Tag Archives: liberal democrat conference spring 2016

Paul Walter

VIDEO: Watch the “Electing Diverse MPs” (incl. All Woman Shortlists) debate

By Paul Walter | Sun 13th March 2016 - 5:07 pm

You can watch today’s “Electing Diverse MPs” (including All Women Shortlists) debate from the York conference in full below. Just click on the central arrow:

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Paul Walter

Watch the Spring conference sessions on You Tube

By Paul Walter | Sun 13th March 2016 - 4:49 pm

You can watch the Spring conference debates on You Tube:

The Saturday sessions are here.

The Sunday sessions are here.

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Paul Walter

It’s time to focus on real life – Tim Farron’s conference speech in full

By Paul Walter | Sun 13th March 2016 - 3:48 pm

Here is the full text of Tim Farron’s keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Spring conference in York today:

You will be unsurprised to hear that I was recently interviewed by Stylist magazine.

They asked me lots of exciting questions regarding my colossal sense of glamour.

They also wanted me to write about a woman who had been my hero.

I wanted to be completely honest, and pick the woman who was indeed my hero.

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News Meerkat

Landmark diversity change will make the Liberal Democrats look like the nation we want to represent – Sal Brinton

By News Meerkat | Sun 13th March 2016 - 2:28 pm

Liberal Democrats have embraced diversity today by voting in favour of all-women shortlists.

Building on earlier successes and designed to increase diversity amongst candidates and MPs, the motion was supported by Party Leader Tim Farron, and passed overwhelmingly at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in York.

In addition to introducing all-women shortlists, the motion ensures more spaces on constituency shortlists for BAME and LGBT+ members. It also means the Liberal Democrats will be the first political party in the country to implement all-disabled shortlists.

Party President Sal Brinton said: “”Over the last few months many party members have told us they think it is time we dealt comprehensively with the lack of diversity amongst our MPs, the wider party and parliament overall.

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Paul Walter

Party adopts All Women Shortlists after Tim Farron’s plea: ‘The time for excuses has gone’

By Paul Walter | Sun 13th March 2016 - 12:11 pm

The Liberal Democrat federal party conference at York this morning passed the “Electing Diverse MPs” motion without amendment 1, meaning that the party has adopted All Women Shortlists along with a slew of other major diversity initiatives.

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Paul Walter

Watch Tim Farron’s keynote leader’s speech to conference here at 11:45

By Paul Walter | Sun 13th March 2016 - 10:35 am

By clicking on the arrow below, you can watch this morning’s session of the Liberal Democrat spring conference in York, including Tim farron’s keynote leader’s speech at 11:45am. It should be a corker.



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Paul Walter

“Electing diverse MPs” including All women shortlists – full motion and amendments

By Paul Walter | Sun 13th March 2016 - 9:20 am

Here is the full motion, with the amendments to be debated, for “Electing diverse MPs” (including All Women Shortlists) which is about to be debated at the York conference. (Note: you can see the motion with its line numbers starting on page 57 of the agenda paper for conference here and the amendments starting on page 17 of Saturday’s Conference Daily sheet here.). A reminder that you can watch the live stream of the debate here.

The motion

F20 Electing Diverse MPs

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Paul Walter

Britain must lead – not leave

By Paul Walter | Sun 13th March 2016 - 7:34 am

Here is the full text of Tim Farron’s speech to the York conference rally this weekend:

When you’re sat in the front row, it’s impossible to miss your cue to get on stage.

But for those of you who were at conference in the autumn, you may have noticed I was a little late to the stage.

I was sitting very happily having a cup of tea in the green room, completely oblivious to what was happening

I didn’t think I was due on for at least 5 more minutes.

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Alex Meredith

A former candidate reflects on the diversity motion

By Alex Meredith | Thu 10th March 2016 - 1:55 pm

hero_eu

As a white, straight, able-bodied, British man who was a candidate last May and has aspirations to run again, I wanted to offer the perspective of one of the ‘over-represented’ as we approach Sunday’s diversity debate.

When I saw the text, the realisation that the motion would have significant consequences for me and my ilk was unavoidable.  The motion promises us training and support and that we will be ‘valued’.  But along with positive discrimination in general election selections we are also promised proposals on wider party diversity including in party structures and local government.  The feeling I experienced on reading the motion must be akin to turkey being offered training and support in the run up to a gender-neutral, multi-faith Winter festival.

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