On matters of policy and strategy, the Liberal Democrat conference is turning out to be rather more good-natured and unified than journalists were expecting/hoping (as Sky’s Sophy Ridge has had the grace to admit).
When it comes to matters of party business, however, there is rather more spark than usual. It’s not only the attempt to suspend standing orders – related to how the NHS is being discussed at conference – or the passing of a critical motion about the security checks for conference this morning.
There has also been a noticeable surge in questions to party committee and two pieces of internal party business reform are to be debated later in the week – one about relaxing the party’s internal election rules and one about improving the party’s Federal Appeals Panel (why yes, it is from me). Those sessions usually timetabled for 9am will turn out to be rather more lively and important than usual.
And added to that list now is 9am Monday morning, when a proposal to cut the federal (central) party’s share of membership subscriptions. Party membership fees are split between different levels of the party and Monday’s proposal essentially would cut the current federal party share by £150,000.
It’s a proposal that the federal party will oppose, and I suspect that in making the case against it will be pointed out how much of what has been discussed about campaigning during party conference, such as improving the party’s data systems, making more extensive use of the internet and a stronger Lib Dem policy team to develop Lib Dem policies, are about spending more, rather than less, money via the federal party.
I suspect too that those supporting the move will make reference to liberal beliefs in decentralisation. They will need to overcome the equality question, as the hugely varying membership between different parts of the country means that cutting the central part of party spending will mean bigger variations in overall party spending between richer and poorer areas, much like the controversies over local government funding…
Set your alarm clocks for Monday morning.
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2 Comments
There is clearly some panic in high places about the federal levy. I have had no fewer than FOUR messages on my mobile phone from the Liberal Democrat Whips’ Office urging me to turn up for the vote on this matter. It does seem to me top be outrageous that the Whips’ Office is trying to tell parliamentarians how to vote on on internal party matters but that is another issue.
Anyway since I am not at conference their efforts are wasted. Had I been there I suspect I would have thanked them for their information and turned up to vote the wrong way (from their point of view). Not for the first time I must admit. But since I am not there I cannot either help or hinder them ion their endeavours.
Tony Greaves
I think there’s a chicken and egg here. The Federal Party does lots of stuff because it has lots of money. If it has less money, it may well do less stuff. But if it gets less money, and regional parties get more money, then regional parties can do more stuff.
My region (North-West) is fortunate enough to be able to employ staff, and it’s amazing how much difference it makes to have paid assistance to the regional executive. Giving opportunity to employ helpers, if only part time, or hold events like regional raining days, are just as important as the central stuff that Mark mentions.
The motion is contentious in that it’s redistributing existing money, away from one part of the party and towards others. However, I feel that regional parties will be better able to use improved resources to increase membership – and that means new money coming in at both the regional and federal levels.
Sadly I can’t vote for the motion as I’ll be delivering training, but I urge voting reps to do so – and non-voters to come to “Recruiting Members” in Jury’s Inn room 106 to get new money coming into the party, regardless of where it goes!