York Spring Conference Cancelled

Lib Dems cancel York Spring Conference

Following careful consideration of the latest health advice and risks, the Liberal Democrats have decided last evening to cancel their Spring Conference planned for this coming weekend.

In a joint statement, Party President Mark Pack, Chief Executive Mike Dixon and Federal Conference Committee Chair Geoff Payne said:

Following careful consideration of the latest health advice and risks, the Federal Board has tonight decided to cancel our federal conference this weekend.

It's not a decision that was taken lightly as conference plays a key role in our democratic party as well as being an important training and information exchange event. However, the health of our members and supporters, the staff who work on conference and the wider public is far more important.

We have noted today's announcement from the WHO, treating this as a pandemic and calling for "urgent and aggressive action", and also how other organisations have started cancelling events, such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists stopping all meetings with over 100 people. We have also paid close attention to the public health advice from the NHS, and note that some of the advice, such as around keeping distant from people who are ill, is in practice very hard to follow given the format of our conference involves large numbers of strangers sitting close to each other for extended periods of time.

We are aware that many people, particularly those in high-risk groups, have said in the last few days that they are not coming to conference. Conference operates on the principle of 'one member, one vote'. We very much want to avoid a situation where people feel unable to particulate in our democratic decision-making because of fears over their health.

It's a matter of regret that for many people coming to the conference it will not be possible to cancel travel and accommodation arrangements and recover the costs. The party itself will also have to incur significant costs and refunds. We hope though people will understand the priority being given to people's health.

We will offer refunds on conference registration, though we hope that given the costs the party will have to pay anyway that members who can afford it will be willing to waive the refund and make it a donation to the party instead. Details of how to reclaim registration fees will follow in the next few days.

Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, said:

"In these highly unusual circumstances, we have come to the right conclusion to cancel conference.

"Although it will be disappointing to many members, the party can come together again when the coronavirus threat is over and debate the issues our country faces.

"Liberal Democrats will continue to put forward our case for a more liberal progressive Britain and hold this Conservative government to account."

This late decision will prove costly for the Party and some delegates who have already booked non-refundable travel tickets and lost money on accommodation.

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