I wasn’t sure what to expect from my first political conference. I thought maybe I’d go and I’d be on my own all weekend. Perhaps the people who’d been going for years would look down on somebody with less than five months in the party. Or they’d be politically narrow minded, not wanting to discuss views that differed from their own.
I should have had more faith. Within hours, I’d made a group of fantastic new friends. Party members, councillors, even Tim Farron and Paddy Ashdown told us how grateful they were to have us and how the surge in membership had given new life to the party.
I spoke to many people with different views to my own – sometimes absolutely opposing views – but those discussions were all pleasant, rational, and ended with an agree to differ and an offer of a drink. Nobody called me a ‘Tory’ if I said Britain should maintain a nuclear deterrent, or dismissed me as a ‘leftie’ for supporting our EU membership.
As far as I can tell, my experience was typical. All of the new members I met had worried that joining a political party would mean cliques and dry dullness. All were thrilled to find it inclusive, rather fun, and, in no sense of the word, dry.
I’m writing this to thank all those people that welcomed me and my fellow new members at their first conference. But I’d also like to address those new members. Let’s keep up the energy we had in Bournemouth, even now that the hangovers have worn off and we’re struggling with work or study rather than policy discussions.
My friends and family thought that joining a political party that had just been wiped out was an eccentric thing to do. But at the same time, most of them told me they supported Liberal Democrat principles and policies. We can’t pretend a great conference means a return to electoral success, but those votes are out there if we can get our message across.
If like me you’ve come back from conference feeling energised, keep up that momentum. Perhaps you’ll engage with other new members by organising a #libdempint. If you’re in London and free this weekend, help win a council seat by canvassing with Ben Maitland. Or contact your local party to see what issues you can help with in your local area. It was great to feel part of Generation Bournemouth, but now we have to translate that energy into action.
* Benjamin Sims runs a technology consulting firm in London and lives in Tower Hamlets. He has been a member of the Liberal Democrats since May 2015
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7 Comments
So glad you enjoyed it.
I think the thing about agreeing to disagree is one of my favourite bits. Sitting in the trident motion and voting completely oppositely to my boyfriend, sitting next to me, and it causing nary a ripple of discontent in our relationship is an example of that 😉
Great to see new member’s participating in LibDems discourse. Great to know Benjamin’s in our LibDems and I look forward to working with you.
I completely second your article Ben! I too was a newbie and I too was not only welcomed but inspired!
A friend of mine recently joined the Labour party so that she could vote for Jeremy Corbyn in the leadership contest. Last week, she went to her first party meeting, where according to her she received a frosty welcome from longer-standing members who didn’t like the idea of newbies barging into their party. I am so proud of us that we are giving our new members a much better welcome than that!
Glad young Ben enjoyed it – and hopefully will for years to come. He may not have noticed a gathering of Young Liberal Red Guards sipping tea (?) together on Tuesday afternoon….. Young ? …….well Party historians may have recognised the assertive, argumentative, radical and generally stroppy Young Liberals and ULS of 50 years ago.
Comparing knee and hip replacements, liver transplants,dodgy immune systems and victorious brushes with big C were two Lords of the realm, a psephologist, a former headteacher and historian, a former head of a national charity, a former editor of Radical bulletin, and an author of ‘Community Politics’ ……. a combined total of over 400 years of Liberal activism between them. Many West Yorkshire and East Lancashire Pennine connections from the Wainwright, Wade and Ingham era.
Last of the Summer Wine ? Which one was Compo ? Nah, still plenty more radicalism and things to do…….. May Ben enjoy something similar one day long after the motley crew depart to the Great Committee Room in the sky. No regrets…. it’s has been, and still is, fun….. Good luck, Ben. Enjoy it as much as we did.
so pleased you felt welcome, and enjoyed conference.
I remember my first conference when I was newly elected and the only Liberal on the Council. Feeling very lost and insecure. that was 1982, and every conference has been a point of recharging and moving on. I’ve made some wonderful friends (even some of Last of Summer Wine gang!) . I can assure you it wasn’t a special show for our new members, it is what and how we are 🙂
hope to meet you next time.
Thank you all for your kind comments – I look forward to many more such conferences.
David, I’m perhaps not as young as many conference first-timers, but as an East Lancashire native I appreciate knowing there is a long history behind the party. Hopefully in 50 years we’ll be reflecting on the great Liberal governments of the 2020s.