Globalisation is changing our world.

Liberal Democrats have generally welcomed it – as well as putting forward views about how we should seek to influence its development.

But it is a fact – and it has consequences for own domestic UK economy.

A policy working group chaired by Lord (Robin) Teverson is looking at what Britain needs to do respond to the processes of globalisation and to equip ourselves for the globalised twenty-first century economy.

Their consultation paper – on which they are inviting comments from all party members – looks at several aspects of this.

A first group of questions are around the economic impacts within the UK. What infrastructural and technological developments are needed to enhance the UK’s competitiveness? What is the right role for government in that – and what are the risks of state intervention here? How should governments properly seek to help British companies compete – and how can government and business best work in partnership to ensure the right skills among employees?

Then there are questions about how we should respond to some social aspects. What should our attitude be to increased economic migration? What are the best ways to address the resulting community cohesion questions – and what is the right role for welfare spending here? Does more welfare spending threaten the UK’s competitiveness – or in fact help promote it, as there is some evidence from other countries to suggest?

A third set of issues is around the environmental impacts of globalisation on the UK’s economy: how do we balance reducing the environmental impact of the UK’s economy with our need for competitiveness? In particular how can we do that without simply outsourcing negative environmental impacts elsewhere? And how can we take advantage of the opportunities in this area for the UK’s economy?

How can we promote the different regions of the UK to maintain and develop competitive industries within the globalised systems – and what should different levels of government do to help their local areas, and learn from each other?

Finally – and crucially, I believe – how can we politically manage globalisation? The process of globalisation, and national politicians saying they have no ability to respond in a global economy, and a sense that your job in Tewkesbury can be cut by a decision of a board in Tokyo, is perhaps the most disempowering feature for many people. How can we help people to feel involved in some of these processes – and actually be involved?

The working group would welcome your views on any of these issues, and they will help inform them in developing the proposals that they will bring to conference this autumn.

* Jeremy Hargreaves is Vice Chair of the Liberal Democrats’ Federal Policy Committee (FPC) which is responsible for the party’s policy making. He is also part of the writing group preparing the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto for the next General Election.

An area which has long been a priority for Lib Dems – and which as tackling climate becomes ever more crucial – is the UK’s transport infrastructure. But in recent years it has not been an area where we have made promoting our policies a high priority.

A policy working group, chaired by Shaun Carr, is now preparing a policy paper to come to party conference – and seeks input and views from party members. Please give yours!

The consultation paper they have produced takes a good look at many of the biggest issues around transport, and asks some highly pertinent questions.

A central set of issues is around the UK’s key major national transport infrastructure. Should the UK have a high-speed national passenger transport network? If so, is our proposed charge on freight on motorways the best way of funding it? If we are trying to encourage freight off the roads, should that too have a dedicated national freight rail network? Is road pricing the way forward – and if so, how can we best do it so that it gains public support?

A second key set of issues are around the carbon emissions which transport generates – currently 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions and the only sector where these are rising. How can we re-incentivise transport to limit that? Do our current proposals on aviation strike the right balance between restraining it, and allowing people and goods to travel? Are biofuels part of the solution to limiting emissions from cars?

And then there are some very local issues: how we do limit local congestion, and promote good quality and affordable local public transport arrangements?

Are our national structures for managing transport right? Should we for example look again at re-integrating train operating companies and management of the track?

And then finally there are safety issues. How do we promote greater safety for people travelling – from passengers on trains and planes, to children at risk from a speeding car in a residential street?

The working group would welcome your views on any of these issues, and they will help inform them in developing the proposals that they will bring to conference this autumn.

Don’t be one of those who complains when this comes to Bournemouth Conference in the autumn, that you didn’t have the chance to contribute – go to the website and contribute your views there, or if you prefer to do so privately, write to the chair of the working group, c/o Policy Projects Team, 4 Cowley St, London SW1P 3NB.

* Jeremy Hargreaves is Vice Chair of the Liberal Democrats’ Federal Policy Committee (FPC) which is responsible for the party’s policy making. He is also part of the writing group preparing the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto for the next General Election.

One of the areas where the party is currently consulting members and looking for input – and one which affects nothing less than the future of our world – is on Security.

The working group, chaired by Cambridge University international affairs expert (and Lib Dem councillor) Dr Julie Smith has produced a very easy to read consultation paper asking questions on some fascinating – and crucial – questions.

The first area they look at is terrorism. How well do we really understand the terrorist threat (and its causes)? What is the best way of responding to it – by military means or other ways? How can we most usefully work with governments in countries with a terrorist problem? These are some of the questions that the consultation paper poses.

But this is emphatically not only an international affairs topic – it also looks at what we need to do at home here in the UK to tackle the terrorist threat. Is the state of community cohesion in the UK relevant to the security threat? What causes British-born people to perpetrate terrorist acts against fellow citizens? How do we engage minority and immigrant groups better in UK society?

Threats to our security do not only come from ill-intentioned people. How well do we understand the implications of potential global resource wars for our security? Are we prepared for them? What action do we need to be taking to protect our energy supplies – and what are the implications of that for our relations with the rest of the world?

And indeed what role do we think Britain needs to have in the twenty-first century world? Should we even be attempting to retain our status as a military power which punches above our weight? Leaving aside Iraq – when should countries like Britain seek to intervene in other parts of the world? Should Britain ever seek to intervene in another country on our own? – and if not, what are the implications of that for how we should organise joint operations with other countries and organisations like NATO and the EU, so that they contribute most effectively to our security?

These are all questions which are not only fascinating, but central to the future of our world.

Don’t be one of those who complains when this comes to Bournemouth Conference in the autumn, that you didn’t have the chance to contribute – go to the website and contribute your views there, or if you prefer to do so privately, write to the chair of the working group, c/o Policy Projects Team, 4 Cowley St, London SW1P 3NB.

* Jeremy Hargreaves is Vice Chair of the Liberal Democrats’ Federal Policy Committee (FPC) which is responsible for the party’s policy making. He is also part of the writing group preparing the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto for the next General Election.

One of the features which marks out the way in which we Liberal Democrats as a party make our policies is that they are decided by the members, not just by the Leader and Shadow Cabinet.

We often tend to focus on the fact that all policies have to be voted on by Conference.

But in fact there is another way in which all party members – including those who aren’t able to go to Conference – can have what is probably an even greater influence on what our policies are.

And that’s through the process by which every working group preparing a policy to take to conference, publishes a consultation paper, setting out some background and asking some key questions. Any party member who is interested in developing our policies could and should take advantage of this to feed in their views.

Some party members frequently complain that by the time proposals come to conference it is difficult to influence exactly what the proposals say – but then often don’t take up any of the many opportunities that there are to participate in shaping those proposals at an earlier stage, when this very much is possible.

Working groups are currently seeking views and input from members in three areas. Members can contribute in these areas by attending their consultative session at conference, by writing to the chair of the group (something always open to any party member) – or through the special website that all working groups have. Each group’s site contains the consultation paper, and a discussion forum.

* Jeremy Hargreaves is Vice Chair of the Liberal Democrats’ Federal Policy Committee (FPC), which is responsible for the party’s policy making. He has written three further articles for Liberal Democrat Voice focusing on (1) Security, which will be published later today, (2) Transport, and (3) the UK’s reponse to globalisation - on all of which policy topics the party is inviting members to contribute at http://consult.libdems.org.uk/

One of the things we’re most proud of as a party is that it is representatives of our local parties across the country, who make our policy at conference. It’s one of the many things that makes us stand out from the other major parties.

But away from Conference, how much discussion of the key political and policy questions facing us, does go on around the party?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that in recent years the number of “Pizza and Politics”-style events run by local parties has increased – as a quick glance at the excellent Flock Together website shows. And the Liberal Drinks initiative also now organises regular informal events in several cities around the country.

But what we don’t have is any real idea of just how widespread local party discussions of policy questions are – particularly outside the big cities.

* How many local parties in fact never organise this kind of political discussion event?
* How many local parties discuss major policy decisions coming up at Conference, with the representatives they send to it?
* What could we do at the centre do encourage and support such discussions?
* And if we did encourage more such events, would members actually be interested?

To try and get a picture of some of this, the Federal Conference Committee (FCC), in conjunction with the Federal Policy Committee (FPC), are asking members to fill in a short online questionnaire, about what currently happens, and how we could usefully develop support for local parties and others.

We hope the outcome will allow us to get something of a picture of both how much of this kind of discussion goes on, and what we could do to support it further.

We’re particularly keen to ensure that we get responses from as wide a range of local parties around the country as possible, as well as from as many members as possible.

So please help us by doing two things:

1. Passing this request on to others who may not otherwise see it, especially in smaller local parties
2. Take the survey yourself and give us your views. It will take you less than 5 minutes!
The survey is here.

If you have any queries or fuller views on this, please don’t hesitate to contact me on

The Liberal Democrats’ Federal Policy Committee is inviting members to put themselves forward to sit on the policy working groups which draft policy for consideration by FPC and then Conference.

Party members have been asked to send in their names by 28th January – so this is your last chance to do it by then!

FPC is currently putting together groups to look at education, and non-climate change environmental issues, so if you’d like to be considered for them then you need to get your application by the deadline.

However if you are mainly interested in other areas and would just like to be on the list generally for the future, it doesn’t matter too much if you send in your application after Monday’s deadline.

You can apply online, or request a paper form (details below).

The system of having a standing panel for working groups, rather than advertising for members for each working group individually, was introduced last year by FPC. It has both helped to get a full picture of the breadth of expertise and interests there are in the party, and also allowed FPC to set up groups more swiftly (merely advertising, selecting and approving the membership of working groups could take up to 3 months in the past).

The formal advert from the FPC says:

The Federal Policy Committee (FPC) would like to invite Party members to put their name forward to serve on Policy Working Groups. As part of our annual exercise to recruit new members into the working groups, we will put together a panel of potential working group members from which we will draw when setting up individual groups.

Party members wishing to be included on the panel for 2008 should fill in and return an application by Monday 28 January 2008. The FPC has already decided to set up new working groups covering the subjects of Education and non-climate change environmental issues, so members with an interest in these subjects are particularly encouraged to come forward.

Alternatively an application form is available to download below or paper copies can be obtained by calling the policy team on 0207 219 2577 or emailing and returned to The Policy Unit, Liberal Democrats, 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB or by email to .

Setting the Agenda: Liberal Democrat One Day Manifesto Conference
London School of Economics, 12 January 2008 (10.00-18.00)

The Liberal Democrat Manifesto Group is organising a special one day conference to give party members an opportunity to contribute to the development of the party’s next general election manifesto. It will involve leading figures in the party and invited guest speakers and will be modelled on the successful 2006 ‘Meeting the Challenge’ Conference.

This conference will include:
* an opening keynote speech by the new leader;
* a major debate on the political challenges presented by the other parties, and the political opportunities for the Liberal Democrats;
* a question and answer panel on the best way to improve public services;
* and a series of breakout workshops run by party organisations and think-tanks.

A full agenda for the day will be published in early December.

Last time, places at the one day conference were fully booked well in advance. Party members wishing to register now should visit www.libdems.org.uk/conference/manifestogroup.html

Registration during November will cost £30 including lunch and refreshments (£20 concessions).

Like many people who were away in August, when he died, I was glad to discover that a thanksgiving service for Tim’s life is being held on 30th November. I haven’t seen it publicised it elsewhere so, with Sue’s permission, I am posting details of it here - and please do pass on the information if you know of others who would be interested in it.

Please note that if you would like to go then you need to request tickets by 9th November from the address below.

The event is being organised by the RAF, hence the formality. I’m glad to see that all Tim’s many honours and distinctions are recognised - though I’m sure I won’t be the only one to think that the formidable figure it seems to describe is not quite the friendly and imnmensely personable man we remember!

THANKSGIVING SERVICE
AIR MARSHAL PROFESSOR THE LORD GARDEN

A service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of Air Marshal Professor The Lord Garden KCB MA MPhil FRAeS FCGI will be held on Friday 30th November at noon at the RAF Church of St Clement Danes, Strand, London WC2R 1BH.

Dress for the occasion will be: Serving Officers: Non-Ceremonial Day Dress, Civilians: Lounge Suit.

Applications for tickets, stating all names of individuals wishing to attend, should be made in writing and are to be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Applications should reach Mr Paul Hubbard SO3 RAF Ceremonial Admin, Building 263, RAF Bentley Priory, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 3HH by no later than Friday 9 November 2007.

[Editor's note: LDV posted an appreciation of Tim Garden, written by Tom McNally, here.]

One of the features of our party’s policy is the amount of consultation that goes into preparing it.

Every party member has the opportunity to feed in their views before proposals are drawn up for taking to Conference. This has always included publishing a consultation paper before every new policy paper, and consultative sessions are held at party conference and often elsewhere too.

But over the last year we’ve moved consultation into the electronic world too – so each working group now has its own site where any party member can comment or contribute.

So the two new consultative papers that the party has recently unveiled are now online: on future policy on Europe, and on Further & Higher Education. In each of these areas a working group is working towards bringing a policy paper to conference, either in spring (FE/HE), or at autumn next year (Europe).

Read more »

Last week the party published the preliminary agenda for Autumn Conference in Brighton.

A major policy paper will set out proposals for tackling poverty and reducing inequality – an issue that Lib Dem leader Ming Campbell personally has identified as something he wants the party to tackle as a priority. There’ll be a new paper refining further our proposals to make the tax system fairer – including a headline proposal to cut income tax by 4p in the pound. And there will be a new paper on local and regional governance in England.

Also still to come are policy papers on tackling climate change and on better governance of the UK.

Read more »