Conference kicks off officially today. The whirlwind of debate and socialising and fringe meetings is guaranteed to have at least three things in every slot that you want to go to.
Here’s my pick of the fringe for today, all of which can be found in the directory:
Saturday lunchtime 1-2:30
Federal Conference Committee invite people to suggest ways of improving disability access at future Conferences.
I suspect the New Liberal Manifesto’s meeting with Sir John Curtice on the need for the party to have bolder messaging will be very busy, so get there early. It’s chaired by Layla and Dick Newby, our leader in the Lords is also speaking.
Social Liberal Forum has Sarah Olney and others on a radical and liberal approach to economics
Saturday mid evening 20:15-21:45
I’m liking the collaboration between ALDES (Lib Dem Engineers and Scientists) and the Young Liberals to chat all things tech
Liberal History Group launch their book asking What have the Liberals ever done for us? Layla Moran, Wendy Chamberlain and Janey Little take part.
After the disgusting Small Boats Week organised by the Government over the Summer, listen to Alistair Carmichael and others give a liberal alternative with Lib Dem Seekers for Sanctuary.
And who will win ALDC’s Campaigner’s awards?
Saturday Late night
It’s the return of the Lib Dem Disco. The Daily Mirror’s Mikey Smith has been known to get very excited about this on Twitter. Wendy Chamberlain, Munira Wilson, Josh Babarinde and Cllr Joe Harris vye for the title of DJ of the Year. It’s unmissable. Get your ticket here.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
3 Comments
Thanks to the session on access the party had finally taken on board a long standing grievance and agreed to mark seats in the area where the hearing loop can be picked up and people with visual disability can sit so that we don’t have to ask people who have innocently occupied those seats to move.
Can the Party go a bit harder on Labour? I appreciate that it is the case the Conservatives are now unelectable and need to be defeated but are Labour much better? Their behaviour since they were founded in 1900 towards Liberals, the Alliance and Lib Dems leave a lot to be desired and they are pretty weak on change re taxation and reform, in fact they are not to be trusted in the same way as Tories. They won’t even commit to a wealth tax for those over £1m, which would ease the tax burden on lower paid and middle income families. Public services cannot be paid for by magic money trees! Does Labour not get that? Even their paymasters in the Trade Unions recognise that.
“Can the Party go a bit harder on Labour?”
Please do!
” They won’t even commit to a wealth tax for those over £1m, which would ease the tax burden on lower paid and middle income families.
Also ‘they’ wont even commit to stopping the discrimination against 3rd and above children in the benefit system. They, ie Starmer, Reeves and co, are so right wing that they happily describe themselves as “real conservatives”.
Many of us don’t want conservatives – real or otherwise. Why not tack to the left and aim to fill the huge political space vacated by the Labour Party?