What’s on the agenda at Lib Dem Conference?
Later this month, we’re heading to Bournemouth for the party’s first in-person autumn conference in four years. As ever, the agenda is packed full of topical debates on the biggest issues facing Britain today and brilliant keynote speeches.
Let’s take a look what's coming up…
A real answer to people trafficking
While Rishi Sunak talks tough about “stopping the boats”, he is playing into the hands of the traffickers by rolling back protections for victims. This motion sets out a practical plan to combat modern slavery, focusing on preventing exploitation, supporting victims and bringing the criminals to justice.
A Fair Deal for the Armed Forces Community
Getting our economy working again
The Conservatives’ have plunged our economy into crisis, with near-zero growth and sky-high inflation. Even before Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget, Rishi Sunak did enormous damage by ripping up the Government’s industrial strategy. Treasury and Business Spokesperson Sarah Olney is calling for a new industrial strategy to boost living standards and spread prosperity, while tackling the climate emergency.
Speech: Munira Wilson MP
Munira Wilson is MP for Twickenham and Spokesperson for Education, Children and Young People.
Munira previously worked for a science and technology company leading on Brexit and health policy between 2016-2019. Before that, Munira has worked for health and children’s charities, as well as the NHS, and holds a modern languages degree from Cambridge University.
Supporting children and parents right from the start
The first years of a child’s life are so important. A policy working group has developed bold proposals to give parents and children more support in those crucial early years – from making sure everyone can find affordable, high-quality childcare to transforming shared parental leave so that every family can choose what’s best for them.
Speech: Josh Babarinde OBE
Josh Babarinde is Parliamentary Candidate for Eastbourne.
Born and bred in Eastbourne, Josh fights for residents and has a track record of rolling up his sleeves and getting things done.
Josh has a background as an award-winning entrepreneur and anti-crime worker, for which he has won numerous national and international awards - including an OBE from the Queen at the age of 26 (one of the youngest recipients in history).
Ending Conservative sleaze
Owen Paterson. Dominic Raab. Nadhim Zahawi. Boris Johnson. The list of Conservative scandals gets longer and longer, and Sunak’s promise of “integrity, accountability and professionalism” lies in tatters. This motion proposes a number of reforms to hold people in power properly to account, and stop the Conservatives getting away with sleaze and corruption.
Ending Period Poverty
Making the Fight Against Climate Change Accessible
Fixing Fast Fashion – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Transforming public health
Everyone agrees that “prevention is better than cure”. Good health gives people the freedom to live the lives they choose, and a thriving economy needs a healthy population. Helping people to stay healthy would save time and money across our overstretched NHS. So why doesn’t the Government do more? Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper is putting forward a plan to invest in prevention by expanding public health initiatives and primary care.
Investing in schools
Liberal Democrats have always argued that education is the best investment we can make in our country’s future. After years of Conservative neglect, and with too many children struggling with poor mental health, teacher shortages and crumbling schools, we’ll be debating a whole series of policies to ensure every school gives children the best possible start.
Speech: Daisy Cooper MP
Daisy Cooper is the MP for St Albans, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, and Spokesperson for Heath and Social Care.
Before she was elected, Daisy worked in Commonwealth affairs for 10 years campaigning for LGBT+ rights abroad and for greater transparency around how taxpayers’ money is used to help some of the world’s poorest.
Speech: Caroline Pidgeon AM
Caroline was elected to the London Assembly in May 2008 and has a strong track record of campaigning on issues such as strong policing and improved public transport.
Last November, Caroline announced she will stand down from the Assembly at the 2024 GLA elections.
Setting out our stall for the General Election
When will Rishi Sunak finally call a General Election? Whenever he does, we’ll be ready. The Federal Policy Committee has published a pre-manifesto – “For a Fair Deal” – that sets out the Liberal Democrat vision for our country and the priorities we’re fighting for to make it a reality.
Speech: Alex Cole-Hamilton
Alex Cole-Hamilton has been leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats since August 2021, and is the party's health spokesperson.
He was first elected at the 2016 Scottish Parliament Elections for the constituency of Edinburgh Western gaining the seat from the SNP. Before politics Alex was the head of policy for the children's rights charity Aberlour.
Food and Farming
Speech: Kira Rudik
Kira Rudik is a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, Leader of liberal democratic party Golos and Vice President of ALDE.
Resisting the Conservatives’ assault on democracy
The Conservatives’ voter ID law came into force this year. It blocked thousands of people from voting in May, and costs the taxpayer tens of millions of pounds a year. Communities Spokesperson Helen Morgan has led the opposition to the law in Parliament, and is now proposing a motion to repeal it.
A decent, affordable home for everyone
There’s no doubt that the Conservatives’ approach to housing has failed. They have consistently failed to build the homes we need, and broken their promise to strengthen protections for renters. Far too many people can’t afford to buy or even rent a home of their own. A policy working group has spent two years developing a bold Liberal Democrat approach to tackling the housing crisis, with a focus on social housing, renters’ rights, and Neighbourhood Plans to deliver the affordable homes people desperately need.
Speech: Wendy Chamberlain MP
Wendy Chamberlain is the MP for North East Fife, Chief Whip and Spokesperson for Work and Pensions.
Following her degree in English from Edinburgh University, Wendy joined Lothian and Borders Police in 1999, serving for 12 years as a Police officer. After the leaving the Police, Wendy worked supporting service veterans into positive employment outcomes.
Standing with Ukraine
A Child Maintenance Service that Works for Children
Protecting our precious environment
Environmentalism is a core Liberal Democrat value. We believe everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of our wonderful natural environment, and our children should inherit the future they deserve. That’s why we’ve led the campaign against water companies dumping sewage into our rivers, and why we’re so angry about the Conservatives’ refusal to stop it. This policy paper sets out meaningful action to reverse the decline in nature and protect everyone’s right to a healthy environment.
Speech: Cllr Lisa Smart
Councillor Lisa Smart is the Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove.
The former Chief Executive of an international education development charity, Lisa has been a school governor for more than 16 years. As an elected Councillor for Bredbury Green & Romiley, Lisa trains and mentors other councillors from around the country.
Lisa is known locally and nationally for being gutsy and getting things done, whether it is through her voluntary roles, by working as a Director of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust or though convincing Council bosses to give Asset of Community Value status to protect local green space.
Leader's Speech: Ed Davey MP
Ed Davey is the Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Kingston and Surbiton.
Ed is a lifelong campaigner for strong public services, a fair economy and a thriving natural environment. He describes the core values that drive him as compassion, community and fairness.
Ed has been a carer for most of his life: first for his mum, who died of cancer when he was a teenager; then for his Nana in her final years; and now he and his wife Emily care for their severely disabled son John. When he became Leader, Ed vowed to be the voice of carers. He draws on his long experience of caring to stand up for other family carers and fight for investment in the NHS and social care.
Ed’s mission as Leader is to fight for a fair deal that puts real power in people’s hands and holds the already powerful to account.
