An unprecedented alliance of groups within the Liberal Democrats have announced an agreement to turn the Spring 2016 gathering into a special Conference. Liberal Vision, the Social Liberal Forum, Liberal Left and Liberal Reform have agreed with the Federal Conference Committee that normal arrangements will be suspended in favour of a special ‘we’re sorry’ day.
A spokesman for the four groups said:
Rather than spending each Conference for years to come rejecting various policy items which the Party supported while in Coalition it seemed much easier to do it all at once .
The format has been agreed as a series of policy sections which will include a specific list of things done by the Coalition which the Party was really against all along. Before each section the relevant former Lib Dem Minister will be expected to formally apologise for their actions while in Government.
Should the Party still be in Coalition with the Tories then the Special Conference will be replaced by an all day rally and celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Liberal and Conservative Coalition that came to power in 1916, with the theme “Liberal and Tories working for Britain in war and peace”. If we are in Coalition with Labour they will be asked, as part of the new Coalition agreement, to refrain from making any ‘we told you so’ comments for a month around the Special Conference.
One change which is expected to find widespread approval is that of going back to the Liberal Party practice of ending Conference with a song. Conference participants will be asked to choose (by Alternative vote) between:
“I don’t want to talk about it”
“You can’t always get what you want”
“Everybody wants to rule the world”
“Sorry seems to be the hardest word”
Given the controversial nature of the Conference it has been agreed that a figure who is universally respected across the Party should Chair it: Lembit Öpik has therefore been asked if he is available.
All Lib Dems should put the date in their diaries now: 1 April 2016
* Simon McGrath is a Councillor in Wimbledon and represents Lib Dem Councillors on the Party’s Federal Board
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24 Comments
Brilliant self-mockery – made me LOL
It will be the 1st ever conference wiped out by a meteor
I can’t make that date. Please accept my apologies.
Hey that wasn’t what we agreed!
Nick Clegg’s 2015 general election strategy has been secretly leaked and Liberal Left, Liberal Reform, SLF, Liberal Vision and absolutely everyone else all agree that we will win a thumping majority at the next general election and that that conference was going to be our national hero day! The painting in the NLC of the 1880 Liberal Cabinet was going to be replaced with one with Nick Clegg, David Laws, Danny Alexander, Jeremy Browne and Mark Oaten sitting around a table in a profound debate on the great affairs of the ruling Lib Dem government…
Not even remotely funny given the benefit cuts coming into play today.
what Adrian said
You are right Adrian (just been brought down to earth).
What Jennie said Adrian said.
Adrian,
Maybe you want to take it up with your colleagues who voted for it, rather than on the comments of a light-hearted LDV piece.
What Mike said.
Sometimes I think s
Clumsy fingers!
Sometimes I think senses of humour must be expensive…
Simon, you disappoint me in your attempt at inclusivity. You’ve forgotten to consult Liberal Insight 😉 – http://www.liberalinsight.com/about/advisory-board/
@Adrian Sanders:
“Not even remotely funny given the benefit cuts coming into play today”
Oh, I don’t know. Have you never heard of ‘gallows humour’, Adrian?
Form an orderly queue behind me, please, to hang the hangman. 😉
This isn’t funny. As party activists I think we need to show some compassion for what is happening today to millions of people. Remember, Libdems may pay for today at the next election.
This is hilarious! I LOVE IT!
Forget April Fool’s – give us all a birthday present and REALLY stand up for your party and what is right and have a special conference to ditch your leadership. Not funny, especially given the economic hardship handed down by your coalition today,
…the only fools were the poor chumps that voted for you at the last GE (me included) and expected to get liberal policies.
Yes, today millions of people have had to suffer from massive hyperbole from the Labour press and social media, and we should pity them being given a false impression that the sky is falling.
Another vote for Adrian
Yes – funny and no harm in that, however having been an active member for more than 5o years, never thought I would see a Liberal Coalition or Government in my lifetime. I don’t think we’ve been perfect by any means but that’s compromise for you!
@Adrian Sanders I would reply but this is probably not the place. And since you seem to get your opinions from Labour press releases as recycled by the Guardian I am not sure how productive it would be.
Dave, I can’t speak for Adrian but I’ve been going by the reports from the ifs and the dwp’s own impact assessments; neither of which can fairly be described as labour press releases.
Shouldn’t we be apologising in advance for the slightly ( and probably only slightly) different set of dodgy voting our MPs will have to do as part of a Labour/Lib Dem coalition?
@ Dave Page – to suggest that fears are soley based on the ‘Labour Press’ and social media suggests that your head is planted firmly in the sand.