Trust in people Make Britain fairer Conference Directory Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference 16th - 21st September 2006 Brighton Introduction Contents By Duncan Brack Features: Welcome to the autumn Trusting the Party by Menzies Campbell MP 3 Offsetting conference’s carbon 4 2006 conference of the Feature Liberal Democrats. Welcome to Brighton by Norman Baker MP 5 The great green conference by Chris Huhne MP 8 In many ways, conference Climate change isn’t a fringe 10 lies at the heart of what this party is about. We are Making conference accessible for all the only major party whose by Jeremy Hargreaves 14 conference is sovereign, Conference sponsors 6 Duncan Brack is Chair where party members of Federal Conference List of advertisers 11 determine the policy and Committee Fringe direction of the party, and Fringe: 17-38 & 43-64 hold their elected officers to account. This is because Saturday 16th 18 we are democrats, and believe in putting into Sunday 17th 20 practice what we say in public. Remember that when you raise your voting badge at the end of a debate! Monday 18th 26 Tuesday 19th 46 Conference is, of course, about much more than the Wednesday 20th 58 debates and speeches in the auditorium. It’s about exchanging ideas at fringe meetings and in the Thursday 21st 63 exhibition. It’s about training, and learning new Diary 39-42 Diary political skills. It’s about putting over what we stand 2007 Conference timetable 39 for, through the media, to the public. It’s even about making money, which supports the party’s Exhibition 65-71 campaigns. And it’s very definitely about networking, and having fun. Information: Venue plans 70-71 Conference is overseen by the Federal Conference Conference information 72 Committee, which conference reps elect. We select the agenda, run the debates and oversee the Access and facilities for disabled people 78 organisation. Above all, we’re here to help you – Transport and travel 79 come to our introductory briefing on Sunday Map of Brighton 80 lunchtime, or just stop us in the corridor and ask for Exhibition help. Tell us if you think we’ve got anything wrong – See Conference Agenda for details of sessions, and maybe when we’ve got it right, too. policy and business motions, procedural information, standing orders Above all, take every opportunity to enjoy yourself in the exhilarating phenomenon that is the Liberal Conference Directory and Agenda Democrat conference. are available in audio and large I look forward to meeting you in Brighton. print versions. See page 78. Printed on recycled paper Information Published by The Conference Office, Liberal Democrats, 4 Cowley Street, London, SW1P 3NB. Design and layout by Mike Cooper, 25 Orchard Road, Sutton, SM1 2QA. Printed by Network Press, Sutton Business Centre, Wallington, SM6 7AH. Front cover photo: © Brighton and Hove Visitor and Convention Bureau. www.libdems.org.uk ISBN 1-85187-760-6 MAYOR OF LONDON PRESENTS ‘LONDON-THE‘LONDON-THEMAYOR OF LONDON PRESENTS BEST BEST IS IS YETYET TOTO COME’COME’ • STAND S4 • NOW SHOWING NOWACRO SHOWINGSS LONDON Now • A show police beat team in every neighbourhood every nei ing all over london: a police beat team • Six mghbourhood,illion bus jo urneys every weekday ADMIT ONE weekday, m • STAND S4 • • More oreaffo affordablerdable sixch ildchildcaremillioncare bupla places.ces s journeys every in ADMIT ONE P W RE IN MIE T FILM RE ICK ETS + COMING SOON THE LO THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH NDON OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES RELEASE DATE 2012 Trust in people 2 Liberal Democrat Conference Autumn 2006 Trusting the Party Feature © LDPics The importance that we give to our conference is a vital part of what it means to be a Liberal Democrat. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you The importance that we give to our conference is a all to our 2006 Autumn Conference here in vital part of what it means to be a Liberal Democrat. Brighton. A lot has changed in British We are unique amongst the major political parties of politics and the Liberal Democrats since our Britain in that we depend on our conference for our core policy-making process. last conference visit here three years ago. It is to conference that policy working groups and key This will be my first Autumn Conference since representatives who serve on the main party becoming leader earlier this year. While I know that committees report back. It is also to conference that my schedule will be packed with making speeches, we require our parliamentarians to account for their attending meetings and media engagements, it is actions both in and outside Westminster. I am proud still a week on the south coast that I am looking to be head of a party that conducts itself and its forward to with relish. conference in this way. The truth is that conference will be a busy time for all But that is not to say that things could not be of us who attend. It is arguably the most important improved further. Our party has remained largely point of contact for the entire party membership. unchanged since coming together in 1988. Change is From the fringe, to the main conference hall, to overdue, necessary and urgent. This applies equally reacquainting ourselves with old colleagues, there to how we run our annual conferences. We must be never seems to be quite enough time. It is a focus for prepared to investigate methods of consultation that intense debate, friendly discussion and sometimes include the entire party and public in our conference even agreement! Continued on page 4 Make Britain fairer Conference Directory 3 Trusting the Party continued from page 3 Feature debates. We also need to think of conference debates as a means of arriving at the correct decisions, rather than as a series of triumphs or defeats for the platform or the floor. This year’s conference will be important in terms of shaping the Liberal Democrat agenda for the rest of this Parliament in readiness for contesting the next Action photo required General Election. I want it to be qualitatively different, not just in how it looks but in the experience it provides for all its members. We Liberal Democrats are faced with a great opportunity. We are a party that is serious about power. Unlike the Tories we don’t have to reinvent ourselves and unlike Labour we don’t have to shore © LDPics up a crumbling edifice. challenges unfairness, attacks injustice and confronts prejudice. But we must convert this It is the Liberal Democrats who are naturally closest natural affinity into actual results. We are all an to the values of the British people - who want a integral part of that process. government that promotes freedom and choice, Can I urge you all – if you get a spare moment, that is – to reflect and feel a sense of pride in what it is that makes the Liberal Democrats unparalleled in terms of our inclusiveness and our democratic credentials, but to think also how we can move together to make this party even stronger. Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and productive Autumn Conference. The Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC, MP for © LDPics North East Fife and Leader of the Liberal Democrats Offsetting conference’s carbon In 2005 the Liberal Democrats became the first (and But we can neutralise, or ‘offset’ the carbon added by so far only) major political party to carbon-offset its our activities by paying someone else to reduce conferences. carbon in the atmosphere by the same amount our activities add, through renewable energy, energy Climate change is a real and growing threat, the most efficiency or forest restoration projects. serious challenge to the prosperity of the planet and its people. Every time we use power or heat Together with the organisation Climate Care (see generated by fossil fuels, we are contributing to www.climatecare.org), we calculated that a levy of £1 global warming and hence climate change. Party per head per conference would be sufficient to offset conferences contribute to this, through the energy the carbon emissions from Lib Dem conference, so consumed in transporting participants and running conference decided to add this on to registration fees the conference and the hotels. from 2005 onwards. Trust in people 4 Liberal Democrat Conference Autumn 2006 Welcome to Brighton By Norman Baker MP It is a great pleasure to possible. It has even attracted the welcome this year’s conference likes of local celebrities Paul Brighton is not Feature back to the south coast. McCartney and Oscar-winning actress just a Cate Blanchett. Brighton has become known as tremendous a ‘London-by-the-sea’. Perhaps The shopping ambiance in the North backdrop for this week we should in fact be Laine is certainly not to be missed. You regarding it as a Westminster- will feel somewhat overdressed in a this year’s by-the-sea! suit. The area is something of a conference ... Bohemian throwback to the sixties. On behalf of the party I would like to Imported clothes from India, organic say how grateful we are to the city’s food products, and Ben Sherman hotels, pubs and entertainment shirts adorn its rails and shelves. venues that have, yet again, kindly allowed us to take them over with our Flea markets pepper the area, giving meetings. those with sufficient sarongs in the wardrobe the chance to branch out Brighton is not just a tremendous with a bigger purchase; some retro backdrop for this year’s conference, furniture perhaps or even better, a few but a tremendous city all year round.