Liberal Values in a Dangerous World

Submitted by: Federal Policy Committee
Mover: Richard Foord MP (Spokesperson for Defence).
Summation: Dr Christine Cheng (Chair of the Policy Working Group).

Conference believes that the UK needs a new international security strategy, with key objectives of:

1. Keeping the UK safe, free and secure, by working closely with NATO and European allies and promoting peace globally.
2. Tackling the global rise of authoritarianism, particularly the regimes in China and Russia, by promoting liberal, democratic values.
3. Supporting the world's vulnerable through international cooperation and recalling the commitment in Spring conference 2021 policy motion, Safe and Legal Routes to Save Lives, to the creation of pathways for submission of humanitarian visa applications, including at embassies and consulates at countries of origin and at channel crossings.

Conference further believes that achieving and sustaining these objectives must be grounded in our liberal values, especially:

1. A vigilant and prepared approach to defence, with armed forces that are well-trained and well-equipped.
2. Upholding human rights, democracy and liberal principles, at home and abroad, for example through the ECHR.
3. Internationalism and tackling shared issues together for the common good.
4. Tackling poverty and inequality wherever we find them.
5. Mutually beneficial global trade.
6. Environmentalism and a sustainable future for all peoples.
7. Partaking in global responsibility-sharing through providing protection for refugees fleeing conflicts wherever they arise such as through expansion of resettlement schemes and demonstrating a consistent commitment to family unification, recalling our commitment in Autumn conference 2018 policy motion A Fair Deal for Everyone: Prosperity and Dignity in Migration, to offer safe and legal routes to the UK for at least 10,000 refugees each year as well as welcoming 10,000 unaccompanied refugee children over a period of 10 years.

Conference deplores that the Conservative government have made both the UK and the world less safe and secure, through a series of policy failures and broken promises, including:

1. Cuts in troops, ships, aircraft and equipment, despite heightened global tension.
2. Consistent failures of defence procurement, with budget overruns and insufficient equipment.
3. Undermining the UK's development superpower status by cutting the international development budget and abolishing the Department for International Development.
4. Trashing the UK's diplomatic and moral credibility by antagonising our allies and threatening to break international law.
5. Allowing dirty money linked to autocratic regimes, particularly Russia, to infect our politics and our economy.
6. Attacking Britain's globally respected institutions like the BBC and our universities, undermining our soft power globally.
7. Abandoning our role as a global leader on tackling the climate emergency.

Conference therefore endorses policy paper 157, Liberal Values in a Dangerous World, in particular its policies to:

1. Restore the UK's diplomatic credibility by:
   1. Consistently supporting democracies and human rights at home and abroad, particularly supporting Ukraine, Hong Kong and Taiwan against aggression.
   2. Standing up for international law and speaking out when it is violated.
   3. Standing against authoritarianism globally, particularly against aggressive actions from the Russian and Chinese governments.
   4. Investing in the skills and training of the diplomatic service.
   5. Working collaboratively through multilateralism and with our sister parties abroad to promote peace and security.
   6. Restoring the UK's role as a global leader on climate change.
2. Reclaim the UK's development superpower status by:
   1. Restoring the international development budget to 0.7% of national income and restoring an independent department for development.
   2. Supporting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and encouraging partner countries to support this framework for human security and human development.
   3. Working on the basis of equality and partnership with the Global South to counter global authoritarianism, particularly the challenge posed by China's 'Belt and Road' Initiative, and advocate for liberal, democratic values.
   4. Adopting a fair and humane approach to the challenge of global refugees and asylum seekers; this includes ensuring a rapid response to displacement caused by conflicts wherever they arise by creating a global process for applying for protection from outside the UK, and by offering Sponsorship Scheme Visas and Family Unification Schemes such as the Ukraine Family Scheme visa to those fleeing conflicts globally, not just for Ukrainians.
   5. Increasing the proportion of the international development budget committed to tackling climate change and environmental degradation.
3. Support our armed forces to defend our freedoms, interests, and allies by:
   1. Meeting all of our NATO commitments on defence spending and cooperation at a minimum.
   2. Reversing the Conservatives' cut to the army.
   3. Ensuring the UK armed forces have the right training, equipment, and policies to defend Britain and our overseas territories.
   4. Prioritising interoperability with NATO allies and other strategic partners.
   5. Tackling the recruitment and retention crisis in the armed forces by securing a fair deal for the armed forces community, including by:
      1. Improving the standard of MoD housing, including by reviewing the contract with maintenance contractors.
      2. Accepting the recommendations of the Atherton report on women in the armed forces.
      3. Strengthening the Armed Forces Covenant by placing a legal duty on the Defence Secretary and government departments to give due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant.
4. Tackle the longstanding problems in defence procurement by:
   1. Replacing the current system with a more flexible approach of continuous reviews of security threats and evolution of defence plans.
   2. Ensuring that defence procurement is part of a comprehensive Industrial Strategy, to secure a reliable long-term pipeline of equipment procurements including European industry being able to  replenish stocks rapidly by ramping up production to meet the threat triggered by Russia putting her economy on a war footing.
   3. Making defence capital spending allocations more flexible and focused on meeting required in-service dates.
   4. Investing in recruiting, training and retaining staff at the MoD with specialist skills and reducing its dependency and expenditure on external consultants.
5. Work collaboratively with our democratic European partners and promote security in Europe by:
   1. Working hand-in-glove with NATO countries to support Ukraine during the war and to rebuild the country including finding lawful ways of using the estimated $300 billion of frozen sovereign assets of the Russian state as reparations for the violations of international law by Russia in Ukraine.
   2. Signing a comprehensive security treaty with the European Union.
   3. Collaborating with European and NATO partners on development of new defence technologies, equipment, systems and training, including via the Northern Group.
   4. Prioritising interoperability with NATO allies and other strategic partners, so that we can support each other during peace and war.
6. Tackle organised crime, terrorism and keep our security services accountable by:
   1. Properly resourcing the National Crime Agency and Serious Fraud Office, and strengthening economic crime legislation to remove loopholes.
   2. Working with Europol and Eurojust to develop and implement a joint strategy for dealing with cross-border threats, with the closest possible cooperation on shared priorities.
   3. Developing a national cybersecurity and digital infrastructure strategy, through investing in skills and training and developing a UK Chips Act.
   4. Ensuring that the Intelligence and Security Committee has teeth and is independent from government interference.
7. Promote the UK's security and global standing with our cultural and soft power by:
   1. Protecting and defending the BBC, Channel 4, BBC Alba and S4C as independent, publicly-owned, public service broadcasters.
   2. Properly funding the impartial BBC World Service from the Foreign Office Budget and restoring its global reach.
   3. Promoting and defending Britain's universities and think tanks, so that our values and image can be promoted around the world.
   4. Restore the British Council's in-country presence to 2019 levels of offices and staffing.

Applicability: Federal.

Motion prior to amendment

Conference believes that the UK needs a new international security strategy, with key objectives of:

1. Keeping the UK safe, free and secure, by working closely with NATO and European allies and promoting peace globally.
2. Tackling the global rise of authoritarianism, particularly the regimes in China and Russia, by promoting liberal, democratic values.
3. Supporting the world's vulnerable through international cooperation.

Conference further believes that achieving and sustaining these objectives must be grounded in our liberal values, especially:

1. A vigilant and prepared approach to defence, with armed forces that are well-trained and well-equipped.
2. Upholding human rights, democracy and liberal principles, at home and abroad, for example through the ECHR.
3. Internationalism and tackling shared issues together for the common good.
4. Tackling poverty and inequality wherever we find them.
5. Mutually beneficial global trade.
6. Environmentalism and a sustainable future for all peoples.

Conference deplores that the Conservative government have made both the UK and the world less safe and secure, through a series of policy failures and broken promises, including:

1. Cuts in troops, ships, aircraft and equipment, despite heightened global tension.
2. Consistent failures of defence procurement, with budget overruns and insufficient equipment.
3. Undermining the UK's development superpower status by cutting the international development budget and abolishing the Department for International Development.
4. Trashing the UK's diplomatic and moral credibility by antagonising our allies and threatening to break international law.
5. Allowing dirty money linked to autocratic regimes, particularly Russia, to infect our politics and our economy.
6. Attacking Britain's globally respected institutions like the BBC and our universities, undermining our soft power globally.

Conference therefore endorses policy paper 157, Liberal Values in a Dangerous World, in particular its policies to:

1. Restore the UK's diplomatic credibility by:
   1. Consistently supporting democracies and human rights at home and abroad, particularly supporting Ukraine, Hong Kong and Taiwan against aggression.
   2. Standing up for international law and speaking out when it is violated.
   3. Standing against authoritarianism globally, particularly against aggressive actions from the Russian and Chinese governments.
   4. Investing in the skills and training of the diplomatic service.
   5. Working collaboratively through multilateralism and with our sister parties abroad to promote peace and security.
2. Reclaim the UK's development superpower status by:
   1. Restoring the international development budget to 0.7% of national income and restoring an independent department for development.
   2. Supporting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and encouraging partner countries to support this framework for human security and human development.
   3. Working on the basis of equality and partnership with the Global South to counter global authoritarianism, particularly the challenge posed by China's 'Belt and Road' Initiative, and advocate for liberal, democratic values.
   4. Adopting a fair and humane approach to the challenge of global refugees and asylum seekers.
3. Support our armed forces to defend our freedoms, interests, and allies by:
   1. Meeting all of our NATO commitments on defence spending and cooperation at a minimum.
   2. Reversing the Conservatives' cut to the army.
   3. Ensuring the UK armed forces have the right training, equipment, and policies to defend Britain and our overseas territories.
   4. Prioritising interoperability with NATO allies and other strategic partners.
   5. Tackling the recruitment and retention crisis in the armed forces by securing a fair deal for the armed forces community, including by:
      1. Improving the standard of MoD housing, including by reviewing the contract with maintenance contractors.
      2. Accepting the recommendations of the Atherton report on women in the armed forces.
      3. Strengthening the Armed Forces Covenant by placing a legal duty on the Defence Secretary and government departments to give due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant.
4. Tackle the longstanding problems in defence procurement by:
   1. Replacing the current system with a more flexible approach of continuous reviews of security threats and evolution of defence plans.
   2. Ensuring that defence procurement is part of a comprehensive Industrial Strategy, to secure a reliable long-term pipeline of equipment procurements.
   3. Making defence capital spending allocations more flexible and focused on meeting required in-service dates.
   4. Investing in recruiting, training and retaining staff at the MoD with specialist skills and reducing its dependency and expenditure on external consultants.
5. Work collaboratively with our democratic European partners and promote security in Europe by:
   1. Working hand-in-glove with NATO countries to support Ukraine during the war and, one day, to rebuild the country.
   2. Signing a comprehensive security treaty with the European Union.
   3. Collaborating with European and NATO partners on development of new defence technologies, equipment, systems and training, including via the Northern Group.
   4. Prioritising interoperability with NATO allies and other strategic partners, so that we can support each other during peace and war.
6. Tackle organised crime, terrorism and keep our security services accountable by:
   1. Properly resourcing the National Crime Agency and Serious Fraud Office, and strengthening economic crime legislation to remove loopholes.
   2. Working with Europol and Eurojust to develop and implement a joint strategy for dealing with cross-border threats, with the closest possible cooperation on shared priorities.
   3. Developing a national cybersecurity and digital infrastructure strategy, through investing in skills and training and developing a UK Chips Act.
   4. Ensuring that the Intelligence and Security Committee has teeth and is independent from government interference.
7. Promote the UK's security and global standing with our cultural and soft power by:
   1. Protecting and defending the BBC, Channel 4, BBC Alba and S4C as independent, publicly-owned, public service broadcasters.
   2. Properly funding the impartial BBC World Service from the Foreign Office Budget and restoring its global reach.
   3. Promoting and defending Britain's universities and think tanks, so that our values and image can be promoted around the world.

Applicability: Federal.

Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 44-45 of the agenda.

The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 4 March; see page 47. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Thursday 14 March; see page 44.

In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one-minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 43 and 45 for further information.

Amendments

Amendment One

PASSED

Submitted by: 10 members
Mover: Dr Ruvi Ziegler.
Summation: Jacqueline Bell.

In III. (line 9), after 'cooperation'

insert 'and recalling the commitment in Spring conference 2021 policy motion, Safe and Legal Routes to Save Lives, to the creation of pathways for submission of humanitarian visa applications, including at embassies and consulates at countries of origin and at channel crossings'.

After F (line 20), insert:

G.     Partaking in global responsibility-sharing through providing protection for refugees fleeing conflicts wherever they arise such as through expansion of resettlement schemes and demonstrating a consistent commitment to family unification, recalling our commitment in Autumn conference 2018 policy motion A Fair Deal for Everyone: Prosperity and Dignity in Migration, to offer safe and legal routes to the UK for at least 10,000 refugees each year as well as welcoming 10,000 unaccompanied refugee children over a period of 10 years.

In 2. d) (line 64), after 'asylum seekers'

insert '; this includes ensuring a rapid response to displacement caused by conflicts wherever they arise by creating a global process for applying for protection from outside the UK, and by offering Sponsorship Scheme Visas and Family Unification Schemes such as the Ukraine Family Scheme visa to those fleeing conflicts globally, not just for Ukrainians'.

Amendment Two

PASSED

Submitted by: 10 members
Mover: John Russell (Lords Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero).

After vi) (line 37), insert:

vii)     Abandoning our role as a global leader on tackling the climate emergency.

After 1. e) (line 51), insert:

f)     Restoring the UK's role as a global leader on climate change.

After 2. d) (line 64), insert':

e)     Increasing the proportion of the international development budget committed to tackling climate change and environmental degradation.

Amendment Three

PASSED

Submitted by: 17 members
Mover: George Cunningham.
Summation: Helen Maguire.

In 4. b) (line 92), after 'equipment procurements,'

insert 'including European industry being able to  replenish stocks rapidly by ramping up production to meet the threat triggered by Russia putting her economy on a war footing'.

In 5. a) (line 101),

delete ', one day,',

and after 'country'

insert 'including finding lawful ways of using the estimated $300 billion of frozen sovereign assets of the Russian state as reparations for the violations of international law by Russia in Ukraine'.

Amendment Four

PASSED

Submitted by: Lambeth
Mover: Sarah Lewis.
Summation: Doug Buist.

After 7. c) (line 133), insert:

e)     Restore the British Council's in-country presence to 2019 levels of offices and staffing.