I’m feeling quite sad this morning.

I’m mot able to be at Conference this year as my husband and I get to grips with our new normal following a life-changing diagnosis a couple of months ago.

I’m missing everyone, but at least being at home means I’m not in the whirlwind so I can keep up with what’s going on and let you all know about it. Also I can watch the Strictly launch show.

So what can everyone in Brighton look forward to today?

In the main hall, I’d be wanting to speak on the heartbreaking and disgraceful situation of children in temporary accommodation. The damage that housing insecurity does to children is simply unforgivable.

The family courts motion is also interesting, particularly in its calls for regulation of therapists who give evidence. It’s frankly frightening that this does not happen already.

A motion on candidate safety looks to tackle the abuse and threats faced by candidates, particularly those from marginalised groups.

And don’t forget the opportunity to question the Federal Conference Committee and Federal Policy Committee. An important part of our internal democracy.

The chilling evidence that 2/3 of maternity units are not alway safe to give birth in is dealt with in the motion on maternity services.

Early life also comes under discussion in motion on rebuilding health visiting.

Debates on rural education, business and the scary state of our world complete the policy debates.

There are also keynote speeches from Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, Education spokesperson Munira Wilson and Gloucestershire Council leader Cllr Lisa Spivey.

Here’s the day in full:

Opening of Conference
09.10–09.25 F2 Report: Federal Conference Committee
F3 Report: Federal Policy Committee
09.25–09.55 F4 Policy Motion: Mortality of Children in
Temporary Accommodation
09.55–10.40 F5 Policy Motion: Securing the Future of
Rural and Coastal Education
10.40–11.35 F6 Policy Motion: Liberal Democrats Mean
Business
11.35–11.50 F7 Speech: Al Pinkerton MP
11.50–12.50 F8 Policy Motion: Tackling the Maternity
Crisis
12.50–14.10 Lunch break and fringe

14.40–16.00 F9 Policy Motion: Strength, Resilience and
Partnership: Securing Britain and Defending Liberalism in Turbulent Times
(International Security Policy Paper)
16.00–16.15 F10 Speech: Munira Wilson MP
16.15–16.45 F11 Policy Motion: Rebuilding Health Visiting
and Giving Every Child the Best Start in
Life
16.45–17.15 F12 Policy Motion: Fixing Family Courts
17.15–17.30 F13 Speech: Cllr Lisa Spivey
17.30–18.00 F14 Policy Motion: Local Candidate Safety
18.30–19.30 Conference Rally

You can read all the amendments in the Conference Extra and be sure to grab a Daily Bulletin from a steward on the way in. And of course all the information is available on the Conference App, available from all good app stores.

The leader arrives

Ed Davey will be stopping off at a chippy on the way to Conference where he’ll say:

“While families are struggling to afford the basics and small businesses are being crippled by this government, the Conservatives and Reform can only offer anger, division, and another con to line their own pockets.

“An unholy alliance between Farage and Badenoch is the only way either can get into power. Together, they want to turn Britain into a Trump satellite state which would trash our NHS, turn our communities against each other, cause untold damage to our environment, and trample over traditional British values of fairness, tolerance, and decency.

“A bigger Orange Wall is the only thing that can stand between Britain and this dangerous experiment, and we will not let them pass. Liberal Democrats are the only party with a plan to take the brakes off the British economy, get money back into people’s pockets, and defend the traditional values that make our country great.

“Britain feels broken because it’s being held back. This conference, we’ll be setting out our vision to fix our broken politics and change our country for the better.”

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social