Agenda & Directory Spring Conference York 11th–13th March 2016 Against the politics of division, our message of hope & optimism “ is needed now more than ever Tim Farron ” Join the fight now! www.libdems.org.uk/europe Pick up the International EU Agenda for more information Welcome to the Agenda & Directory for the Liberal Democrat spring 2016 Contents federal conference. If you have any questions whilst at Feature 2–5 conference please ask a conference Liberal, compassionate, optimistic steward or go to the Information Desk – the Britain we will fight for in York Barbican. by Tim Farron 4 Conference information 6–16 Conference venue Conference venue plan 16 York Barbican Exhibition: 17–21 Paragon Street List of exhibitors 17 York YO10 4NT Directory of exhibitors 18 The conference venue will open at Conference sponsors 21 16.30 on Friday 11th March. Fringe guide: 22–33 Conference hotel Fringe venues and key 23 Novotel York Centre Friday fringe 24 Fishergate Saturday fringe 26 York YO10 4FD Conference training programme 30 Official fringe venue Agenda: 34–61 Agenda index and timetable 35 Hilton York Friday 11th March 37 1 Tower St York YO1 9WD Saturday 12th March 38 Sunday 13th March 55 Further information, Autumn 2016 conference timetable 61 registration and all List of advertisers 61 conference publications (including plain text and Standing orders 62–72 clear print versions) are Federal Party 73 available at: Map of York back cover www.libdems.org.uk/spring_conference ISBN 978-1-910763-14-8 Edited by Emma Price and published Printed by Park Communications Ltd, by The Conference Office, Liberal Alpine Way, London E6 6LA. Democrats, 8–10 Great George Street, Photographs © Liberal Democrats unless stated. London SW1P 3AE. Front cover – you told us why you’re a LibDem – Design and layout by Mike Cooper, from photo wall, autumn 2015 conference. [email protected]. Additional editing by Tony Harris. Our message of hope and optimism is needed now more than ever. 1 Civic Drinks Reception Hosted by the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Julie Gunnell Feature CivicCivic DrinksDrinks Reception Reception HMembersosted by are the invited Rt Honto join the Councillor Lord Mayor Sonja Crisp, of York The, RightCllr JulieHonourable Gunnell The Lord Mayor of York, and Councillor Keith Aspden, Deputy Leader of City Fridayof York 7Council March (Lib 17.15 Dem),–18.00, for welcome York Barbican drinks before the Conference Rally. Members are invited to join the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Julie Gunnell and ParFridayty President 11th Tim March, Farron for 17.15–18.00, a drink and speeches York ahead Barbican of the Party’s traditional Conference Rally. Friday 7 March 17.15–18.00, York Barbican Members are invited to join the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Julie Gunnell and Party President Tim Farron for a drink and speeches ahead of the Party’s traditional Conference ConferenceRally. Rally IN together With Catherine Bearder, Tim Farron and special guests Friday 11th March 2016, 18.30 – 19.30. York Barbican, Auditorium LEADING SUPPLIER OF RISOGRAPHS and PHOTOCOPIERS Contact Dan Dan the RISO man: 07798 583 605 Proud Supplier to www.midshire.co.uk 2 Agenda & Directory Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2016 Feature Conference App Available early March Download our Conference App for Spring Conference, with great features such as My Schedule (the easiest way to plan your Conference) and a searchable Fringe Guide and Agenda. To download the App visit App Store or Google Play For Blackberry / Windows Phone please visit www.libdemconference.org.uk Our message of hope and optimism is needed now more than ever. 3 Feature Liberal, compassionate, optimistic - the Britain we will fight for by Tim Farron MP Friends, I want to welcome We need to lay out a positive case. A you to York and to our Spring clear, unashamed Liberal vision and Conference. programme for Britain. And we will be a constructive, credible and effective This year we gather at conference with opposition. Because, frankly, without a renewed purpose and a spring in our us there is no real national opposition. step. Labour cannot and will not do that. Since last May we have had a string of Under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour have by-election results throughout the taken themselves off the pitch. He is country and we have seen some real more interested in securing his power progress from Loch Ness to Torbay. in the Labour Party rather than trying Our work and action is paying off. to win the power to change Britain. The community politics that I, and so Friends, I do not feel the same. I am many of you, espouse is starting to committed to delivering Liberal show dividends at the ballot box and outcomes through any means I can we now can start delivering for those communities. That being said we are all aware of the coming challenges – but there are opportunities too. The Tories are rampant but divided. They are about to pour salt into the sore of Europe, a wound first laid bare back in 1992 with the Maastricht Treaty, but in the meantime they are unpicking progressive achievements of the Coalition. My message to this conference is clear – our party will challenge them wherever their decisions undermine people and their ability to get on with their lives. 4 Agenda & Directory Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2016 and that means winning power across We are unashamedly pro-European Feature local government, but in national and the referendum on Britain’s future government too. in Europe must be won. We will My vision for our country is whether proudly campaign for Britain to you are a teacher, a policeman or continue to play our role in leading in someone planning their own business, Europe and the world. government and local government This May we can show Britain there is should help you up, not hold you a Liberal, compassionate, optimistic back. An active, enabling state that alternative to this Government. supports you and your endeavours. This weekend will be about this, and A government that talks you up, not much more. I hope you enjoy down and doesn’t pick fights with you, conference and let us, together, lay out or try and turn neighbours against the Liberal vision for Britain we will each other simply for headlines. fight for. Britain is greatest when we stand together and look outwards. In the Tim Farron is MP for Westmorland face of the politics of division where and Lonsdale and Leader of the other parties try to set one community Liberal Democrats against another, our message of hope and optimism is needed more than Meet the Party Bodies ever. Come and meet the Party Bodies, get to Britain needs an alternative to this know them better and find out about the Government. work they do. In addition to the party bodies exhibiting for the whole weekend, you can And the path to that alternative is clear. come and meet the following on Friday 11th The Conservatives majority is tiny. March from 17.00–21.00 in the Lendal Room Winning just seven seats from them at the York Barbican: will bring an end to this Government. l Your Liberal Britain Our first test of this is in May. l Liberal Democrats for Seekers of Sanctuary l Association of Liberal Democrat Engineers We need to take the fight to them in and Scientists May like never before - door by door, l Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association street by street, town by town. l Liberal Reform l And we must win those fights and Action for Land Taxation & Economic Reform regain power in council halls across l Liberal Democrat History Group the country so we can deliver for our l The Liberal Democrat Disability Association communities. l The Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors And that applies to the international l Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine stage too. Our message of hope and optimism is needed now more than ever. 5 The Federal Conference Committee Information Andrew Wiseman, Zoë O’Connell, Geoff Payne, Jon Ball Gareth Epps Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair, English rep Joanne Foster, Sarah Gidley James Gurling, Jeremy Hargreaves, Linda Jack, Welsh rep FE rep FPC rep FPC rep Jenni Lang, Liz Lynne Chris Maines Justine Pauline Pearce Scottish rep McGuinness Mary Reid Shas Sheehan Paul Tilsley Mike Ross, Chief Steward, co-opted Ex officio: Members of the FCC will be available to give Tom Brake MP, Chief Whip. advice at the Information Desk at the following times: Baroness Sal Brinton, Party President. Friday 11th March 17.00–18.00 Tim Gordon, Chief Executive (non-voting). Saturday 12th March 09.00–10.30 and 14.00–16.00 You can also contact the FCC via the Information Desk outside of these hours. 6 Agenda & Directory Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2016 Liberal Democrat Spring Conference Information Great value food, available throughout the entire event. Breakfast Menu Full pageScrambled Eggs (v) £3.50 Served All Day On toasted bread BarbicanWith smoked salmon £5.80 Cumberland Sausage or Streaky With bacon £4.80 Bacon £2.50 In a toasted bun Berry Fruit Salad with yogurt £2.80 (v) Add Fried Egg 50p Organic English yogurt berries & honey -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lunch Menu (Served with a side salad or chips) Ham Salad £3.90 Beetroot Salad (v) £3.50 Cheese & Pickle (v) £3.90 Mixed with walnuts & feta cheese in a Tuna Mayonnaise & Cucumber £3.90 balsamic vinegar dressing Egg Mayonnaise (v) £3.90 Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Tuna Salad £3.90 £4.90 Light mayo, celery, cucumber & baby Bacon & Avocado £4.90 leaf lettuce Salt & Pepper Oven Baked Jacket Chicken Caesar Salad £4.80 Potato Grilled chicken, lettuce, parmesan (Served with a side salad) cheese, croutons all tossed in a classic Cheese Savoury (v) £4.90 Caesar sauce.