The Conference Extra, containing details of all the amendments selected by Federal Conference Committee, the motion on Europe which will no doubt be hopelessly out of date by the time it’s debated on Saturday and all the questions put to Federal Committees, has been published.
The Europe motion is amendable – you need to get your changes in before Friday at 1 pm. Even though the website at the time of writing says Thursday. I know conference motions are supposed to be a bit circumspect and detached but I am left cold by it. Not that it necessarily says anything wrong, but, really, at this point, I want it to saying that “Conference is bloody livid that the country has been lied to, cheated, sold a pig in a poke and has a Government that has turned can-kicking into its only competence. Conference resolves to put a stop to this farce as soon as possible.”
The process for the votes on the Supporters’ scheme constitutional amendment and business motion reminds me of the song “The Wee Kirkcudbright Centipede” from The Singing Kettle. If you try to consciously re-enact it, you’ll do yourself an injury, but if you do it instinctively and just listen to the session chair, you’ll be fine.
There are some well and truly awkward questions to Federal Committees, too.
So now you have everything you need to plan your speeches.
What are you waiting for? And here’s the thing. You can submit your speaker’s card online.
And not all the Conference deadlines have passed. If you want a separate vote on anything for debate on Sunday, you have until 9am Saturday to get that request in.
Aside from all that, Facebook reminded me of the highlight of last Spring Conference, missed by so many people due to its impromptu nature.
Facebook reminds me that it is a year today since @SalBrinton and I sang Little Bunny Fou Fou from the Singing Kettle at the Federal Board helpdesk at #ldconf. We will need to think about how we are going to top that in York this weekend.
— Caron Lindsay 🔶 🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@caronmlindsay) March 11, 2019
Just in case you’re wondering, I’m on Federal Board helpdesk between 10:30 and 11:30 on Sunday morning. Come and have a chat.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
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4 Comments
Folks, I didn’t actually volunteer to *summate* the Amendment One to F9 when I put my signature to its submission. I seem to have been volunteered. Anyone who is passionate about it, please take my place? I’m already summating on an amendment to F8!
The problem with TIGger is that we can’t openly talk about them without giving ammunition to our enemies in the media. I presume & hope that we are actually having private conversations on the practicalities of Electoral Pacts/Umbrella Arrangements, ready for when TIG become a Party in a Month or two. I wish everyone involved all the best.
@Paul Barker: “The problem with TIGger is that we can’t openly talk about them without giving ammunition to our enemies in the media.”
But that’s an argument for never discussing anything which may cause internal controversy! In any case, you may have noted from ‘Conference Extra’ (see the Fringe update on page 8) that the Federal Board will now be conducting a ‘Consultation on the Lib Dems and The Independent Group’ in the main auditorium on Saturday lunchtime (16 March).
@ Paul Barker “The problem with TIGger is that we can’t openly talk about them without giving ammunition to our enemies in the media”.
Is this the same well known face, Paul Barker, who was busy yesterday complaining about well known faces on LDV being paranoid ?