AGENDA Autumn Conference Bournemouth 14–17 September 2019 DEMAND BETTER Agenda Cover Final_V2.indd 1 26/07/2019 15:33:16 Contents Welcome to the Liberal Information: 2–6 Democrat 2019 Conference Agenda. Auditorium information 2 If you have any questions whilst at Agenda: 7–69 conference please ask a conference Agenda index and timetable 7 steward or go to the Information Desk on the ground floor of the Saturday 14 September 9 Bournemouth International Centre. Sunday 15 September 28 For features, general conference Monday 16 September 45 information, exhibition and fringe, Tuesday 17 September 61 see the separate Directory. Conference timetable 2020 27 Conference venue Standing orders 70–80 Bournemouth International Federal Party 81 Centre (BIC), Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH Please note that the BIC is within the secure zone and that access is only possible with a valid conference pass. Further information, registration and conference publications (including plain text and clear print versions) are available at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference ISBN 978-1-910763-74-2 Published by The Conference Office, Printed by Park Communications Ltd, Liberal Democrats, 8–10 Great George Street, Alpine Way, London E6 6LA. London SW1P 3AE. Photographs © Liberal Democrats Design and layout by Mike Cooper, unless stated. [email protected]. DEMAND BETTER THAN BREXIT 1 Auditorium information This Agenda covers the auditorium particularly after lunch and ahead sessions at autumn conference. of popular events. Information The formal rules are set out in Please ensure mobile phones are standing orders on pages 70–80. on silent before entering the General conference information auditorium. can be found in the conference Directory. Accessibility l Conference Extra and There is access to the stage via a via a wheelchair lift to stage Conference Daily right. The chair of the session will ensure wheelchair users are Conference Extra is published called in plenty of time to access ahead of conference and the stage. Conference Daily each day at conference, containing updates to l An induction loop system, which the agenda including changes to can be linked to hearing aids. timings, amendments, topical l Sign language interpretation issues, emergency motions and during all auditorium sessions; a questions to reports, available at: number of seats are reserved for www.libdems.org.uk/ attendees using this service, at conference_papers the front of the auditorium. and via the Conference App. l Reserved seats at the front of the auditorium for those who would Limited hard copies of Conference benefit from being closer to the Daily will be available each morning stage due to a visual impairment. – enquire at the Information Desk. A limited number of electric Venue scooters will be available for use around the conference venue (they Access to the Bournemouth need to be returned each evening). International Centre is possible only If you need assistance at the venue, with a valid, conference pass worn please contact the Information with the official lanyard. You will be Desk in the BIC. If you need asked to show your pass when you assistance or information in enter the secure area and you are advance or to request the use of an required to wear the pass visibly at electric scooter, please contact the all times within the area. Conference Team on Do allow time for security check [email protected] queues during key times – 2 AGENDA AUTUMN CONFERENCE 2019 Debates and votes at conference Debates on policy and business Interventions: concise (one minute) motions are at the heart of speeches made from the federal conference. It is through intervention microphone(s) on the them that the party sets its policy floor of the auditorium, during and future direction. Unlike in debates where it is indicated in the other parties, Liberal Democrat Agenda. members are sovereign, and Amendments: all motions except what they decide really matters. Information emergency motions are open to The structure of debate on amendment; amendments accepted policy and business motions: will be printed in Conference Daily. Voting: decisions on most motions Proposer of the motion and all amendments and separate speaks votes are by simple majority of those V voting (2/3 majority for Proposers of any constitutional amendments). To amendments speak in turn vote, voting members must show their voting badge whilst seated on V the ground floor of the auditorium. Speakers called on all sides of the debate with the chair Separate votes: a vote to delete or seeking to ensure balance retain the specified words or section. A request for a separate vote may V be submitted by any party member: Interventions taken (if listed by the start of the first conference on the agenda) session on the day before the V debate is scheduled, or by the Summators of amendments deadline for emergency motions for speak in turn debates scheduled for the first day of conference; using the online form V at libdems.org.uk/conference_ The summator of the motion papers, by email to separate.votes@ speaks libdems.org.uk, or in writing to the Speakers’ Table in the auditorium. V The chair takes votes for and Counted vote: the chair of the against the amendments and session may decide that a vote separate votes (if any) in turn needs to be counted. Any voting member may request a count from V the floor; if fifty voting members A vote will be taken on the stand and show their voting cards, a motion as a whole count will be taken. DEMAND BETTER FOR THE NHS 3 Speaking and voting at conference Eligibility to speak and vote of the auditorium, an auditorium steward or the All party members are entitled to Information Information Desk; or speak and vote in conference l submit an electronic speaker’s debates, providing they are: card online at www.libdems.org. l attending conference as a party uk/speakers-card, from 10 member (and not eg an September up to one hour exhibitor or observer); and before the start of the debate. l not registered as a day visitor. Party members fulfilling these Completing a speaker’s card criteria are known as ‘voting When completing a speaker’s card, members’. remember: Federal Conference Committee 1 Submit your card well in may also give permission for other advance. The chair and aide team persons to speak (but not vote) in for the debate will meet well in conference debates. advance to plan the debate – sometimes the previous day. Length of speeches 2 Fill in your card completely. The length of speeches is shown Complete the back of the card as against each motion in the Agenda. well as the front. These sections are needed for the chair and aide There are three lights on the to balance the debate, so they can speaker’s rostrum and visible call people with relevant either side of the stage. The green experience and avoid a string of light is switched on at the people making the same point. beginning of the speech. The 3 Make sure it’s readable! amber light is switched on 60 Don’t fill every square centimetre seconds before the end of the of the card and write legibly – the allowed time (20 seconds before easier you make it for the chair the end of an intervention). The and aide to read the card the more red light is switched on when all likely you will be called. the time is used up, and the speaker must stop immediately. Interventions Applying to speak To speak during interventions, voting members should complete To make a speech in a debate you an intervention form, collected must: from and returned to a steward in l complete a speaker’s card, the auditorium. Speakers will be collected from and returned to chosen by the chair of the session the Speakers’ Table at the front by random ballot. 4 AGENDA AUTUMN CONFERENCE 2019 Other conference sessions Emergency motions and l at libdems.org.uk/conference_ topical issue discussions submissions. Emergency motions are debated l by 13.00 Monday 2 September. and voted on and make formal Questions may also be submitted party policy like other motions, on a form collected from and but refer to a substantial returned to the Speakers’ Table in development since the deadline the auditorium by: Information for submission of motions. l 12.50 Sunday 15 September. Motions selected for debate, and/ or for selection by ballot along Reports with the ballot procedure, will be The reports of Federal printed in Saturday’s Conference Committees and Parliamentary Daily. Parties are printed in the separate Topical issue discussions allow reports document. members and spokespeople to Any party member may submit discuss and comment on a concise questions on these political issue live at the time of reports. The chair will select conference; they do not make which questions will be asked. party policy. Questions to reports of the The topical issue to be discussed Parliamentary Parties may relate is chosen by officers of the to any aspect of Liberal Democrat Federal Conference Committee activities in the UK or European and Federal Policy Committee and Parliaments. will be printed in Saturday’s Questions may be submitted Conference Daily. using the online form: l at libdems.org.uk/conference_ Question & answer sessions submissions. Any party member may submit a l by 13.00 Monday 2 September. concise question (maximum 25 Questions received by the words) on any subject for the deadlines above will be printed in Leader’s Q&A. Questions will be Conference Extra. selected by the chair and put by the submitter from the Questions on events occurring intervention microphones in the after the deadlines above may be auditorium.