receptions and the Lib Dem Peers open the door to all comers for a chat.
The National Youth Agency and Layla Moran MP look at what we want for and expect of young people, The Political Skills Forum and Rowntree Trust Ltd look at the pilot scheme for compulsory voter ID and Tim Farron MP joins the NFU and FDF ask what the UK's future food policy should look like.
Finally two events for the evening, first its Whiskey Galore - the annual Whisky Tasting event with Alistair Carmichael MP and to round off the day the Lib Dems loosen their stays for the Liberators Glee Club promising all the Conference classics.
The training programme for Monday repeats some of the earlier offerings including Election Law 1, Digital Fundraising, Using Mini-Van plus a variety of councillor training topics. East of England focus on some excellent local election results in Watford, Three Rivers and South Cambs.
The last review covers the final day at Conference culminating with the Leader's Keynote speech from Sir Vince Cable MP
There is still time to reserve your place -www.libdems.org.uk/conference
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