AGENDA & DIRECTORY Liberal Democrats Spring Conference Harrogate 21-23 March 2025 Welcome to the Agenda and Directory for the Liberal Democrat Spring 2025 Conference. Conference Venue Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Road, Harrogate, HG1 5LA Further information, registration and Conference publications (including plain text and clear print versions) are available at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference Free wifi is available at all of our official venues: HCC Network name: VENUE-WIFI No password required Crowne Plaza Network name: Crowne_Plaza No password required Contents Welcome to Harrogate from Sir Ed Davey MP, Mark Pack, and Cllr Nick da Costa Agenda Agenda Information Agenda Index & Timetable Friday 21 March Saturday 22 March Sunday 23 March Conference Information Conference Venue Plans Exhibition List of Exhibitors Directory of Exhibitors Fringe Fringe Guide Friday 21 March Saturday 22 March Training Training Guide Saturday 22 March Sunday 23 March Standing Orders Federal Party Map of Harrogate www.libdems.org.uk/conference @LibDems @LibDemConf facebook.com/LibDems ISBN 978-1-915375-29-2 Published and promoted by Mike Dixon on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PN. Design and layout by Frankie Roberts, frankie.roberts@libdems.org.uk. Photographs © Liberal Democrats unless stated. Welcome to Conference from Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats I am so delighted to welcome you all to our Spring Conference – and our first Spring get-together as a party with 72 MPs. That number will never get old. And we’re already making a splash (no, not that kind…!) in this new Parliament. While the other parties squabble amongst themselves and lack any clear direction, I am proud of the way we have kept laser-focused on the issues that matter most to people. We are making the most of the exciting opportunity of being the biggest Liberal party in the House of Commons in over 100 years, and working hard to repay the trust voters put in us at the general election. With the Conservative Party still so divided and out of touch, Liberal Democrats are the only ones challenging this dismal Labour Government to act faster and be much bolder, on everything from the NHS and care to Europe and political reform. So this weekend I am looking forward to a conference full of big, bold ideas to build the free, fair and open society we all believe in, while also holding both this Government and the Conservatives to account. And we meet in Harrogate just as we head into a crucial set of local elections – a great chance to build on our fantastic success of recent years, get more brilliant Liberal Democrats elected to make a difference for their communities, and finish the job against the Conservatives. Winning in May is our chance to show that – despite Trump, Farage and all the rest – liberalism is still on the rise. We can offer the antidote to populism and extremism, by putting real power in the hands of ordinary people and holding the already powerful properly to account. But it won’t come easily. It will take a lot of hard work – so thank you for everything you are doing, and let’s keep it up! Welcome to Conference from Mark Pack, Liberal Democrat Party President It is fabulous we are not only returning to Harrogate for a Liberal Democrat conference, but that now it is also a venue with a Liberal Democrat MP, following Tom Gordon’s win last July. The very first winning general election campaign I worked on was that for Phil Willis, also in Harrogate, back in 1997. Back then, we all thought the 1997 election result across the country was a cracking one for our party, but we far surpassed that in 2024. People will still smile while saying ‘72’ for a good while yet. But elections keep on coming, and we have a great opportunity with the May local elections - or rather, however many of them that are still run despite the best efforts of Conservative councillors to call for cancellation. A great opportunity to strengthen our position in the constituencies we won last year, and a great opportunity to build up our strength more broadly too. Around £125 billion of spending on public services is at stake in these elections. For all the damage done to local government by years of cuts and centralisation, it is still at the heart of so many crucial services. Which makes these elections important not only for our future growth as a party, but also for our immediate power to turn our policies into action to improve people’s lives. Policies that we will be updating and refreshing at conference for the new political landscape we are in. Alongside that we will have the opportunity to discuss lessons from the general election, along with excellent training, a variety of fringes and stalls and much catching up with colleagues from around the country. Whether you are coming in person, or joining online, I hope you enjoy conference. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to grab me for any questions you have, or drop me an email on president@libdems.org.uk Welcome to Conference from Cllr Nick da Costa, Chair, Federal Conference Committee Dear Friends, We are delighted to be back in Harrogate for our 2025 Spring Conference. This is the first time back in Harrogate in over 15 years, and we are looking forward to the experience. I hope that you take advantage of all of the various events over the Conference weekend, especially taking part in debates, the exciting fringe offering and the exhibition. We are so grateful for all the party bodies and external organisations who engage with our party and our members at our Conferences. Please also do take a chance to take part in some of our amazing training offers, which are a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills (or refresh older skills) and helping us win more elections up and down the country. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing teams at HQ that make Conference happen, and make it such a special experience. They are a small and brilliant dedicated team who work so hard. Thank you. Please also take an opportunity to thank our incredible stewards; who do such an amazing job in supporting you and enhancing your experience over the Conference weekend. I hope you have a great time, and if you need any help, please do reach out to myself or other members of the Federal Conference Committee. Best wishes, Nick Agenda Information Debates and Votes at Conference Debates on policy and business motions are at the heart of federal conference. It is through them that the party sets its policy and future direction. Unlike in other parties, Liberal Democrat members are sovereign, and what they decide really matters. The structure of debate on policy and business motions: Proposer of the motion speaks V Proposers of any amendments speak in turn V Speakers called on all sides of the debate with the chair seeking to ensure balance V Summators of amendments speak in turn V The summator of the motion speaks V The chair takes votes for and against the amendments and separate votes (if any) in turn V A vote will be taken on the motion as a whole Interventions: concise (one minute) speeches made from the intervention microphone(s) on the floor of the auditorium, during debates where it is indicated in the Agenda. Amendments: all motions except emergency motions are open to amendment; amendments accepted will be published in Conference Daily. (See page 13). Reference Back: a proposal to refer a motion or amendment to a named body of the Party for further consideration. (See page 13). Voting: decisions on most motions and all amendments and separate votes are Agenda Information cont. by simple majority of those voting (2/3 majority for constitutional amendments). To vote, voting members must show their voting badge whilst seated on the ground floor of the auditorium. Separate votes: a vote to delete or retain the specified words or section of a motion or amendment. A request for a separate vote may be submitted by any party member by: • 09.00 Thursday 20 March for debates scheduled for Saturday 22 March; or by: • 09.00 Saturday 22 March for debates scheduled for Sunday 23 March. The request for a separate vote should be submitted using the online form at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_papers or in writing to the Speakers’ Table in the auditorium. Counted vote: the chair of the session may decide that a vote needs to be counted. Any voting member may request a count from the floor; if fifty voting members stand and show their voting cards, a count will be taken. Communications with the chair and aide: the chair and aide team can be contacted at conference – solely for formal communication on procedural motions and points of order, via the Speakers Desk or via the link: www.libdems.org.uk/procedural-motions Speaking and Voting at Conference Eligibility to speak and vote All party members attending in person are entitled to speak and vote in conference debates, providing they are attending conference as a party member (and not for example an exhibitor or observer). Party members fulfilling these criteria are known as ‘voting members’. Length of speeches The length of speeches is shown against each motion in the Agenda. Agenda Information cont. There are three lights on the speaker’s rostrum and visible either side of the stage. The green light comes on at the beginning of the speech. The amber light comes on 60 seconds before the end of the allowed time (20 seconds before the end of an intervention). The red light comes on when all the time is used up, and the speaker must stop immediately. Applying to speak To make a speech in a debate you must: • complete a speaker’s card, collected from and returned to the Speakers’ Table at the front of the auditorium, an auditorium steward or the Information Desk; or • submit an electronic speaker’s card, from Monday 17 March up to one hour before the start of the debate, online at: www.libdems.org.uk/speakers-card Completing a speaker’s card When completing a speaker’s card, remember: 1 Submit your card well in advance. The chair and aide team for the debate will meet well in advance to plan the debate – sometimes the previous day. 2 Fill in your card completely. Complete the back of the card as well as the front. These sections are needed for the chair and aide to balance the debate, so they can call people with relevant experience and avoid a string of people making the same point. 3 Make sure it’s readable! Don’t fill every square centimetre of the card, and write legibly – the easier you make it for the chair and aide to read the card the more likely you will be called. Interventions To speak during interventions, voting members should complete an intervention Agenda Information cont. form, collected from and returned to a steward in the auditorium. Speakers will be chosen by the chair of the session by random. Other Conference Sessions Emergency motions Emergency motions are debated and voted on and make formal party policy like other motions, but refer to a substantial development since the deadline for submission of motions. There is a slot for emergency motions at F22 on Sunday 23 March. The motions for selection by ballot will be printed in Conference Extra. The emergency motions ballot will be held electronically. Members of conference will receive a ballot by email at 17.00 on Friday 21 March, and should complete it online by 13.00 on Saturday 22 March. Topical issue discussions The FCC may decide to use part of this slot for topical issue discussions. This will allow members and spokespeople to discuss and comment on a political issue live at the time of conference; they do not make party policy. Party members may submit suggested topics for a discussion, which will be considered by officers of the FCC and FPC. If a topical issue discussion is selected, it will be published in the relevant Conference Daily. Question & answer sessions Any voting member may submit a concise question (maximum 25 words) on any subject for the Leader’s Q&A (F13). Questions will be selected by the chair and the questioner will be able to ask their question via the interventions microphone. Questions may be submitted by 13.00 Monday 10 March using the online form at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions Questions may also be submitted on a form collected from and returned to the Speakers’ Table in the auditorium by 12.50 Saturday 22 March. Agenda Information cont. Reports The reports of Federal Committees and Parliamentary Parties are printed in the separate reports document. Any voting member may submit concise questions on these reports. Questions may be submitted by 13.00 on 10 March using the online form at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions Questions received by the deadline above will be published in Conference Extra and are guaranteed a reply, in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted using the same online form until one hour before the start of the relevant session, but will only be called if time allows and at the discretion of the chair of the session. Submitting Amendments, Emergency Motions, Topical Issues, Requests for a Reference Back, and Appeals Amendments, emergency motions and requests for a reference back Amendments, emergency motions and requests for a reference back must be: • signed by 10 party members; or • submitted by one or more of: a local party, state party, regional party in England, Federal Specified Affiliated Organisation or Federal Party Committee. And must be submitted by 13.00 on 10 March online at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions Submitters should include: • For amendments – a short explanation of the intended effect of the amendment. • For emergency motions – a short explanation of its emergency nature. • For requests for a reference back – the details of the body to whom the motion is to be referred and a statement of the reasons for the reference back, including reasons why voting against the motion would not achieve a similar result, not exceeding 150 words. (In exceptional circumstances, Agenda Information cont. the chair of the debate shall have discretion to accept a request for a reference back if it is received in writing after this deadline). Topical issues Suggestions for topical issues may be submitted by any party member by 13.00 on 10 March online at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions The title of the issue should be no more than ten words, and should not include an expression of opinion; please include full contact details of the submitter and up to 100 words explanatory background. Drafting advice Submitters are encouraged to use our drafting advice service: draft amendments and emergency motions should be submitted by 13.00 on 24 February online at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions Appeals If you wish to appeal the FCC’s decision not to select your emergency motion or amendment, follow these instructions. The appeal should come from the email address of the original contact for the motion and should be no longer than one side of A4. It should explain why you are appealing and any new information the FCC was unaware of when it made its decision. The email should also contain a contact name and telephone number. Appeals should be emailed by 09.00 on 20 March to: appeals@libdems.org.uk Agenda Index and Timetable Friday 21 March 16.45–18.15 Consultative session: Policy Review # 18 18.30–19.30 Conference Rally Saturday 22 March 09.00–09.10 09.00–10.00 F1 Opening of Conference Consultative session: Party Strategy # 18 09.10–09.30 F2 Report: Federal Conference Committee 19 F3 Report: Federal Policy Committee 19 09.30–10.35 F4 Policy Motion: Science, Innovation and Technology 19 10.35–10.50 F5 Speech: Josh Babarinde MP 23 10.50–11.20 F6 Parliamentary Party Reports 23 11.20–11.35 F7 Presentation: General Election Review 23 11.35–11.50 F8 Speech: Helen Morgan MP 24 11.50–12.50 F9 Policy Motion: Free to be Who You Are 24 12.50–14.10 Lunch break and fringe 14.10–14.55 F10 Constitutional Amendment: Implementing the Lessons of the General Election Review 29 14.55–15.15 F11 Constitutional Amendment: Federal Board 34 15.15–15.30 F12 Constitutional Amendment: Federal Policy Committee 35 15.30–16.10 F13 Leader's Q and A 35 All conference sessions take place in the auditorium in the Harrogate Convention Centre, except the consultative sessions, marked in the index # - see the relevant page of the Agenda. Saturday 22 March cont. 16.10–17.00 F14 Policy motion: The UK’s Response to Trump 36 17.00–18.00 F15 Report of Federal Board 39 F16 Electoral Regulations 40 F17 Constitutional Amendment: Liberal Democrats Ltd 40 F18 Report of Federal Communications and Elections Committee 41 F19 Report of Campaign for Gender Balance 41 F20 Report of Federal International Relations Committee 41 F21 Report of Federal Council 41 Sunday 23 March 09.00–09.45 F22 Emergency motion or Topical Issue Discussion 42 09.45–10.30 F23 Policy Motion: Animal Welfare in the Food System 42 10.30–10.45 F24 Speech: Cllr Mike Ross 46 10.45–11.30 F25 Policy Motion: Ending the Crisis: A Fair Deal for Children with SEND 47 11.30–11.45 F26 Party awards 50 11.45–13.00 F27 Speech: Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 51 13.00 Close of Conference Friday 21 March 16.45–18.15 Consultative session Policy Review Working Group Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite. Chair: Eleanor Kelly Consultative sessions provide a less formal mechanism than the full-scale conference debates for conference representatives and other Party members to participate in the Party’s policy- and decision-making process. Each session examines a particular topic and hears contributions from Party members and in some cases outside speakers. The session will be organised by the relevant Working Group. The conclusions of the session will be taken into account by the group when drawing up their final recommendations. For further reading please see this document: www.libdems.org.uk/news/article/party-strategy-consultation Saturday 22 March 09.00–10.00 Consultative session Party Strategy Working Group Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite Conservatory. Chair: Jenni Lang Consultative sessions provide a less formal mechanism than the full-scale conference debates for conference representatives and other Party members to participate in the Party’s policy- and decision-making process. Each session examines a particular topic and hears contributions from Party members and in some cases outside speakers. The session will be organised by the relevant Working Group. The conclusions of the session will be taken into account by the group when drawing up their final recommendations. For further reading please see this document: www.libdems.org.uk/news/article/party-strategy-consultation Saturday 22 March cont. 09.00 Party Business Chair: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Fraser Graham. F1 Opening of Conference by Tom Gordon, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough. F2 Federal Conference Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, Federal Conference Committee). The report sessions are the chance for party members to hear how the party is being run and to put questions directly to the movers of reports. The deadline for questions for F2 and F3 is 13.00 Monday 10 March. Questions selected will be published in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. These questions will be guaranteed an answer, either in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted up until 08.50 Saturday 22 March; such questions are only taken at the discretion of the chair. See page 12 for further information. F3 Federal Policy Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (Vice Chair, Federal Policy Committee). See notes to F2. 09.30 Policy Motion Chair: Cllr Simon McGrath. Aide: Lord Mohammed. Hall Aide: Eleanor Kelly. F4 Science, Innovation and Technology (Science Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee. Mover: Victoria Collins MP (Spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology). Saturday 22 March cont. Summation: Dr Jonathan Everett (Chair of the Policy Working Group). Conference believes that: 1 i) Technological innovation is essential to tackling the major 2 challenges of our time; climate breakdown, conflict, 3 economic stagnation, crumbling public services, and social 4 unrest. 5 ii) Technological advances must be for the benefit of all in 6 society, not just for wealthy and powerful individuals and 7 institutions. 8 iii) For technology to benefit the whole of society and deliver 9 the maximum benefit, government must play a 10 comprehensive and active role, showing leadership with a 11 national and international strategy. 12 Conference further believes that the Liberal Democrat values of 13 internationalism, respect for individual rights and wellbeing, 14 and challenging concentrations of power can combine with 15 science and technology to usher in a new age of prosperity and 16 progress. 17 Conference notes that the last Conservative Government was 18 an utter failure for UK science and innovation, with a hostile 19 attitude towards international collaboration, shambolic 20 adoption of technology in the public sector, chaotic 21 management of the economy putting off investment and 22 ideological hostility to sensible regulation. 23 Conference also notes that the Labour Government lacks the 24 ideas to take advantage of the emerging technological 25 revolution and they are failing to address the deep issues they 26 have inherited. 27 Conference condemns the Labour Government’s decision to 28 cancel the exascale supercomputer in Edinburgh as a short- 29 sighted cost saving measure, symbolic of their lack of vision and 30 understanding of how science and technology works. 31 Conference therefore endorses policy paper 158 Science, 32 Innovation and Technology, and its flagship policies to: 33 Saturday 22 March cont. 34 A. Create a teacher workforce strategy for England to ensure 35 that every secondary school child is taught STEM subjects by 36 a subject specialist. 37 B. Ensure that the digital rights of every citizen are 38 strengthened and upheld, with fair protection and 39 remuneration for creative industries in the age of AI, so that 40 all can benefit from technological progress. 41 C. Introduce a National People Strategy alongside an industrial 42 strategy to ensure that the UK workforce has the necessary 43 skills and people are protected from disruption. 44 Conference in particular endorses policies to: 45 1. Build a vibrant and successful technology and science 46 sector, which is dynamic and innovative whilst ensuring that 47 technological progress is fair to all in society, with guardrails 48 against exploitation and abuse by introducing a national 49 and international science and technology strategy that 50 raises R&D spending to 3.5% of GDP. 51 2. Invest in young people’s education by: 52 a) Creating a teacher workforce strategy that ensures that 53 every secondary school child is taught by a subject 54 specialist and fully funding the independent pay body’s 55 recommendations for teacher salaries. 56 b) Building a long-term consensus across parties and 57 teachers to broaden the curriculum and make 58 qualifications at 16-18 fit for the 21st Century. 59 c) Emphasising data and digital literacy across subjects 60 and overhauling mathematics education to improve 61 teaching of data and computer science. 62 d) Investing in adult education and skills, to be set out in a 63 future policy paper. 64 3. Strengthen our universities as world leaders in research by: 65 a) Enacting a decade-long programme of increasing and 66 improving research funding, with a package of 67 measures to improve spin-outs. Saturday 22 March cont. 68 b) Fully participating in Horizon Europe, and applying to 69 join the European Innovation Council and EU-US Trade 70 and Technology Council. 71 c) Replacing the Conservatives’ failed immigration policies 72 with a flexible merit-based system to attract 73 international talent. 74 4. Unlock the innovative potential of the private sector, 75 underpinned by four principles: 76 a) High-quality, well-targeted regulation that can help 77 enhance growth and create new sectors, while also 78 protecting consumers, society and our planet. 79 b) Providing businesses certainty to enable businesses of 80 all sizes to invest and take risks; we will be transparent 81 in our plans to help businesses feel confident in theirs. 82 c) New technologies and scientific monetisation happen 83 most effectively when based on high-quality good 84 corporate governance that puts long term, ethical 85 growth over short term returns. 86 d) Innovation happens when the public and private sector 87 meet; we will use the power and resources of the state 88 to underpin, and incentivise technological development 89 and adoption. Applicability: Federal, except for 2. (lines 51-63), which is England only. Mover and summation combined: 16 minutes; mover and summation of amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8-11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Thursday 20 March; see page 11. Saturday 22 March cont. 10.35 Speech Chair: Lord Mohammed. Aide: Cllr Simon McGrath. F5 Josh Babarinde MP (Spokesperson for Justice) 10.50 Party Business Chair: Cllr Darryl Smalley. Aide: Matthew Palmer. Hall Aide: Chris Maines. F6 Reports of the Parliamentary Parties Movers: Wendy Chamberlain MP (Chief Whip of the Commons Parliamentary Party) and Lord Newby (Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords). The deadline for questions for F6 is Monday 10 March. Questions selected will be published in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. These questions will be guaranteed an answer, either in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted up until 09.50 Saturday 22 March; such questions are only taken at the discretion of the chair. See page 12 for further information. 11.20 Party Business Chair: Callum Robertson. Aide: Cllr Darryl Smalley. F7 General Election Review Presentation Mover: Tim Farron MP (Chair of the General Election Review). 11.35 Speech Chair: Alison Jenner. Aide: Sam Barratt. F8 Helen Morgan MP (Spokesperson for Health and Social Care). Saturday 22 March cont. 11.50 Policy Motion Chair: Duncan Brack. Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Paul McGarry. F9 Free to be Who You Are 13 members. Mover: Christine Jardine MP (Spokesperson for Women and Equalities). Summation: Charley Hasted. 1 Conference believes that: 2 i) Everyone should have the freedom to live their lives as who 3 they are, with their fundamental rights protected. 4 ii) Nobody’s life chances should be limited or determined 5 because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 6 iii) Fighting for the rights, dignity and freedom of all LGBTQ+ 7 people is inherent in our core beliefs of liberty and equality. 8 iv) True equality is achieved when individuals are not only free 9 from prejudice and discrimination, but also to fulfil their full 10 potential. 11 Conference commends the party’s long history of, and 12 reputation for, advancing LGBTQ+ equality, and reaffirms its 13 commitment to continue this proud tradition. 14 Conference notes with concern that: 15 A. Too many LGBTQ+ people face prejudice, discrimination and 16 hostility simply because of who they are, with two-thirds in 17 the UK having experienced anti-LGBTQ+ violence or abuse. 18 B. LGBTQ+ people face deeply entrenched structural 19 inequalities and extra barriers to accessing support 20 throughout many aspects of life, from education to housing 21 and healthcare. 22 C. Despite progress on public acceptance of most LGBTQ+ 23 people, divisive culture wars set back attitudes, especially 24 when it comes to trans people. 25 D. Outside the UK, acceptance of LGBTQ+ people is still Saturday 22 March cont. 26 worryingly low, with 67 countries still criminalising people 27 for being gay. 28 Conference therefore supports the following policies on 29 LGBTQ+ equality, taken from the spokesperson's paper Free To 30 Be Who You Are: 31 1. Implement a new LGBTQ+ Action Plan to coordinate cross- 32 government work on delivering LGBTQ+ equality. 33 2. Give all equalities issues the focus they deserve by creating 34 a dedicated Secretary of State in the Cabinet to lead the 35 Women & Equalities Unit. 36 3. Tackle anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime by: 37 a) Ensuring hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people are 38 counted as aggravated offences. 39 b) Giving the Secretary of State for Women & Equalities a 40 clear mandate to coordinate government work on hate 41 crime. 42 c) Delivering better training for police on preventing and 43 prosecuting anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime. 44 4. Enable LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic abuse and hate crime 45 to get the support they need by improving access to 46 specialist 'by and for' support services and making general 47 support services more inclusive through specialised 48 training. 49 5. End anti-LGBTQ+ abuse in social care by: 50 a) Commissioning an urgent investigation into anti- 51 LGBTQ+ abuse in social care settings including care 52 homes, with recommendations on how to prevent it. 53 b) Delivering mandatory training for all care workers on 54 acceptance and the particularities of caring for LGBTQ+ 55 people. 56 c) Professionalising the care workforce including by 57 creating a national register of care workers, including 58 transparent records of abuse. Saturday 22 March cont. 59 6. Call on the Government to publish clear and comprehensive 60 guidance on the use of any single-sex and separate-sex 61 exceptions under the Equality Act, which reaffirms existing 62 laws on protecting people from discrimination on the basis 63 of being trans. 64 7. Include specific provisions to tackle LGBTQ+ homelessness 65 in a cross-Whitehall plan to end homelessness. 66 8. Create an education system where all LGBTQ+ pupils can 67 thrive by: 68 a) Rolling out a permanent programme to tackle 69 homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in 70 schools in consultation with teachers, school leaders 71 and families. 72 b) Ensuring pupils can receive age-appropriate, LGBTQ+- 73 inclusive relationship and sex education (RSE). 74 c) Giving teachers the training and support they need to 75 perform their pastoral and safeguarding duties with 76 care when supporting children who are struggling with 77 issues related to their sexual orientation or gender 78 identity. 79 9. Tackle disproportionate rates of mental ill-health among the 80 LGBTQ+ community, including through better training for 81 mental healthcare staff and improved access to services. 82 10. Ban medically unnecessary, non-consensual treatments or 83 surgeries for intersex infants and children. 84 11. Ensure that all trans and non-binary people have access to 85 the high-quality healthcare they deserve and prioritise 86 tackling unacceptable waiting times by: 87 a) Expanding the provision of appropriate and timely 88 specialist healthcare through NHS child and adult 89 services for trans and non-binary people. 90 b) Issuing clear guidance for GPs on prescribing hormones 91 to trans and non-binary adults. 92 c) Ensuring trans people have access to high-quality Saturday 22 March cont. 93 healthcare on the same basis we should expect for all 94 patients, with medical decisions made by patients and 95 doctors together, informed by the best possible 96 evidence. 97 d) Supporting research using international best practice to 98 improve evidence on the safety and efficacy of potential 99 treatments. 100 12. Push for all integrated care boards in England to 101 immediately remove the requirement for lesbian couples to 102 pay for artificial insemination before accessing NHS-funded 103 IVF services. 104 13. Establish a national online portal to provide HIV and STI 105 home testing services across England, with a long-term aim 106 to roll out Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) prescriptions on 107 the same portal. 108 14. Ban all forms of conversion ‘therapies’ and practices. 109 15. Facilitate another National LGBTQ+ Survey over the course 110 of this Parliament. 111 16. Reform the gender recognition process to remove the 112 requirement for medical reports, recognise non-binary 113 identities in law, and remove the spousal veto. 114 17. Improve accessibility of LGBTQ+-focused spaces for d/Deaf 115 or disabled LGBTQ+ people, LGBTQ+ people from ethnic 116 minority communities and LBT women, ensuring that these 117 spaces are inclusive and cater to the diverse needs of all 118 18. Stand up for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers by: 119 a) Ending the culture of disbelief for LGBTQ+ asylum 120 seekers in the Home Office, and never refusing an 121 LGBTQ+ applicant on the basis that they could be 122 discreet. 123 b) Ensuring the UK offers asylum to people fleeing the risk 124 of violence because of their sexual orientation or 125 gender identity, regardless of their country of origin. 126 c) Reduce immigration detention to an absolute last resort Saturday 22 March cont. 127 with a 28-day time limit, recognising that LGBTQ+ 128 detainees face particular risks of violence and abuse. 129 19. Promote LGBTQ+ rights abroad, including by: 130 a) Developing a comprehensive strategy for promoting the 131 decriminalisation of homosexuality and advancing 132 LGBTQ+ rights abroad; 133 b) Hosting a global conference on LGBTQ+ rights in the UK. 134 20. Consider intersectionality when implementing the 135 aforementioned policies, acknowledging that LGBTQ+ 136 individuals face unique disadvantages and are 137 disproportionately affected by systemic inequalities. Applicability: Federal, except for 3., 4. (lines 44-48), 10. (lines 82-83) and 14. (line 108), which are England and Wales, and 5. to 9. (lines 49-81) and 11. to 13. (lines 84-107), which are England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Thursday 20 March; see page 11. 12.50 Lunch break and fringe See pages 62–69 for the exhibition and pages 73–85 for our fringe programme. 14.10 Constitutional Amendment Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Aide: Eleanor Kelly. Hall Aide: Matthew Palmer. F10 Constitutional Amendment: Implementing the Lessons of the General Election Review Saturday 22 March cont. 12 members. Mover: Tim Farron MP (Chair of the General Election Review). Summation: Paul Farthing. 1 Conference notes that: 2 A. The 2024 General Election Review has recommended that 3 major changes are needed to our Westminster candidate 4 processes in order for us to better support candidates and 5 win more elections. 6 B. As the Review found, in practice due to shared resources, 7 volunteers and staff support, the Welsh and Scottish state 8 parties have to follow many of the same rules and 9 processes agreed by the English state party but do not 10 currently have any input into those decisions. 11 C. The Federal Constitution currently gives the Federal Party 12 responsibility for “overall preparations for [Westminster] 13 Parliamentary … Elections” in Article 2.3, but candidate 14 approval and selection rests with each of the three State 15 Parties. 16 D. Splitting off Westminster candidate approval and selection 17 from the main organisation of our Parliamentary election 18 campaigns risks the support, mentoring and selection of 19 candidates being siloed off from our main election work. 20 Conference therefore believes that: 21 1. As our candidates are such an essential party of any 22 election campaign, the party body responsible for running 23 general election campaigns should also be responsible for 24 the candidate process, just as is already the case for 25 Holyrood and Senedd elections as well as local elections. 26 2. All three State Parties should have parity of esteem, with all 27 three having an equal input into the decision making. 28 3. There should be full support for our candidates system 29 from the Federal Party, including dedicated staff support. 30 4. Our commitment to improving the party’s diversity, and 31 particularly to tackling the under-representation of ethnic Saturday 22 March cont. 32 minorities, means the Vice President responsible for 33 working with ethnic minority communities, elected by party 34 members, should have direct input into the candidate 35 process. 36 5. A co-ordinated, planned timetable for selections will enable 37 better use of volunteer time to help run them, will enable 38 more action to be taken to improve the diversity of our 39 candidates and will enable better planning for and provision 40 of training for newly selected candidates. 41 6. Training of approved and selected candidates is essential 42 for their, and the party’s, success. 43 7. There should be clear and direct accountability for the 44 management of our candidate process, including via the 45 party’s sovereign body, Federal Conference. 46 Conference therefore agrees to amend the Federal Constitution 47 as follows: 48 In Article 2.3(c) after “Elections” insert: “, including arrangements 49 for candidate approval and selection”. 50 In Article 13.4 delete the text regarding the composition of the Joint 51 Candidates Sub-Committee by deleting: 52 “shall include one representative, with a power of substitution, 53 from each of the State Candidates Committees. The Chair of the 54 JCSC shall be appointed by the FCEC from amongst its 55 members” 56 and insert: 57 “shall comprise: 58 a. the Chair of the JCSC who shall be appointed by the FCEC; 59 b. one representative, with a power of substitution, from each 60 of the State Candidates Committees; 61 c. one person elected by the FCEC from amongst its members; 62 d. the Vice President responsible for working with ethnic 63 minority communities; and Saturday 22 March cont. 64 e. the Chief Whip in the House of Commons.” 65 In Article 13.4 delete: 66 “a. The JCSC shall maintain oversight of the Party’s readiness to 67 field candidates in all elections to the Westminster and 68 European Parliaments and shall co-ordinate the maintenance of 69 standards and the performance of the functions specified in 70 Article 19.1 and 19.7, including for the first elections to the 71 House of Lords (or any fully or partially elected replacement 72 second chamber of the Westminster Parliament). 73 “b. If it is not possible for there to be an appropriate 74 constitutional amendment before the first elections to the 75 House of Lords (or any fully or partially elected replacement 76 second chamber of the Westminster Parliament), the 77 procedures to be adopted for the purposes of article 19.1 shall 78 be based as far as possible on the provisions of clauses 19.4 79 and 19.8 as appropriate. It shall receive reports from States 80 Candidates Committees to that end” 81 and insert: 82 “13.5 The JCSC shall set the standards and processes for, and 83 maintain oversight of, the Party’s readiness to train and field 84 candidates in all elections to the Westminster and European 85 Parliaments as well as any public elections to the House of 86 Lords or its successor. In order to do this, for these elections the 87 JCSC’s functions shall be: 88 a. to make provision for there to be lists of approved 89 candidates; 90 b. to maintain and publish criteria for approval and to ensure, 91 so far as possible, their consistent application; 92 c. to make and from time-to-time to vary rules for the 93 selection and adoption of prospective candidates, including 94 provisions for deselection; 95 d. to co-ordinate and regulate the procedure for the selection 96 and adoption of candidates; and 97 e. to provide training for Returning Officers, approved Saturday 22 March cont. 98 candidates and selected candidates. 99 In carrying out these roles, it shall consult with State Candidates 100 Committees.” 101 In Article 13.4 renumber (c) as Article 13.6 and capitalise the first 102 letter of “article”. 103 Insert new Article 13.7: “The FCEC report to conference shall 104 include the work of the JCSC.” 105 Delete the wording of Article 19.1 and insert: “Each State Party 106 shall establish a Candidates Committee in order to carry out its 107 responsibilities for elections to the Westminster and European 108 Parliaments as well as any elections to the House of Lords or its 109 successor, including implementing the requirements set under 110 Article 13.5. These Candidates Committees shall also have 111 responsibility for candidate approval and selection for elections 112 to any devolved Parliament or Senedd within the State Party’s 113 area.” 114 In Article 19.2 after “each State Candidates Committee shall” 115 insert: “follow the requirements set under Article 13.5 and shall”. 116 Delete the wording of Article 19.2 (b) and insert: “the previous 117 participation by the applicant in the work of the Party, both 118 generally and within the relevant State, as well as their previous 119 participation in other walks of life.” 120 In Article 19.3 delete: “The name of any person may be removed 121 from a list by the relevant State Candidates Committee if” and 122 insert: “The name of any person may only be removed from a 123 list by the relevant State Candidates Committee by following the 124 requirements set under Article 13.5 and if”. 125 In Article 19.3 delete the two references to “as an MP or MEP” and 126 insert: “in the public office for which they have been approved 127 as a candidate” 128 In Article 19.4 delete: “The rules for the selection of Westminster 129 candidates shall comply with” and insert: “The rules for the 130 selection of Westminster candidates made by the JCSC shall 131 comply with”. Saturday 22 March cont. 132 Delete the wording of Article 19.4(j)(iii) and insert: “notice as to 133 how ballot papers and/or electronic voting instructions will be 134 distributed, including if applicable how to apply for a postal 135 vote”. 136 Delete Article 19.7(b), renumber Article 19.7(a) as Article 19.5, and 137 renumber other articles accordingly, including the cross-reference in 138 Article 13.6. 139 In Article 19.8 delete: “The rules for selecting the lists of 140 candidates ” and insert: “The rules for selecting the lists of 141 candidates made by the JCSC”. 142 Conference further notes that implementing these changes will 143 require agreement by the State Parties under Article 2.10(c) and 144 encourages them to give their assent as soon as practical this 145 year. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Thursday 20 March; see page 9. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. The existing text of the Federal Constitution may be found at https://www. libdems.org.uk/federal-constitution (see especially pages 30-31). 14.55 Constitutional Amendment Chair: Jennie Rigg. Aide: Lucas North. Hall Aide: Sam Barratt. F11 Constitutional Amendment: Federal Board Basingstoke and Deane. Mover: Michael Berwick-Gooding Summation: To be announced 1 In Article 9.2, insert: ‘i.’ after ‘the following’ in the first line of Saturday 22 March cont. 2 Article 9.2. 3 In Article 9.2, delete “Three” before “people” in clause e. and 4 insert: “Nine”’. 5 In Article 9.2, delete: 6 ‘f. A Vice-Chair of the Federal Policy Committee; 7 g. The Chairs of the Federal Conference Committee, the Federal 8 Communications and Elections Committee, the Federal Finance 9 and Resources Committee and the Federal People Development 10 Committee;’ 11 In Article 9.2, delete: ‘i’ in ‘under a-d or f-i may’ and insert: ‘g’ 12 After ‘attend a meeting’ at the end of Article 9.2, insert: 13 ‘ii. non-voting members: 14 a. A Vice-Chair of the Federal Policy Committee; 15 b. The Chairs of the Federal Conference Committee, the Federal 16 Communications and Elections Committee, the Federal Finance 17 and Resources Committee and the Federal People Development 18 Committee.’ Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Thursday 20 March; see page 9. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. The existing text of the Federal Constitution may be found at https://www. libdems.org.uk/federal-constitution (see especially pages 20-23). 15.15 Constitutional Amendment Chair: Jennie Rigg. Aide: Lucas North. Hall Aide: Sam Barratt. F12 Constitutional Amendment: Federal Policy Committee Saturday 22 March cont. Basingstoke and Deane. Mover: Rob Cooper Summation: To be announced. 1 In Article 10.2, delete: ‘six’ and insert: ‘five’ at the start of sub- 2 clause b. 3 In Article 10.2, delete: ‘two’ and insert: ‘three’ at the start of sub- 4 clause e. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Thursday 20 March; see page 9. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. The existing text of the Federal Constitution may be found at https://www. libdems.org.uk/federal-constitution (see especially pages 24-25). 15.30 Question and Answer Session Chair: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Jennie Rigg. Hall Aide: Callum Robertson. F13 Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Members may put questions on any topic to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats. Concise questions (maximum 25 words) may be submitted via the website until 13.00, Monday 10 March. Questions may also be submitted on a form collected from and returned to the Speakers’ Table in the auditorium by 12.50 on Saturday 22 March. See page 12. 16.10 Policy Motion Chair: Cllr Jon Ball. Aide: Eleanor Kelly. Hall Aide: Cllr Hannah Kitching. Saturday 22 March cont. F14 The UK’s Response to Trump 12 members. Mover: Calum Miller MP (Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs). Summation: Daisy Cooper MP (Spokesperson for the Treasury and Deputy Leader). 1 Conference notes that in November 2024, Donald Trump was 2 elected as the President of the United States for a second time. 3 Conference expresses profound alarm at: 4 i) Trump’s disregard for democratic institutions, exemplified 5 by his false claims that the 2020 US election was ‘stolen’, his 6 involvement in the January 6th Capitol attack, and his 7 decision to pardon those imprisoned for the attack. 8 ii) In January 2025, the US Department of Justice Special 9 Counsel reported that had Trump not been re-elected, he 10 would have been convicted for illegally trying to overturn 11 the 2020 US election. 12 iii) Trump’s lack of commitment to NATO and Ukraine, with the 13 President praising Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as ‘genius’. 14 iv) Trump’s failure to rule out using military force to seize 15 control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. 16 v) Trump’s plans to implement tariffs which will damage the 17 UK economy in the midst of a cost of living crisis. 18 vi) The continued attempts by Trump ally and incoming US 19 government official Elon Musk to interfere in UK politics, 20 including reports of potential future donations. 21 vii) Trump’s lack of commitment to international climate action 22 and his plan to withdraw from the Paris agreement. 23 viii) Trump and the Republican Party’s pursuit of policies which 24 are deeply damaging for American women and minority 25 groups. 26 ix) Donald Trump’s personal conduct, as the first US President 27 to be a convicted felon, and to have been found liable for 28 sexual assault. Saturday 22 March cont. 29 Conference is also deeply concerned that the second Trump 30 presidency comes at a time when Putin’s forces are still waging 31 their illegal war in Ukraine and we see unprecedented attempts 32 at foreign interference by Russia, including in Georgia, Moldova 33 and Romania. 34 Conference believes that the United Kingdom must now lead in 35 Europe to ensure support for Ukraine, to secure NATO's future 36 and strengthen trade and defence cooperation with our 37 European allies. 38 Conference further believes that it is more urgent than ever for 39 the UK to fix its broken relationship with the EU. 40 Conference reaffirms the Liberal Democrats’ longer-term 41 objective of UK membership of the EU and our four-stage 42 roadmap to restore ties of trust and trade as set out in Policy 43 Paper 144 Rebuilding Trade and Cooperation with Europe. 44 Conference deeply regrets the continued refusal of the Labour 45 Government to entertain the prospect of membership of the 46 Single Market or the Customs Union, especially given the 47 uncertainty and unpredictability threatened by the second 48 Trump presidency. 49 Conference accordingly calls on the Government to: 50 A. Ensure that Ukraine is supported no matter what, by 51 holding a European leaders summit to seize the frozen 52 Russian assets in the UK and Europe and giving them to 53 Ukraine. 54 B. Take urgent and immediate action to boost growth by 55 restoring the trading relationship with the EU, removing red 56 tape imposed by the Brexit deal in line with our four-stage 57 roadmap. 58 C. Rule out any UK-US trade deal which lowers British 59 environmental and health standards. 60 D. Ensure that the UK is a world leader on climate in the US’s 61 absence, including by restoring the international 62 development budget to 0.7% of national income with 63 tackling climate change a key priority for development Saturday 22 March cont. 64 spending. 65 E. Strengthen the UK’s defences in the light of US isolationism 66 and Putin’s aggression by: 67 a) Reversing the 10,000 Conservative troop cut, with an 68 ambition of returning the Army to 100,000 troops. 69 b) Setting out a pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on 70 defence by no later than Easter. 71 c) Maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent with the four 72 Dreadnought-class submarines providing continuous at- 73 sea deterrence, while pursuing global multilateral 74 disarmament. 75 F. Deepen cooperating on defence and security with our allies, 76 including by: 77 a) Providing further investment in the Joint Expeditionary 78 Force, including convening a summit of JEF leaders in 79 the UK to discuss how the JEF should respond to 80 Trump’s election and his remarks regarding Greenland. 81 b) Building on existing UK-French and UK-German 82 cooperation arrangements, including the Lancaster 83 House Treaties and the Trinity House Agreement. 84 c) Developing closer cooperation with EU agencies and 85 member states over defence, intelligence and cyber- 86 security. 87 G. Protect the UK from foreign interference from overseas 88 oligarchs and hostile state and non-state actors by: 89 a) Making protecting our democracy a national security 90 priority. 91 b) Taking big money out of politics by capping donations to 92 UK political parties. 93 c) Work closely with European and other democratic allies 94 to coordinate our response to Russian interference. Applicability: Federal. Saturday 22 March cont. Mover: 7 minutes; summation 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Thursday 20 March; see page 9. 17.00 Party Business Chair: Chris Maines. Aide: Duncan Brack. Hall Aide: Lucas North. F15 Federal Board Report Mover: Lord Pack (President of the Liberal Democrats). The report sessions are the chance for party members to hear how the party is being run and to put questions directly to the Party President and other movers of reports. The deadline for questions for F15 and F18-F21 is Monday 10 March. Questions selected will be published in Conference Extra and Sunday’s Conference Daily. These questions will be guaranteed an answer, either in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted up until 09.00 Thursday 20 March; such questions are only taken at the discretion of the chair. See pages xx–xx for further information. For Committees that do not report directly to Conference, but report into the Federal Board (such as the FFRC, FASC and FPDC) then questions can be asked via the Board report. F16 Electoral Regulations Federal Board Mover: Lord Pack (President of the Liberal Democrats). Summation: Jeremy Hargreaves MBE (Vice Chair, Federal Board) Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8-11. To submit a speaker’s card go to: www.libdems.org.uk/speakers-card. Saturday 22 March cont. The Federal Board is empowered by Article 9.9 c. of the Constitution to make and from time to time vary rules as to party elections, after appropriate consultations and subject to ratification by conference. This motion is therefore not open to amendments or separate votes. F17 Constitutional Amendment: Liberal Democrats Ltd Federal Board Mover: Jeremy Hargreaves MBE (Vice Chair, Federal Board). Summation: Lord Pack (President of the Liberal Democrats). In the second sentence of Article 9.7, delete: “Directors” and insert: “Members”. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Thursday 20 March; see page 9. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. The existing text of the Federal Constitution may be found at https://www. libdems.org.uk/federal-constitution (see especially page 21). F18 Federal Communications and Elections Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: Baroness Pinnock (Chair, Federal Communications and Elections Committee). See notes to F15. F19 Campaign for Gender Balance Report: questions and accountability Mover: Cllr Julia Cambridge (Vice Chair, Campaign for Gender Balance). See notes to F15. Saturday 22 March cont. F20 Federal International Relations Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: David Chalmers (Chair, Federal International Relations Committee). See notes to F15. F21 Federal Council Report: questions and accountability Mover: Antony Hook (Chair, Federal Council). See notes to F15. 18.00 Close of Session See pages 57–63 for the exhibition and pages 66–86 for our fringe programme. Sunday 23 March 09.00 Emergency Motion or Topical Issue Discussion F22 Emergency motion or topical issue discussion Chair: Paul McGary. Aide: Callum Robertson. Hall Aide: Alison Jenner. This slot has been reserved for the debate of an emergency motion and / or discussion of a topical issue. The deadline for emergency motions and for suggestions for topical issues is 13.00 Monday 10 March. The motions or topics selected for debate or proposed for the ballot will be printed in Conference Extra and Sunday’s Conference Daily. See pages 13-14. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. 09.45 Policy Motion Chair: Sam Barratt. Aide: Fraser Graham. Hall Aide: Cllr Simon McGrath. F23 Animal Welfare in the Food System Federal Policy Committee. Mover: Tim Farron MP (Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Summation: Danny Chambers MP. 1 Conference believes that: 2 i) Animals are sentient beings with the capacity to feel pain 3 and suffering and that they have a right to live in as decent 4 and humane conditions as possible. 5 ii) The British people are a nation of animal lovers, who expect 6 and deserve high levels of animal health and welfare in the 7 food that they eat. 8 iii) The government must have a comprehensive strategy for 9 animal welfare which ensures animals in the food system 10 are able to live in humane and healthy environments from 11 birth to death. Sunday 23 March cont. 12 iv) Government policy must support British farmers to produce 13 a safe, sustainable and affordable supply of food while 14 further improving animal welfare and environmental 15 standards. 16 v) High animal welfare standards go hand in hand with high 17 environmental standards, food security, human health, and 18 a stronger economy. 19 Conference notes that, under the last Conservative 20 Government, Britain started to fall behind on animal welfare, 21 undermining high standards of British farming, with notable 22 failures including: 23 A. The culling of hundreds of thousands of animals due to 24 labour shortages brought about by the shortage of vets and 25 farm workers and the closure of small local abattoirs, due to 26 the Conservatives’ failure to support rural communities, 27 mismanagement of the economy, and failed deal with 28 Europe. 29 B. The introduction of low animal welfare imports onto British 30 shelves due to the Conservatives’ flawed trade deals and 31 chaotic border controls. 32 C. Scrapping the Kept Animals Bill in May 2023. 33 D. Failing to act meaningfully on the 2018 Stacey Review on 34 farm regulation. 35 E. Breaking its promise to consult on ending the use of cages 36 for farm animals. 37 Conference also notes with disappointment the Labour 38 Government’s failure so far to make any progress on its election 39 commitment to “the biggest boost in animal welfare in a 40 generation”, including: 41 1. The absence of an overarching animal welfare strategy, 42 with no mention of it in the King's Speech and no 43 government legislation planned. 44 2. Its timid approach to Europe hampers farmers with red 45 tape and restricts their access to key workers like vets. Sunday 23 March cont. 46 3. A lack of understanding of rural and farming communities, 47 which are responsible for maintaining our food and animals 48 to high standards. 49 Conference reaffirms the existing Liberal Democrat 50 commitments to: 51 I. Ensure that UK animal welfare and farming standards are 52 not undermined by new trade deals and renegotiating the 53 trade deals with Australia and New Zealand to ensure 54 British standards are not undercut. 55 II. Provide a responsive and well-resourced advisory service 56 for farmers. 57 III. Develop safe, effective, humane, and evidence-based ways 58 of controlling bovine tuberculosis, including by investing to 59 produce workable vaccines that minimises harm to badgers 60 and cattle. 61 IV. Sign a veterinary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU 62 as soon as possible, and alignment on standards and 63 quality. 64 V. Introduce a Research and Innovation Fund to support new 65 and emerging technologies in the sector including the 66 further development of precision agriculture and alternative 67 proteins. 68 Conference calls for the highest quality of life possible for 69 animals in our food system, including by: 70 1. Passing a comprehensive new Animal Health and Welfare 71 Bill and all-encompassing national strategy on animal health 72 and welfare, that secures Britain’s place as a world leader in 73 animal welfare. 74 2. Improving animal welfare on the farm by: 75 a) Providing training, support and financial incentives to 76 farmers so that they can develop even higher, world- 77 leading standards of animal welfare. 78 b) Investing in a comprehensive workforce plan, so that 79 farmers have access to enough vets, abattoirs and farm Sunday 23 March cont. 80 workers to meet the UK’s needs. 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 c) Expanding the Competition and Markets Authority investigation into veterinary services to cover non- domestic animal services. d) Preventing unnecessarily painful practices in farming including non-anaesthetised castration and debudding, live plucking and force feeding. e) Developing a national strategy, in consultation with stakeholders, to ‘End the Cage Age’ of animal farming, bringing an end to practices like farrowing crates within this Parliament. f) Working towards the adoption of the Better Chicken Commitment standards. 3. Improving animal welfare standards in trade by: a) Setting minimum standards for all imported food to meet UK animal welfare standards. b) Matching EU standards by banning the import of food produced with antibiotic growth promoters. c) Ensuring that no animal product that would be illegal to produce in the UK can be sold in Britain, including foie gras. 4. Introducing a national strategy to combat antibiotic resistance in farm animals, so that they are no longer used to compensate for poor conditions, including: a) Training and financial support for farmers to reduce their antibiotic use. b) A UK ban on all routine use of antibiotics and all preventative use of antibiotics in groups of animals. c) Stronger rules on using antibiotics as a last resort. d) Routine collection and publication of national data on antibiotic use. e) Phasing out the import of food produced with Sunday 23 March cont. irresponsible antibiotic use. Making sure the public sector plays its role in promoting animal welfare by ensuring that: a) All public procurement is compliant with high animal welfare standards. b) Police officers and other enforcement officials have the training and resources they need to uphold standards. Giving consumers proper information and choice by introducing a clear system of labelling, based on the successful egg labelling system, detailing: a) The locality the animal was reared in. b) The conditions they were kept in. c) The method of slaughter. d) The environmental impact of the product. Applicability: Federal except for 1. (lines41-43), 5. b) and 6. (lines 117-125) which are England and Wales, and II., V. (lines 64-77) , 2 a), b) (lines 74-80) and d) to f) (lines 84-92) which are England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Saturday 22 March; see page 9. 10.30 Speech Chair: Fraser Graham. Aide: Paul McGarry. F24 Cllr Mike Ross (Leader of Hull City Council and Lib Dem candidate for Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire). Sunday 23 March cont. 10.45 Policy Motion Chair: Cllr Hannah Kitching. Aide: Chris Maines. Hall Aide: Cllr Darryl Smalley. F25 Ending the Crisis: A Fair Deal for Children with SEND 12 members. Mover: Munira Wilson MP (Spokesperson for Education, Children and Families). Summation: Callum Robertson. 1 Conference believes that: 2 i) Outcomes for young people with special educational needs 3 and disability (SEND) are consistently lower than for their 4 peers without SEND. 5 ii) According to the National Audit Office, the current SEND 6 system is “not delivering better outcomes for children and 7 young people”, while local authorities face significant 8 financial risks; 43% of local authorities will have 9 unsustainable deficits by March 2026. 10 iii) Just half of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) are 11 issued within the statutory 20 week limit. 12 iv) Where parents appeal an EHCP decision, 95% are 13 successful, subjecting families to significant and 14 unwarranted delays and legal costs. 15 v) A lack of educational psychologists is one factor in delays to 16 accessing SEND support. 17 vi) SEND families are faced with a ‘postcode lottery’ with 18 inconsistent access to support for children with SEND 19 across different local authorities and regions. 20 vii) Local authorities are faced with unsustainable costs for 21 home-to-school SEND transport and for private special 22 schools. 23 viii) Children with SEND are roughly three times as likely to be 24 permanently excluded or suspended, compared to their 25 peers. Sunday 23 March cont. 26 ix) Children with SEND are significantly more likely to be absent 27 from school. 28 x) Children with SEND are disproportionately affected by the 29 practice of off-rolling and can be subject to bias in 30 admissions. 31 xi) Overstretched schools and teachers are being forced to act 32 as a ‘fourth emergency service’ due to inadequate provision 33 for children's mental health and social care. 34 Conference further believes that in addressing this crisis, the 35 Government must take an approach that balances the need for 36 greater inclusivity for children with SEND in mainstream 37 schools, with a recognition that for some children with SEND, 38 even the most inclusive mainstream setting may not be 39 suitable. 40 Conference reaffirms Liberal Democrat calls for: 41 A. A National Body for SEND, to oversee the provision of 42 support for children with SEND and fund the costs of very 43 high needs over £25,000 a year. 44 B. Extra funding for local authorities, to reduce the amount 45 that schools pay towards the cost of a child’s EHCP. 46 Conference calls on the UK Government to: 47 I. Speed-up the building of state-funded special schools, 48 including by: 49 a) Proceeding as a matter of urgency with construction of 50 the 67 currently planned special free schools. 51 b) Streamlining processes so that local authorities can 52 build special schools, without unnecessary delays from 53 central government. 54 II. Improve inclusion of children with SEND in mainstream 55 education, supported by the necessary resources and 56 adaptations, including through: 57 a) A statutory requirement, building on current teacher 58 training and early careers provision, for all teachers to Sunday 23 March cont. 59 be fully trained to identify and deal with SEND issues, 60 and to have access to Continuous Professional 61 Development (CPD) on SEND. 62 b) A statutory requirement for all non-teaching 63 educational professionals to receive training on SEND 64 issues. 65 c) A National Inclusion Framework for schools and 66 academy trusts, to include a clear definition of inclusion, 67 as well as guidance for school leaders on how to 68 support pupils to overcome any additional 69 vulnerabilities that may prevent them from engaging in 70 mainstream education. 71 d) A National Parental Participation Strategy, creating a 72 new duty for schools to focus on parental participation 73 as an important pillar of inclusivity. 74 e) Steps to encourage the presence, where appropriate, of 75 a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) on 76 each school’s senior leadership team, recognising the 77 importance of a fully-qualified SENCO in school 78 inclusivity. 79 f) Reviewing how protected time can be provided for 80 SENCOs to do their work. 81 g) Reforming Ofsted inspections so that the importance of 82 inclusive provision for students with SEND is properly 83 taken into account. 84 III. Take measures to improve early identification of SEND, 85 including by ensuring that all educational professionals, 86 particularly in the early years workforce, receive SEND- 87 specific training. 88 IV. Work alongside local government to review how persistent 89 absence among children with SEND can be reduced, 90 encouraging schools to take a holistic approach on 91 improving attendance amongst SEND pupils and ensuring 92 parents are supported to help their children back into well 93 resourced school settings. Sunday 23 March cont. 94 V. Review how financial burdens on local authorities caused by 95 the costs of SEND home-to-school transport and the cost of 96 places in private SEND provision can be reduced. Applicability: England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 8–11. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 10 March; see pages 13-14. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Sunday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Saturday 22 March; see page 9. 11.30 Party Business Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). F26 Party Awards The Leader’s Award Awarded to those who have shown exemplary leadership skills while working or volunteering for the Party. The Bertha Bowness Fischer Award Awarded to those who have shown outstanding energy and/or ingenuity in supporting their new-found political home. The Albert Ingham Award Awarded to an agent or campaign manager for a recent campaign that through its excellence, fastidiousness, tenacity or novelty is a model for others. The Laura Grimond Award Awarded to recognise the unsung work behind the scenes by someone whose contributions enable our frontline campaigns to go out and win. Sunday 23 March cont. 11.45 Speech Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). F27 Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 13.00 Close of Conference Autumn Conference Timetable 2025 Drafting advice deadline (motions) Motions deadline Drafting advice deadline (amendments, emergency motions) Deadline for amendments to motions, emergency motions topical issues, questions to reports 13.00 Wednesday, 11 June 2025 13.00 Wednesday, 25 June 2025 13.00 Tuesday, 26 August 2025 13.00 Monday, 8 September 2025 Conference Information If you have any questions on-site, please ask a steward or go to the Information Desk in the main foyer of the Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC). Be aware that flash photography is frequently used in the auditorium. Please ensure that all mobile phones are on silent before entering the auditorium. Please note that access to the HCC is only possible with a valid conference pass. 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The system transmits sound wirelessly directly to the hearing device, such as a hearing aid, cochlear implant, or loop listener, when it is switched to the hearing loop setting • Sign language interpretation during all auditorium sessions; a number of seats are reserved for attendees using this service, at the front of the auditorium. • Reserved seats at the front of the auditorium for those who would benefit from being closer to the stage due to a visual or other access reason. • If you have any accessibility requirements in the auditorium and need guidance, please reach out to one of the stewards in the auditorium who will be able to assist, or speak to someone at the Speakers Desk near the front of the auditorium. Mobility aids The Liberal Democrats have a limited number of complimentary electric scooters available for use around the conference venue - please note that they need to be returned each evening for charging. To request the use of an electric scooter please email the conference team: conferences@libdems.org.uk Conference Access Fund We have established a Conference Access Fund to improve accessibility for members attending conference. The fund consists of a contribution from the conference budget as well as donations from party members. Contributions made by members are ring-fenced and only used for these purposes. We often have a shortfall of funds donated so appreciate all contributions. For details see: www.libdems.org.uk/access-fund Accommodation Accommodation can be booked via our website: www.libdems.org.uk/conference Assistance and Emotional Support Animal Policy Please ensure that you have read our policy regarding assistance and emotional support animals at conference prior to arriving onsite: www.libdems.org.uk/conference/animalspolicy ATM The venue has Cash Zone on the external walls of Hall M on King’s Road, with numerous other cash points just a few minutes’ walk away in the town centre. Some charges may apply to use these facilities. Venue bars and catering outlets are cashless. Cloakroom Rails will be available for attendees to leave coats at their own risk. Please do not leave bags unattended at any point within the venue. Please note that under no circumstances will any suitcases or large bags be allowed into HCC. It will only be allowed in if it is no bigger than British Airways cabin baggage. Coffee, Tea, Water - Refills As part of our green policy: Please bring your own water bottle. Free refills will be available from water fountains at the HCC. Please bring your own reusable coffee cups for use within the HCC (they must be clean and in good condition). If you with to buy a reusable coffee cup onsite, please visit the Lib Dem Image stand in the exhibition area. Conference Extra and Daily Conference Extra is published ahead of conference and Conference Daily each day at conference, containing updates to the agenda including changes to timings, amendments, topical issues, emergency motions and questions to reports, available at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_papers Limited hard copies of Conference Daily will be available each morning from the Information Desk. It is also available on the Conference app. Be green - Go paperless! Distribution of Literature Distribution of literature is not allowed inside or directly outside HCC. Any persons attempting to bring a large number of flyers/literature into the conference centre may be prohibited from entering and a dilapidation charge will be levied against any organisation or individual responsible for 'fly-posting'. Federal Board Helpdesk The FB helpdesk is situated by the Information Desk. Members of the Federal Board will be available to have strategic conversations with members at the following times: Saturday 22 March 11.30 - 12.30 and 15.00 - 16.00 Federal Conference Committee Helpdesk Members of the FCC will be available to give advice at the Information Desk at the following times: Saturday 22 March 11.30 - 12.30 and 15.00 - 16.00 First Aid In the event of needing First Aid, please speak to a conference steward or go to the Information Desk. The stewards will arrange for First Aiders to attend and/or request a paramedic. Information Desk The Information Desk is located in the main foyer of HCC and is open as follows: Friday 21 March 16.30-18.30 Saturday 22 March 08.30-18.30 Sunday 23 March 08.30-13.30 You can contact the Information Desk on live days by email: conferenceinformation@libdems.org.uk Internet Access Free wifi is available at all our official venues: HCC Network name: VENUE-WIFI No password required Crowne Plaza Network name: Crowne_Plaza No password required Left Luggage On Sunday 23 March please store your luggage at your hotel/accommodation after checkout. Suitcases and large bags will not be permitted in the HCC. It will only be allowed in if it is no bigger than British Airways cabin baggage. Live Stream The conference will be streamed live at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference-live in case you miss any sessions or want to watch again! Lost Property Any lost property will be handed into the Information Desk in the HCC. Member Welfare Health Assured is an independent health and wellbeing provider that can offer wellbeing resources as well as a 24/7 365 helpline. All Liberal Democrat members have access to the Health Assured Support Helpline at 0800 028 0199. Members should feel free to use this service as needed. For more information visit: www.libdems.org.uk/conference/welfare Q&A Sessions There will be a series of Q&A sessions during conference where you can ask questions of our spokespeople. All sessions take place in HCC, Queen’s Suite. See our official documentation for details. Quiet Room A quiet room is available for those needing a quiet space or for prayer, meditation, to express milk or to feed your baby in a more private area. It is the Queen’s Suite Organisers Office near the Queens Suite (fringe rooms). Please be respectful of others using the room. Recycling Facilities Recycling facilities are available throughout the HCC. Please make use of the collection bins. Refreshments For a range of hot food options, snacks and beverages, head to Hall D exhibition room in the HCC. If you’re in a rush - sandwiches and savoury snacks are available near the auditorium entrance. The Crowne Plaza also has a variety of options available. Registration On-site On-site registration is located in the HCC (Entrance 2) and is open at the following times (if you need to register or collect your badge): Friday 21 March, 16.30-18.30 Saturday 22 March, 08.30-17.30 Sunday 23 March, 08.45-11.00 At busy times you may experience queues at on-site registration and we strongly advise all those wishing to attend conference to pre-register via: www.libdems.org.uk/conference Security and Safety Access to HCC is possible only with a valid conference pass worn with the official lanyard. Conference photo passes must be worn visibly at all times within the secure zone. Anyone found in the secure area without a valid pass will be escorted from the venue. All attendees will be subject to compulsory bag searches and handheld metal detectors at the entrance. Please do not bring any sharp objects with you (including knitting needles, crochet needles etc) as these are prohibited. To ensure you can access the venue as quickly as possible please only bring essential items with you into the conference venue. Please allow time for queuing during key times - particularly after lunch and ahead of popular events. Under no circumstances will any large bags or suitcases be allowed into the secure zone. Any bag left unattended will be brought to the attention of the police and may be removed and/or destroyed. Transport and Travel HCC is approximately 9 minutes walk (0.4 miles) from Harrogate train station. HCC is next door to the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Local Taxi The nearest taxi rank is on Montpelier Road. Blue Line Taxis Tel: 01423 530 830 or Mainline Taxis Tel: 01423 555555 Taxis are readily available at Harrogate train station. Parking There is a 24-hour pay and display car park directly below the Harrogate Convention Centre and a further 1,200 parking spaces in the centre of Harrogate. There are also electric car charging points available just one minute from the venue. For more information please visit: www.harrogateconventioncentre.co.uk/visitors/parking Whilst the HCC car park is available 24/7, please note that the entry and exit shutters are open from 06:00 to 23:59. The Exhibition The Exhibition Booths will be live at the following times: Friday 21 March 16.30 - 18.15 Saturday 22 March 09.00 - 18.00 Sunday 23 March 09.00 - 13.00 1, 2 & 3 ALDC and LGA Lib Dems 4 Election Workshop 5 Liberal Voice for Women 6 LibSTEMM 7 & 8 Social Liberal Forum 9 & 10 Liberal Democrat Disability Association 11 Liberal Democrat Future Fund 12 ALTER 13 RISO/SHARP 14 Prater Raines 15 Electrical Safety First 16 National Education Union 17 Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine 18 Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrats 19 Liberal Democrat Friends of Ukraine 20 Liberal Democrat Friends of the Armed Forces 21 Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform 22 Liberal Software 23 Liberal Democrats in England 24 Liberal Democrat Education Association 25 Liberator Magazine 26 Liberal Democrats Abroad 27 Liberal Democrat Women 28 Liberal Democrat Christian Forum 29 Liberal Reform 30 Green Liberal Democrats 31 Rights-Liberties-Justice 32 Young Liberals 33 LGBT+ Lib Dems 34 Liberal Democrat History Group 35 National Liberal Club 36 Liberal Democrat Friends of Hong Kong 37 & 38 LDCRE Lib Dem Image Directory of Exhibitors ALDC – Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and LGA Liberal Democrats ALDC and LGA Liberal Democrats provide advice, training and resources for local campaigners and councillors. Visit the stand to get updates on local government, campaigning and much more. www.aldc.org www.local.gov.uk/lga-lib-dem-group Stands 1, 2 & 3 ALTER Action for Land Taxation & Economic Reform - the Party’s only forum for a fair fiscal future. www.libdems.alter.org.uk Stand 12 Election Workshop Established by Liberal Democrats for Liberal Democrats to help YOU win elections. Specialists in election print and direct mail. Design free online with ALDC Artworker. DEMONSTRATIONS AT OUR EXHIBITION STALL. www.electionworkshop.co.uk Stand 4 Electrical Safety First Electrical Safety First is the UK's leading charity on electrical safety. They work with the government, businesses, media and the electrical industry to provide expert advice, resources and campaigns to promote electrical safety in the home, including the safe use of e-bikes and e-scooters. www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/battery-breakdown/battery-safety-campaign Stand 15 Green Liberal Democrats Green Liberal Democrats work to improve awareness of environmental issues and to embed these issues into all Liberal Democrat social and economic policies in a distinctive and electable way. www.greenlibdems.org.uk www.twitter.com/greenlibdems Stand 30 Directory of Exhibitors Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrats For Liberal Democrats who believe the state should treat everyone equally whatever their religion or beliefs. Recent campaigns cover humanist weddings, discrimination by schools, assisted dying and CofE disestablishment. www.hsld.org.uk Stand 18 LGBT+ Liberal Democrats LGBT+ Liberal Democrats (Plus) exist to champion LGBTQ+ representation within the party, advocate for inclusive policies, support LGBTQ+ candidates and members, and represent the party within our diverse LGBTQ+ communities. www.lgbt.libdems.org.uk Stand 33 Lib Dem Friends of the Armed Forces Supporting the Forces, serving families and veterans via policy, advocacy and engagement. www.nlcdefence.org.uk Stand 20 Lib Dem Friends of Ukraine AO The values of Ukraine are our values: freedom, democracy and liberalism. For the past 4 Conferences we have promoted the fight to support Ukraine militarily. This year we also want, while maintaining that focus, to bring to party members attention the issues of Ukrainians in the UK and the help that can be given with reconstruction. Stand 19 Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality (LDCRE) LDCRE aims to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society and to fight against prejudice and discrimination based on race, colour or religion within the party and society. www.ldcre.org.uk Stands 37 & 38 Directory of Exhibitors Liberal Democrat Christian Forum We are a Christian voice in the Party and a voice of liberal democracy among Christians. We support Christians of all backgrounds to engage positively and constructively in politics. www.ldcf.info Stand 28 Liberal Democrat Disability Association The LDDA, working to raise awareness and understanding of disability both through the Liberal Democrats, and the rest of society. www.disabilitylibdems.org.uk Stands 9 & 10 Liberal Democrat Education Association The Liberal Democrat Education Association aims to improve education through: publishing articles; running conferences; generating new ideas; promoting Lib Dem education policies and providing advice to Liberal Democrats in power. www.ldea.org.uk Stand 24 Liberal Democrat Friends of Hong Kong Supporting democracy in HK & China in dangerous times. Highlighting Beijing's distortion of international treaties, rule by law and its security apparatus' remits to damage the liberal democracy we treasure. www.libdemshk.org.uk Stand 36 Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine LDFP fights for the rights of the Palestinian People, for immediate recognition of Palestine as a State, and for the human rights of Palestinians as defined in international law. www.ldfp.org.uk Stand 17 Directory of Exhibitors Liberal Democrat Future Fund Support the Party's future campaigns and ensure our continued success in Westminster and beyond by leaving a gift in your Will to the Party. Generous supporters like you can help us build a more liberal future for Britain. www.libdems.org.uk/future-fund Stand 11 Liberal Democrat History Group The past illuminates the present. Subscribe to the ‘Journal of Liberal History’. New booklet: ‘What Have the Liberals Ever Done for Us?’, the greatest achievements of Liberal governments and MPs. www.liberalhistory.org.uk Stand 34 Liberal Democrat Image Visit the party's official supplier of campaign materials and merchandise. Find all the latest products and save money on postage. Visit our website www.libdemimage.co.uk and find us on Facebook. www.libdemimage.co.uk Stand Lib Dem Image Liberal Democrat Women Lib Dem Women works to support and amplify women's voices in politics, and to push for policies that will help all women across Britain. www.libdemwomen.org.uk Stand 27 Liberal Democrats Abroad Hear how to link up with your voters overseas with help from Lib Dems Abroad and promote campaigns for a fair deal for Brits abroad and those they care about. www.libdemsabroad.org.uk Stand 26 Directory of Exhibitors Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform LDER is engaging with the wider party to get both the policy and strategy right, and is working with reformers outside the party to get PR implemented at all levels. www.lder.org.uk Stand 21 Liberal Democrats in England Liberal Democrats in England. www.englishlibdems.org.uk Stand 23 Liberal Reform Liberal Reform exists within the Liberal Democrats to promote personal liberty and a fair society supported by free, open and competitive markets. We seek to make these values central to Party policy. www.liberalreform.org.uk Stand 29 Liberal Software A group of volunteer coders, designers and managers using our skills to help to party. www.liberalsoftware.org Stand 22 Liberal Voice for Women Liberal Voice for Women exists to protect and advance the rights and interests of women and girls from within the Liberal Democrats. www.liberalvoiceforwomen.org Stand 5 Liberator Magazine Liberator is free to read online and is packed with thought provoking articles from writers across the party. And with RB read news you won't read anywhere else. www.liberatormagazine.org.uk Stand 25 Directory of Exhibitors LibSTEMM (Formerly ALDES) Liberal Democrats in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) aims to bridge the gap between scientists and politicians; putting evidence based policies at the heart of our party. www.libstemm.uk Stand 6 National Education Union The National Education Union brings together more than half a million teachers, support staff and leaders, to form the largest education union in Europe. Visit the NEU’s stand to find out why at the forthcoming spending review we need to invest in education and our children’s futures. www.neu.org.uk Stand 16 National Liberal Club Founded in 1882, the National Liberal Club, located in the heart of Whitehall, is an open, welcoming, diverse and unique Private Members' Club. www.nl.org.uk Stand 35 Prater Raines Ltd The Liberal Democrats' development partner for Lighthouse and Fleet, making the Party's online campaigning shipshape for the future. Meet the team for Fleet demonstrations and advice. www.praterraines.co.uk Stand 14 Rights-Liberties-Justice (Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association) The home for Liberal Democrats interested in rights, liberties and justice issues; don’t need to be a lawyer to join but share our passion for justice and rule of law. www.rights-liberties-justice.uk Stand 31 Directory of Exhibitors RISO/SHARP Sharp is proud to be the largest reseller of RISO equipment nationally. RISO printers are a favourite with political parties due to their high volume output with various finishing options. For more info contact Daniel.Bridgeman@sharp.eu www.riso.co.uk Stand 13 Social Liberal Forum The Social Liberal Forum campaigns for a Citizens’ Britain, one characterised by a massive transfer of power from remote and unaccountable corporations and state institutions to people and their communities. www.socialliberal.net Stands 7 & 8 Young Liberals We provide a platform for young people and students to have their voices heard and act as a radical pressure group within the Liberal Democrats. www.youngliberals.uk Stand 32 Fringe and Training Guide What is Fringe? The ‘fringe’ is the term used for the many individual events, hosted by businesses/commercial organisations, charities, think tanks, party bodies, NGOs and trade bodies, etc. They take place around the main conference and offer the opportunity to hear from expert guest speakers on a huge range of topics. Events taking place can include seminars, debates, workshops and receptions. Fringe meeting access All fringe events listed in the official fringe venues are wheelchair-accessible. If you experience any access difficulties, please let the Information Desk know or make a comment on your online feedback. If you have any concerns or compliments about a fringe event at conference, please contact the event organiser during or at the end of the session. Spokespeople Q&A Sessions There will be two Q&A sessions at conference where you can ask questions of our spokespeople. All sessions will take place in the Harrogate Convention Centre. Treasury Q&A Saturday 22 March 13.00-14 – Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 7 with Daisy Cooper MP and Baroness Susan Kramer; Chair Cllr Hannah Kitching. Foreign Affairs Q&A Sunday 23 March 10.00-11.00 – Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 8 & 9 with Calum Miller MP; Chair Chris Maines. Questions may be submitted by 13.00 Monday 10 March using the online form at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions HEARING Friday 21st March Fringe Friday mid afternoon 16.45–18.15 Federal Policy Committee Policy Review - Consultation Session This session is an opportunity for members to feed in their views on what the party’s policy development priorities should be over the rest of the Parliament. Chair: Eleanor Kelly. Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite HEARING Fringe Friday early evening 18.30–19.30 Conference Rally In the first big event of Spring conference, our newest MPs will take to the stage to share their highlights and successes of the Liberal Democrats in Parliament so far. As we kickstart the conference weekend, we’ll also look ahead to the local elections and gear ourselves up for another smashing set of results. This rally will leave you fired up and ready to hit the ground running. Harrogate Convention Centre, Auditorium HEARING Fringe Friday mid evening 20.00–21.30 Liberal Democrat History Group A new economic policy for the Liberal Party? Lloyd George’s adoption of Keynes’ radical economic ideas for the 1929 election provoked controversy within the Liberal Party. What are the lessons for today? Speakers: Professor Peter Sloman (Cambridge University) and Peter Walker (expert on Keynes). Chair: Daisy Cooper MP. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 2 Fringe Friday mid evening 20.00–21.30 cont. Rights Liberties Justice (Lib Dem Lawyers Association) The Domino Theory of Democracy. Is democracy and the rule of law in permanent decline? John Sweeney, journalist and Ukrainian diarist, heads a panel to discuss whether democracy can survive oligarchy and autocracy. For full details and background reading: https://bit.ly/RLJDemocracy Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 6 Liberal Voice for Women The Cass Review – One Year On The four-year Cass Review fundamentally changed the discussion regarding healthcare for gender questioning children. Our speakers include health professionals and LGB rights campaigners to discuss why the Review was so necessary and what’s next. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 7 LGA Liberal Democrat Group The Local Government Reception All friends of Local Government welcome! With Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Lib Dems, and Cllr Joe Harris, Leader LGA Lib Dem Group. Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite Conservatory REFRESHMENTS Fringe Friday late evening 22.00–23.30 Liberal Democrats Conference Quiz Come along and watch as Jess Brown-Fuller MP delivers an entertaining night of questions and laughter. Tickets can be purchased (by members only) when registering to attend conference. Additional tickets sold on the door are subject to availability. Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite HEARING Saturday 22nd March Fringe Saturday morning 09.00–10.00 Federal Board Party Strategy - Consultation Session This session is an opportunity for members to feed in to the development of the party's strategy in the light of the 2024 Westminster general election result. For further reading please see this document: www.libdems.org.uk/news/article/party-strategy-consultation Chair: Jenni Lang Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite Conservatory Party Body Forum INVITE ONLY - Representatives of Party Bodies are invited to come and update each other on the organisation's latest news. Note: this event is from 09.30. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 4 Fringe Saturday lunchtime 13.00–14.00 Malaria No More UK Health innovation in a changing climate: tackling disease on the front line An event co-hosted by Malaria No More UK, Green Liberal Democrats, Liberal Democrats for International Development, and LibSTEMM, exploring the impact of climate change on global health, and the role of new technologies in preventing and managing disease outbreaks. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 1 REFRESHMENTS Fringe Saturday lunchtime 13.00–14.00 cont. Yorkshire and Humber Liberal Democrats Increasing the Liberal Democrats' Northern Appeal Only four of our 72 MPs represent Northern England. Come join metro mayoral candidate Mike Ross, ALDC Chief Executive Tim Pickstone and councillors Amanda Hopgood and Paul Heilbron to discuss how we can increase our appeal in the region. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 2 BlackRock 'Financing Growth in the UK' Panel Discussion The Panel with Daisy Cooper MP (invited) and Victoria Collins MP (invited) is an opportunity to discuss the steps that could be taken to improve productivity, economic growth, and the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for investment. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 3 REFRESHMENTS Education Policy Institute and the Association of School and College Leaders Will the plans for school report cards improve accountability or not? The government and Ofsted are planning a new approach to school accountability – but have they got it right? Join us for a panel discussion on one of the hottest topics in education. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 4 REFRESHMENTS Liberal Democrat HQ’s Labour-facing Campaigners Network How should the Lib Dems try and win in Labour-facing areas? Chaired by Mark Park, join Director of Campaigns for the UK Dave McCobb alongside Parliamentarians, Councillors and candidates for a debate and discussion about the Party’s approach to winning in Labour-facing areas across the UK. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 5 Fringe Saturday lunchtime 13.00–14.00 cont. LGA Liberal Democrat Group and ALDC Reporting back from the ‘front line’ of local government reform Hear from Liberal Democrat Councillors who have fought the forced abolition of district councils and from those who have recent experience of going into a unitary council. Chair: Councillor Bridget Smith, Deputy Leader LGA Liberal Democrats. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 6 REFRESHMENTS Shared Health Foundation Join in and join us to change Temporary Accommodation for children! With 160,000 children living in Temporary Accommodation, come and help us change their lives for the better. Invited speakers are: Vikki Slade MP, Helen Morgan MP, Lee Dillon MP and Josh Babarinde MP. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 8 REFRESHMENTS Liberal Reform How the Lib Dems can re-establish themselves as the party of free trade Join Clive Jones MP, Tom Morrison MP and others as we discuss how the Lib Dems can re-establish ourselves as the party of free trade. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite, Meeting Room 9 Social Liberal Forum What’s the point of the Liberal Democrats – local heroes or national party? Are we a party aspiring to govern and, if so, what is our vision for the society we seek to create? Join Layla Moran MP, Chris Coghlan MP and colleagues in an open conversation. Supported by the Yorkists Group. Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite Fringe Saturday early evening 18.15–19.15 Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine Hope for Gaza - Hope for Humanity The People Behind the Headlines – Join us to hear personal stories from Gazans caught in the conflict – families, doctors and charity workers speaking about their experiences but also the hopes they have for the future and how we can help. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 2 Green Liberal Democrats Retrofit: Who Pays the Bills? Max Wilkinson MP and MCS Foundation will discuss how we can decarbonise our housing and building stock.The long-term benefits of built-in, and retrofit are many, but how can government get developers and social landlords to take a long-term approach? Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 3 Education Policy Institute and the National Education Union Addressing the funding crisis in the SEND system The SEND system is broken. Children are left without sufficient support and LA budgets cannot meet the cost of provision. Join us to examine the challenges schools and councils face and what reform to high needs funding should look like. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 4 REFRESHMENTS ALDC and LGA Lib Dem Group Improving local recycling in an era of change As councils prepare to introduce significant changes to household waste collection over the next few years, hear best practice from Lib Dem councils and councillors on how to improve local recycling in an era of change. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 6 Fringe Saturday early evening 18.15–19.15 cont. Liberal Democrat Women How do we achieve gender equality across our candidate list by 2028? We're closer to a gender balanced parliament than ever before yet only 24% of Lib Dem candidates are women. Join LDW Eleanor Kelly, (Panel Chair), Zoe Franklin MP and Lyanne Nicholl to address the issues holding women back from election. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 7 Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform Parliament votes for PR! What next? The House of Commons has voted for proportional representation for the first time. How can Lib Dems continue the fight? Speakers include: Sarah Olney MP (Lib Dem Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office including political reform); and Hannah Camilleri (Electoral Reform Society). Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 9 HEARING REFRESHMENTS Social Liberal Forum “It’s the Economy Stupid” Labour says their top mission is economic growth. Why are they making a hash of it? Do LibDems have a different analysis and agenda? Join Daisy Cooper MP, Bobby Dean MP and expert panel to discuss. Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite Liberal Democrat Education Association LDEA - Networking Reception Note: this event is from 18.00 until 19.00. Join Lib Dem Spokespeople for a relaxed drinks and networking event. Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite Conservatory Fringe Saturday mid evening 19.45–21.00 Liberal Democrat Friends of Ukraine Ukraine - helping in its future and its people in the UK We will be discussing the future for Ukrainians in the UK and will have a short presentation by The Ethical Support Alliance, a UK not-for- profit, who have been working with the Lviv State University for Internal Affairs on counter corruption and professional standards interventions in Ukraine. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 3 Liberal Democrat Friends of Hong Kong Lessons from UN Resolution 2758 - How liberals must protect World Institutions ‘What should Liberal Parties in Europe do to promote Taiwan Representation on the World Stage?’ How can liberal parties work together for resilience networks not at the patronage of Beijing? Join our discussion and panel of experts from the political and academic field. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 4 LGBT+ Lib Dems The Next Steps: LGBT+ Rights and the Road Ahead for the Lib Dems Join Plus as we sit down with Christine Jardine MP (invited) and Layla Moran MP (invited) to discuss the future of health policy and LGBT+ rights. We’ll explore next steps following Christine’s motion, examine health policy, and address key challenges. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 5 Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG) How should we respond to the increasing threat and interference from Russia? An important debate lead by James MacCleary MP our Europe Spokesperson and politicians from our sister parties across Europe, where Russian interference in elections and manipulation of public discourse poses an increasingly daily threat to their future as liberal democracies. Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 8 Fringe Saturday mid evening 19.45–21.00 cont. John Stuart Mill Institute Radical Liberalism in an Age of Crisis A new book of essays on this subject has just been published. Invited authors will discuss the need for a deep revitalisation of liberal politics. The book can be bought at this meeting for only £10. Chair: Dr.Alan Butt Philip Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 9 Lib Dem Campaign for Race Equality Race Equality True or False A Show & Tell Debate about having a more diverse party. VIP Panel. Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite Liberal Democrat Friends of Whisky Whisky Tasting with Alistair Carmichael MP Note: this event is from 20.00 until 22.00. A unique opportunity to taste, discuss and learn a bit about malt whisky in a friendly and relaxed environment. Tickets £45 (numbers limited). Book tickets by contacting libdemfow@gmail.com Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite Conservatory Fringe Saturday late evening 22.00–02.00 Glee Club Join us for the ultimate end-of conference celebration! Pick up your copy of the Liberator Songbook and come ‘raise the roof’! The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Harewood Room Training and Skills Programme Saturday 22 March - Sunday 23 March Welcome to our Spring Conference 2025 training programme! Our training at Conference is suitable for all members whether you’re brand new or you’ve been with us for many years! With these sessions we hope you can learn new skills, brush up on existing skills or even learn how to take on new roles in the party. Whether you have elections in May or not there is training available to suit your needs. Training is open to all members unless otherwise stated. If you want to focus your training in particular areas you can follow one of our streams. Or simply choose a mixture of sessions. The streams we have created are: LOCAL PARTY - Sessions that will help your Local Party diversify and grow. TECH - How to use our Tech systems and run digital campaigning. CANDIDATES - How to become a candidate or develop your skills as one. CAMPAIGNING - For those looking to develop their campaigning skills. GETTING THE MOST FROM CONFERENCE - Sessions to help you maximise your experience at Conference. We also have a stream of sessions as part of our Labour-Facing Campaigners Network specifically for those who live in areas where Labour are the main opposition. These sessions are split into five key areas. Also look for sessions badged LABOUR FACING. Saturday 22nd March - Training Room 8 9.30-10.45 - Campaigning against Labour where they are in Power. 11.15-12.30 - Crafting your message against the Labour Party. 14.30-15.45 - Winning the Postal Vote against Labour. 16.15-17.30 - Winning in the last five weeks against Labour. Sunday 23rd March - Training Room 7 9:30-10:45 - Using all your tools to fight Labour Saturday 22nd March Training & Skills Saturday morning 09.30–10.45 All you need to know for the Local Elections Every year there are changes and updates to election law. Whether you’ve been involved in multiple campaigns or this is your first come along to hear from our experts all the latest information you need to know to keep your campaigning compliant! LDHQ Compliance Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 1 CAMPAIGNING How Local Government works An essential session if you are new to working with local government and want to ensure strong links between local councillors and MPs. Working across all levels of government for our communities. ALDC Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 3 CAMPAIGNING Fundraising Workshop Success in Fundraising is crucial for any winning campaign - come along to this session to hear from our experts all about how to ensure you are maximising the potential of your donors, events and emails. There will also be an opportunity to ask the LDHQ fundraising team any questions about your local fundraising goals and objectives and receive tailored advice. LDHQ Fundraising Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 5 CAMPAIGNING Training Saturday morning 09.30–10.45 cont. Women speaking at conference – come along to learn how to speak effectively in public Women members only Speaking in public is a vital skill for anyone wishing to be elected to local government or to Parliament. Making a speech at Party Conference is a great place to start. This course will explain how to prepare a speech – and how to get called to deliver it. Campaign for Gender Balance Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 6 CANDIDATES Knowing which doors to knock on Whether you’ve been knocking doors for years, or never tried before, what are we trying to achieve, which are the best techniques to use, and how do we make sure the data we collect is reliable? LDHQ Campaigns and Elections Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 7 CAMPAIGNING Labour-facing: Campaigning against Labour when they’re in power From running strong single-issue campaigns to building a record of action this session with campaign experts will share knowledge on how to effectively campaign against Labour at all levels from Council to Government. This session is for anyone who is in a Labour Facing area. LDHQ Campaigns and Elections Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 8 LABOUR FACING Training Saturday morning 09.30–10.45 cont. How to survive Conference Get all the inside knowledge on how to survive at conference. Designed for first- timers, but old hands might find some new knowledge too; all welcome. Federal Conference Committee Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 9 GETTING THE MOST FROM CONFERENCE Introduction to Targeted Email We’ve got our own web platform that’ll make it a doddle to run great online campaigns, raise money and win elections. Join us at this session to find out how it works. LDHQ Tech Team Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite TECH Training & Skills Saturday late morning 11.15–12.30 Being a good Local Party Treasurer Whether you’ve been a treasurer for many years, are new in the role or are considering taking it up for the first time, come along to this session to learn everything you need to know to stay legal in the role. LDHQ Compliance Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 1 LOCAL PARTY How to write a good FOCUS article FOCUS is the foundation stone of countless Lib Dem campaigns. Make sure your FOCUS articles pack a punch by attending this session. ALDC Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 2 CAMPAIGNING Training Saturday late morning 11.15–12.30 cont. Be A Councillor - Building a diverse pool of candidates A diverse group of candidates is important in representing views across your community. A diverse and inclusive group provides a solid foundation for success and in this session you will find out why and how to go about building that team. ALDC Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 3 LOCAL PARTY Selling yourself as a disabled candidate This interactive session will go through how disabled candidates in all elections can sell their skills and talents. It will lay the groundwork for ensuring disabled candidates can promote their abilities. This session is open to all wanting to find out more about supporting disabled candidates or if they identify as disabled. Also those who have or suspect they have something which would put them under the disability protection of the Equality Act - even if they do not identify as disabled such as neuro-divergent individuals or mental health illnesses. Liberal Democrat Disability Association Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 4 CANDIDATES Campaigning on policies that matter to young people Looking to boost your local party's appeal to young people? Or hoping to win over youth voters? Join the Young Liberals for an insightful session on running effective campaigns that resonate with the issues important to young people. Discover strategies for recruiting and engaging the next generation of Liberal Democrats. Young Liberals Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 5 CAMPAIGNING Training Saturday late morning 11.15–12.30 cont. What CGB can do to help women to get elected to councils and to Parliament Women members only The Campaign for Gender Balance was set up to help get more women elected to Parliament by training, coaching and mentoring women members. We are keen to help every woman who comes to us at any point in their political journey. Some of our new women MPs may be dropping in to tell us how CGB helped them! Campaign for Gender Balance Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 6 CANDIDATES Building a Winning Message A clear, simple and relevant message is the backbone of any campaign - in this session our campaign experts take you through how to build your message and use it. This session is for anyone not in a Labour Facing area. LDHQ Campaign and Elections Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 7 CAMPAIGNING Labour-facing: Crafting your message against the Labour Party Getting our message right is critical to beating Labour, this session will share best practices on messaging against the Labour Party and also how to establish yourself as the main challenger in elections against Labour. This session is for anyone who is in a Labour Facing area. LDHQ Campaign and Elections Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 8 LABOUR FACING Training Saturday late morning 11.15–12.30 cont. How to write a Conference Motion Writing a conference motion is a skill. Learn from seasoned experts on the best way to write a conference motion. Federal Conference Committee Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 9 GETTING THE MOST FROM CONFERENCE All Inclusive! A diversity and inclusion workshop Grab a cuppa and a biscuit and join host Jennifer Gray in this entertaining World Café style workshop. As a group, we will journey through the field of inclusion. As an individual, you will be able to capture creative ideas on how to improve diversity and inclusion that are relevant to your locality. ECC and Jennifer Gray Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite: Conservatory LOCAL PARTY Introduction to Fleet We’ve got our very own web platform that’ll make it a doddle to run great online campaigns, raise money and win elections. Join us at this session to find out how it works. LDHQ Tech Team Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite TECH Training & Skills Saturday afternoon 14.30–15.45 Compliance 101 for Westminster Approved Candidates This session is aimed at those currently approved to stand in Westminster elections. Even though it may be some time before the next Westminster elections it’s never too early to make sure what you are doing is compliant. This session will take you through all the basics you need to know. LDHQ Compliance Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 1 CANDIDATES How to write great direct mail Industry still spends billions on direct mail because it works as part of communication and fundraising. We will discuss who you should write to and what a good piece of direct mail looks like. ALDC Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 2 CAMPAIGNING Be a Councillor - You can stand for your local council Could you be the right person to represent your local community? What are the responsibilities of being a councillor? What difference can you really make? Join ALDC to find out the answer to these questions, and take the first step on an exciting and important journey. ALDC Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 3 CANDIDATES Training Saturday afternoon 14.30–15.45 cont. Working on Diversity This session is essential for new and potential diversity officers to understand the key aspects of diversity within the Liberal Democrats, setting the foundation for a successful year ahead. LDHQ Diversity Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 4 LOCAL PARTY Fundraising Workshop Success in fundraising is crucial for any winning campaign - come along to this session to hear from our experts all about how to ensure you are maximising the potential of your donors, events and emails. There will also be an opportunity to ask the LDHQ Fundraising Team any questions about your local fundraising goals and objectives and receive tailored advice. LDHQ Fundraising Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 5 CAMPAIGNING Stress and Time Management for women in politics Women Members only Building resilience when coping with the pressures women candidates and campaigners face daily in politics. Campaign for Gender Balance Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 6 CANDIDATES Training Saturday afternoon 14.30–15.45 cont. Winning the Postal Vote The last few years have seen an increase in the importance of postal votes in a campaign - in this session we’ll take you through getting our supporters to use their postal vote and how to win over those who already have one. This session is for anyone not in a Labour Facing area. LDHQ Campaigns and Elections Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 7 CAMPAIGNING Labour-facing: Winning the Postal Vote against Labour The last few years have seen an increase in the importance of postal votes in a campaign - in this session, we’ll take you through why the postal vote is so critical in areas where we campaign against Labour. This session is for anyone who is in a Labour Facing area. LDHQ Campaigns and Elections Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 8 LABOUR FACING Facebook Advertising Learn how to get the most out of Facebook advertising and all the tips and tricks you need to run great campaigns. LDHQ Tech Team Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite TECH Training & Skills Saturday late afternoon 16.15–17.30 What you need to know about Data Protection Data Protection Law is often unique when it comes to campaigns and elections and we often have to stick to extra rules. In this session our experts will let you know everything you need to know to stay on the right side of the law. LDHQ Compliance Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 1 LOCAL PARTY What is my message for the local election campaign? What will set you apart from the competition on Polling Day? This session will help candidates make sure their message for leaflets, direct mail and social media is sharp and effective. ALDC Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 2 CAMPAIGNING Public Speaking Demystified! In this fun, interactive session, pick up practical tips and insights for achieving greater impact through the spoken word, working with an award-winning professional speaker & coach. Simon Bucknall - The Public Speaking Coach For More Inspiring Leaders Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 3 CAMPAIGNING Training Saturday late afternoon 16.15–17.30 cont. Engaging with and attracting diverse members This session will focus on strategies for engaging and attracting members from diverse communities and different social backgrounds. We’ll explore cultural differences and how your work supports the broader strategy, providing valuable insights for ensuring success within your local party. LDHQ Diversity Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 4 LOCAL PARTY Introduction to Connect Join us to learn the basics of how Connect works, what you can use it for, and how to do some basic tasks as well as make sure you comply with the law. This session is ideal for people just starting out using Connect. LDHQ Connect Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 5 TECH Recruiting Young Members Want to grow your local party's membership with the next generation of Lib Dems? Join this engaging session to learn practical strategies for attracting and welcoming young members to your local party. From understanding what young people look for in a political movement to building inclusive communities where they can thrive, this session will equip you with the tools to inspire the next wave of Liberal Democrats. Young Liberals Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 6 LOCAL PARTY Training Saturday late afternoon 16.15–17.30 cont. Winning in the last five weeks It takes hard work all year round to win an election but the last five weeks can be crucial - this session will help you ensure you are using this limited time to maximum effect. This session is for anyone not in a Labour Facing area. LDHQ Campaigns and Elections Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 7 CAMPAIGNING Labour-facing: Winning in the last five weeks against Labour The last five weeks can be crucial in beating Labour - this session shares best practice for running effective campaigns against Labour in the final weeks of your election campaign. This session is for anyone who is in a Labour Facing area. LDHQ Campaigns and Elections Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 8 LABOUR FACING How to frame the contest in your area In order to win we need to set ourselves up as the main challengers whatever position we are in - this session will help you with how to establish yourselves in that position and how to use all elements of campaigning and messaging to frame your contest. LDHQ Campaigns and Elections Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 9 CAMPAIGNING Training Saturday late afternoon 16.15–17.30 cont. Digital in Depth : Winning Online Find out how to make the most of social media as a top tool in your campaigning arsenal with Digital In Depth: Winning Online. This is an intermediate session, aimed at people who are comfortable with using Facebook. LDHQ Tech Team Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Suite TECH Sunday 23rd March Training & Skills Sunday morning 09.30–10.45 Winning the Environmental Vote Join ALDC and Green Liberal Democrats to explore the key campaigns and messages that will chime with voters who share our values on environmental issues. ALDC and Green Liberal Democrats Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 1 CAMPAIGNING Introduction to Fleet We’ve got our very own web platform that’ll make it a doddle to run great online campaigns, raise money and win elections. Join us at this session to find out how it works. LDHQ Tech Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 3 TECH Compliance Drop In Come along to this session to ask any questions of the LDHQ Compliance team and make sure that you are doing everything you should to keep you campaign legal! LDHQ Compliance Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 4 CAMPAIGNING Training Sunday morning 09.30–10.45 cont. A year in the life of a Connect Manager Being a Constituency Connect Manager is a huge responsibility. Join our Connect Team to find out everything you need to be doing throughout the year. LDHQ Connect Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 5 TECH Engaging young people on social media This session will provide actionable strategies and tools to effectively connect with and mobilise the younger generation through digital platforms. Learn how to craft compelling content, leverage social media trends, and build an online community to energise and recruit young supporters. Young Liberals Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 6 CAMPAIGNING Labour-facing: Using all your tools to fight Labour When it comes to campaigning against Labour you have more tools at your disposal than you might first consider - come along to this session and hear more from our experts about how best to use the media, targeted emails, literature and every tool in your arsenal. This session is for anyone who is in a Labour Facing area. LDHQ Campaign and Elections Team Harrogate Convention Centre, Queen’s Suite: Meeting Room 7 LABOUR FACING Standing Orders Glossary of Terms Business motion A proposal to conduct the affairs of the Party in a particular way or to express an opinion on the way affairs have been conducted. Business amendment A proposal to change a business motion. Any such proposal should be significant, should be within the scope of the original motion and must not be a direct negative. Committee Throughout these standing orders, Committee means the Federal Conference Committee unless otherwise qualified. Constitutional amendment A proposal to change the constitution of the Party. Secondary constitutional amendment An amendment to a constitutional amendment. This must not introduce new material. Consultative session A meeting where selected areas of policy or strategy are considered in greater depth than is possible in full debates. Day visitor Someone who has paid the appropriate day visitor fee. Day visitors are not entitled to speak or vote in full sessions of conference. Emergency motion A proposal which derives from a significant recent development which occurred after the deadline for submission of motions. Emergency motions must be brief (maximum 500 words). Emergency amendment An amendment to a motion which relates to a specific event which occurred after the deadline for the submission of amendments. It must be brief and uncontentious. Standing Orders Full session Any part of the conference agenda during which debates, topical issue discussions or discussion of business, including formal reports, takes place. This specifically excludes formal speeches such as those by the Leader or Party Officers. Point of order A suggestion to the chair of a debate that the conduct of the debate, as laid down in the standing orders, has not been followed correctly. Policy motion A proposal to adopt a new policy or reaffirm an existing one. This includes motions accompanying policy papers. Policy amendment A proposal to change a policy motion. Any proposal should be of significant importance, should be within the scope of the original motion and must not be a direct negative. Policy paper A paper prepared by the Federal Policy Committee and submitted to conference for debate under the terms of Article 7.4 of the Federal Party constitution. Procedural motion A proposal that the conduct of a debate should be changed in a specific way. Procedural motions are: Move to next business A proposal that the conference should cease to consider an item of business and immediately move to the next item on the agenda. Reference back A proposal to refer a motion or amendment to a named body of the Party for further consideration. Request for a count A request to the chair that a specific vote be counted and recorded rather than decided on the chair’s assessment of a show of voting cards. Standing Orders Separate vote A request to the chair of a debate that a part or parts of a motion or amendment should be voted on separately. Suspension of standing orders A proposal to relax specific standing orders for a stated purpose. Special conference An additional meeting of the conference requisitioned by the Federal Board, Federal Policy Committee, conference itself or 2% of party members, in not fewer than 10% of local parties under the provisions of Article 6.3 of the Federal constitution. Standing order amendment A proposal to change these standing orders. Secondary standing order amendment An amendment to a standing order amendment. This must not introduce new material. Topical issue discussion A discussion on a policy issue of significant and topical relevance, conducted without a vote. Voting member A member attending Conference who has satisfied the requirements for attendance and has paid the registration fee presently in force for party members as agreed by FCC, and who is not a day visitor or observer. Standing Orders Standing Orders for a conference held remotely a. In the event that the Federal Board determines it is impossible to hold a conference under the normal rules, and instead summons a special meeting of the conference to be held remotely, or the Committee otherwise directs that a conference shall be conducted remotely, these Standing Orders shall apply b. A remote conference shall be conducted in accordance with the Standing Orders that apply to a conference not conducted remotely (‘the original Standing Orders’), save that: i. All references in the original Standing Orders to votes, whether by ballot, show of hands or show of voting cards, shall instead be conducted via an online poll or alternative secure method of online voting, designated by the Committee; similarly all references to speakers cards shall be taken to mean electronic speakers’ cards. ii. Any communications with the chair must be made via an online channel designated by the Committee for that purpose and advertised to voting members prior to the commencement of a debate. iii. In original Standing Order 6.2, the reference to the Chief Steward shall also include lead moderators designated by the Chief Steward. iv. Original Standing Order 8.7 shall apply save that the Committee may set a deadline in respect of any given full session for the receipt of electronic speakers’ cards; the chair shall have discretion to accept electronic speakers’ cards after the deadline. v. Original Standing Orders 9.1, 9.2, 11.5 and Procedural motion 3 (Request for a Count) in the Glossary of Terms, shall not apply; instead, voting members shall, when appropriate, be directed by the chair to vote using the online voting tool made available to them. Standing Order 2.3 shall not apply. vi. In original Standing Order 10.1, any voting member may signal to the Chair via the designated online channel, that they are moving a point of order, in lieu of rising in their place. vii. As, by necessity, all votes shall be counted votes, Standing Order 11.5 shall not apply; instead the chair shall ensure the result of the counted vote is publicised to members, via the appropriate online channel. Standing Orders Standing Orders for the Federal Conference 1. The Conference Agenda 1.1 What is on the agenda The agenda for each meeting of conference, other than a special conference, shall include time for: a) One or more consultative sessions; save that the Committee may decide not to hold any consultative sessions at a spring conference; b) A business session or sessions for the consideration of reports from the Parliamentary Parties as listed in Article 6.5 of the Federal Party’s Constitution, the Federal Board, the Federal Policy Committee, Federal Communications and Elections Committee, Federal International Relations Committee, Federal Council, and the Federal Conference Committee together with, when appropriate, reports from any other body the Committee considers appropriate, accounts, the annual report, a motion accompanying the proposed strategy of the party, business motions, constitutional amendments and standing order amendments; c) Policy motions (including motions accompanying policy papers); d) Emergency motions; e) Topical issue discussions; f) Any other business which the Committee thinks appropriate. The time to be allocated to each type of business and the order of that business shall be decided by the Committee provided that conference may decide not to take any particular item on the agenda. 1.2 Conference or council of state parties In addition, time before or after any meeting may be agreed with the relevant state party for a meeting of the conference or council of that party. 1.3 Right to submit agenda items a) Reports to Conference may be submitted only by the bodies listed in paragraph 1.1(b). b) Business motions (including amendments and emergency business motions and amendments), constitutional amendments and secondary constitutional amendments, standing order amendments and secondary standing order amendments may be submitted by the Federal Board, Standing Orders Federal Policy Committee, Federal Council, Federal Conference Committee, state parties, regional parties in England, local parties, Affiliated Organisations and 10 party members. c) Motions accompanying policy papers may only be submitted by the Federal Policy Committee. d) Policy motions (including amendments, emergency policy motions and amendments) may be submitted by the Federal Policy Committee, state parties, regional parties in England, local parties, Affiliated Organisations and 10 party members. e) The Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons may submit a motion relating to supporting a government containing members of the other parties, in accordance with Article 24 of the constitution. f) Proposals for topical issue discussions may be submitted by any party member. 1.4 How motions and amendments are submitted All motions and amendments must be submitted to the Committee. They must identify a person authorised to agree to their being composited or redrafted. The details of methods of submission will be notified for each conference via the Party website. 1.5 The deadlines by which motions, amendments, reports and questions to reports must be submitted The Committee shall specify: a) The closing date for the receipt of policy motions (including motions accompanying policy papers), business motions, constitutional amendments and amendments to standing orders, which shall be at least eight weeks before the start of conference. b) The closing date for the receipt of amendments to motions published in the Agenda and emergency motions, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference. c) The closing date for the submission of written reports from the bodies listed in paragraph 1.1(b), which will be set so as to enable their distribution with the Agenda. Any supplementary report submitted later than this deadline may only be tabled at conference with the permission of the Committee. d) The closing date for the submission of questions to any of the reports Standing Orders listed in the Agenda, which shall be the same as the deadline for emergency motions. Questions submitted by this deadline are guaranteed to be asked. e) Notwithstanding 1.5(d), questions may always be submitted to any of the reports listed in the Agenda, by the end of the preceding morning (for report sessions taking place in the afternoon) or afternoon (for report sessions taking place in the morning). Any questions submitted by this deadline will only be taken at the discretion of the chair. f) The closing date for proposals for topical issue discussions, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference. 1.6 Notification of deadlines All dates specified under Standing Order 1.5 shall be publicised to party members and bodies entitled to submit motions. Publication in the party newspaper/magazine and website may be treated as notice for this purpose. 1.7 Later deadlines in special circumstances In special circumstances the Committee may specify later dates than those indicated above. In particular, where developments which, in the opinion of the Committee, are of great importance have taken place after the closing date for emergency motions and questions to reports, the Committee may make time available for an additional emergency motion or for a statement to be made on behalf of the Party or for additional questions to be submitted to reports. 2. Consultative Sessions 2.1 The subjects for consultative sessions The subjects for debate at consultative sessions shall be chosen by the Committee on the advice of the Federal Policy Committee and, where appropriate, the Federal Board, and published in the Agenda. Two or more such sessions may be held simultaneously. 2.2 Speaking at consultative sessions Any member of the Party may be called to speak at a consultative session and, with the approval of the chair, non-members with relevant expertise may also be called. Standing Orders 2.3 Voting at consultative sessions At the discretion of the chair a vote by show of hands may be taken to indicate the weight of opinion among members present on any issue that has been debated. 3. The Agenda 3.1 The shortlisting of motions The Committee shall draw up the Agenda and shall decide which of the motions duly submitted shall be included in it. The Committee may allocate time for one or more policy or business motions to be selected by ballot. Copies of motions not selected shall be available for inspection and will be supplied to any party member on payment of a copying charge and postage. 3.2 Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders Save as detailed below in Standing Order 4.3, all proposed amendments to the constitution or standing orders must be selected for debate. 3.3 Balance between State and Federal policy debates The Committee shall, in drawing up the Agenda, have due regard to the balance of State and Federal policy debates and in particular shall as far as possible organise the agenda so that all matters which relate solely to one or more state parties but not all State Parties or the Federal Party shall be considered at either the beginning or the end of the conference. 4. Selection of Motions and Amendments 4.1 Compositing or otherwise altering motions In drawing up the Agenda the Committee shall seek to reflect the range of views in the Party as indicated by the motions and amendments submitted. The Committee may: a) Treat any severable part of a motion or amendment as a separate motion or amendment. b) Redraft a motion or amendment so as to improve expression, remove inaccuracy or superfluity or take account of new developments. c) Composite similar motions or amendments. d) Standing Orders 4.2 Selection of amendments The Committee shall decide which of the amendments duly submitted to each motion shall be selected. No amendment shall be selected if, in the opinion of the Committee it is insubstantial, outside the scope of the motion, or tantamount to a direct negative of the motion. 4.3 Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders The Committee may refuse to select a motion for amendment of the constitution or standing orders if, in their opinion, it is: a) Similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate or ballot at the same meeting of conference. b) Similar in effect to a motion that has been rejected at either of the last two meetings of conference. c) In the case of amendments to the constitution, incomplete in that it leaves unamended some other part of the constitution which contradicts the meaning of the amendment. d) In the case of amendments to standing orders, incomplete in that it leaves unamended some other part of standing orders which contradicts the meaning of the amendment. e) Ambiguous. 4.4 Emergency motions The Committee may reject an emergency motion if: a) It is similar in effect to another motion that has been selected for debate or ballot. b) It is similar in effect to a subject chosen for a topical issue discussion. c) It is unclear as to its meaning or intent or is, in the opinion of the Committee, too poorly drafted to provide a sensible basis for debate. d) It falls outside the definition of emergency motions. No amendment shall be taken to any motion selected under this Standing Order. 4.5 Ballots for emergency motions All emergency motions, except those rejected under Standing Order 4.4, must be placed either on the agenda for debate or in a ballot for selection by Conference. The Committee may hold separate ballots to select which of a Standing Orders range of emergency policy motions and which of a range of emergency business motions to debate. If one or more ballots is held the Committee shall circulate the text of all balloted motions to the voting members as soon as practicable and shall specify a closing time for the ballot. Following the counting of any ballots the Committee shall decide how many motions shall be debated in the time available. 4.6 Emergency amendments The Committee shall have complete discretion whether to select emergency amendments for debate. 4.7 Topical issue discussions The choice of subjects for topical issue discussions shall be made by the Officers of the Committee in consultation with the Officers of the Federal Policy Committee. In choosing the subjects, the Officers shall have regard to the significance and topicality of the subjects proposed and whether they are likely to provoke a lively discussion. 5. Special Meetings 5.1 Timetabling of special meetings The Committee shall, as soon as practicable after the requisitioning of a special meeting of the conference, fix a date for the meeting, draw up the Agenda and, if appropriate, specify a date for the submission of amendments. The meeting shall deal only with the business stated in the notice of requisition save that the Committee may allow time for emergency motions and for business which is formal or, in its opinion, uncontentious. 5.2 Preferred timescales for special meetings In setting dates for the submission of motions and amendments and giving notice thereof and of the conference itself the Committee shall endeavour to follow the timescales laid down elsewhere in these standing orders but, where this is not practicable, the Committee shall set such dates as it sees fit. 6. Appeals 6.1 Appeals against rejection of motions The Committee shall provide written reasoning to the nominee of the proposers for the rejection of any motion or amendment. The proposers may Standing Orders appeal, in writing, to the next meeting of the Committee. Any such appeal shall provide reasons why, in the opinion of the proposers, the expressed reasons for rejection are not valid. If the appeal is allowed, the motion or amendment shall be treated as an emergency motion or amendment according to the stage of the agenda-setting process at which the appeal has been allowed. 6.2 Appeals against exclusion from conference Any person excluded from conference by a decision of the Chief Steward shall have the right of appeal to the Committee at the next of its regular meetings. The exclusion shall remain in force pending the appeal. 7. The Chair 7.1 Who chairs conference The President, if present, shall normally take the chair at the formal opening and closing of Conference and when the Party Leader is making a formal speech from the platform. At all other sessions the chair shall be appointed by the Committee. Normally no person shall chair more than one session at any meeting. 7.2 The Chair’s aide The Committee may appoint an aide or aides to assist the chair of each session. 8. Conduct of Debate 8.1 Variation in the order of business The Committee may propose to the conference a variation in the order of business as set out in the Agenda. Such variation shall be put to the vote and shall take effect if approved by a majority of those voting. 8.2 Withdrawal of motions and amendments Once the Committee has included a motion or amendment, or part of a motion or amendment, in the Agenda, may not be withdrawn except by leave of conference. A request to withdraw a motion may be submitted to conference either by the movers of the motion or the Committee. Standing Orders 8.3 The order of debate The Committee shall direct the order of debate. Generally, however, a motion will be moved and immediately thereafter the amendments and options will be moved in the order directed by the Committee. There will then be a general debate. The movers of amendments and options (or their nominees) shall have the right of reply in the same order (except that where an amendment or option has not been opposed during the debate, the chair of the session shall have the right to direct that its movers shall not exercise their right of reply), after which the mover of the motion (or the mover’s nominee) shall have the right of reply. Votes shall then be taken on the amendments and options in the order in which they have been moved and, finally, on the substantive motion. The Committee may direct that part of any motion or amendment or groups or amendments may be the subject of a separate debate. 8.4 Topical issue discussions The Committee shall direct the order of the discussion. Normally the proposer of the subject shall speak first, and a representative of the Federal Policy Committee shall speak last. 8.5 Who may speak All voting members may speak at a full session of conference. Additionally, the Committee may invite any person to address the conference as a guest. Neither such provision shall prejudice the right of the chair of a session to select speakers. 8.6 The special rights of the Federal Committees Provided that the Federal Policy Committee is not proposing the motion or any of the amendments to be taken in a debate on a policy motion or on motions relating to the policy-making processes of the Party it shall have the right to nominate a person to report its views on the subject before the conference. The Federal Board shall have similar rights on business motions or motions to amend the constitution, as shall the Federal Conference Committee on motions relating to the proceeding and procedures of the conference and to amend standing orders. Such a person shall be called to speak for the same length of time as the person replying on behalf of the mover of the motion. 8.7 The selection of speakers Voting members wishing to speak in any debate shall submit a speaker’s card, Standing Orders prior to the commencement of the debate in which they wish to speak, stating whether they wish to speak for or against an amendment, the motion or part of the motion. The chair shall be responsible for the choice of the speakers and shall attempt to provide a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the conference, but may announce a departure from this rule if there is an overwhelming preponderance of members wishing to speak on the same side. The chair shall have the discretion to accept speakers’ cards after the start of the debate. Save as provided for in these standing orders, no person may speak more than once in any debate. 8.8 The length of speeches The Committee shall set out in the Agenda time limits for speeches. 9. Voting at Conference 9.1 The method of voting Voting cards shall be issued at each meeting to voting members. (The Committee may direct that voting on any issue be by ballot.) Subject thereto all votes at full sessions shall be taken by show of voting cards and by voting members voting securely online 9.2 Counting of votes A vote by show of voting cards shall be counted: a) If the Committee has so directed. b) If the Chair so directs. c) As the result of a procedural motion under Standing Order 11.5 below. A recount will only be held if the chair is not satisfied that the first count was accurate. 9.3 Separate votes A separate vote may be taken on a part of a motion or amendment: a) On the direction of the Committee. b) At the discretion of the chair. c) As a result of a procedural motion under Standing Order 11.4 below. Standing Orders 10. Points of Order 10.1 Making a point of order Any voting member may rise on a point of order which shall be taken immediately except that, during a vote, no point of order shall be taken that does not refer to the conduct of the vote. The chair’s decision on all points of order shall be final. 11. Procedural Motions 11.1 Next business a) A voting member may, during any full conference session, submit, in writing, a request that conference move to next business, giving the reasons to do so. The submission shall not exceed 75 words. b) The chair may either take the request immediately upon receipt, or at the end of any speech currently being made. If more than one request is received the chair shall decide which to take. No more than one request may be taken in respect to any motion or report. c) When the request is to be taken, the chair shall read the statement of reasons and ask Conference whether it wishes to consider the request to move to next business. If Conference decides, by a simple majority of those voting, to do so, the person who made the request may speak. The Chair may allow other speakers. All speeches under this standing order shall be limited to two minutes. If Conference decides not to debate the proposal, it falls. d) The proposal shall require a two-thirds majority of those voting to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. 11.2 Reference back a) A request to refer back a motion under debate may be submitted by any of the bodies or groups listed in Standing Order 1.3(b) for business motions and 1.3(d) for policy motions. The deadline for submission of such a request shall be the same as that for amendments to motions. In exceptional circumstances, the chair of the debate shall have discretion to accept a request for a reference back if it is received in writing after this deadline. Standing Orders b) The submission shall state to whom the motion is to be referred and shall include a statement of the reasons, including reasons why voting against the motion would not achieve a similar result, not exceeding 150 words. c) If more than one request is received with respect to a motion, the Committee (or the chair of the debate in the case of requests received after the deadline) shall decide which to take. No more than one request may be taken with respect to any motion. d) When the request is to be taken, the Chair shall read the statement of reasons and ask Conference whether it wishes to consider the request to refer. If Conference decides, by a simple majority of those voting, to do so, the person who made the request may speak and the mover of the substantive motion, or their nominee, may reply. The Chair may allow other speakers. All speeches under this standing order shall be limited to three minutes. If Conference decides not to debate the reference back, it falls. e) The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. f) If the substantive motion is referred to the Federal Board, the Federal Policy Committee or the Federal Conference Committee that body shall, in its report to the next meeting of the conference, state what action it has taken on the reference. 11.3 Separate vote A voting member of conference may request that the chair take a separate vote on a part of a motion or amendment provided that such a request is in writing and received by the commencement of the first conference session on the day before the debate is scheduled. If the debate is scheduled for the first day of conference, the request must be received in writing no later than 48 hours before the opening of conference. The Committee shall have complete discretion whether to take a separate vote. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair of the debate shall have discretion to accept a request for a separate vote if it is received in writing after this deadline. 11.4 Counted vote Any voting member may ask for a counted vote, which shall be taken if the Standing Orders request is supported by 50 members rising in their places and showing their voting cards. 11.5 Suspension of standing orders a) A voting conference member may, during any full conference session, move a motion for the suspension of standing orders. Such a motion may contain no more than one proposed change to the agenda or conduct of debate. The mover shall submit the motion together with a written statement of its purpose, not exceeding 75 words, to the chair, who shall read them to the meeting. The chair may either take the request immediately upon receipt, or at the end of the speech currently being made. b) No motion to suspend standing orders may suspend any requirement of the constitution, nor any part of these standing orders which govern: i) The rights of, or timetable for, submission of motions and amendments. ii) Consultative sessions. iii) Procedural motions for next business or suspension of standing orders. c) No motion to suspend standing orders to introduce a motion or amendment on to the agenda can be taken unless the motion or amendment has been submitted to the Committee in accordance with the published timetable and, where a right of appeal against non- selection exists, the right has been exercised. d) The chair shall read the statement of purpose and, if the suspension is allowable in the terms of this standing order, ask the conference whether it wishes to debate the request for suspension. If the conference decides not to debate the request, it falls. If the conference decides, by a majority of those present and voting, to hear the request the mover may speak and a representative of the Committee may reply. The chair shall have the discretion to allow other speakers. All speeches on the motion to suspend standing orders will be limited to two minutes. e) A motion to suspend standing orders shall only be carried if supported by at least two-thirds of the conference members voting. If the procedural motion is carried all standing orders shall remain in force except only for the purposes set out in the motion. Standing Orders 11.6 No procedural motions during votes No procedural motion can be moved during a vote. 12. Reports 12.1 Which reports are tabled The business session or sessions of the conference must include consideration of reports from the bodies listed in Standing Order 1.1(b). 12.2 Submission and selection of questions A voting member may submit questions to any report tabled for consideration, by the deadlines set under Standing Orders 1.5(d) and (e). The Committee shall publish in advance of the report session all the questions submitted under Standing Order 1.5(d) which are in order, compositing similar questions where appropriate. Questions to the Federal Board report may include questions about the work of the Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee and the work of the Federal People Development Committee 12.3 Whether questions are in order or not A question shall be ruled out of order if it asks the body submitting the report about issues which are outside its duties and responsibilities. If the question could be answered by another body reporting to the same conference, the Committee may transfer the question to that body. 12.4 How questions and supplementary questions are put and answered After the report is moved, the mover, or their nominee, shall answer the questions in turn. After each question has been answered, the voting member who submitted the question will be given the opportunity to put a supplementary question, speaking for a maximum of one minute, and the mover, or their nominee, will be given an opportunity to respond. The chair shall determine the time given to the mover in moving the report and replying to questions. The chair shall also determine how many of the published questions, and how many of the questions submitted under Standing Order 1.5 (e), can be taken. After the conference the Committee shall publish the answers to all questions submitted under Standing Orders 1.5(d) and (e) which are in order, and to all supplementary questions asked. 12.5 Approval, rejection or reference back of reports from Federal Party committees or sub-committees a) Any report tabled by a Federal Party committee or sub-committee must be submitted for approval by the conference and must be voted upon accordingly. Standing Orders b) A voting member may move the rejection of any part of the report or the report as a whole, by submitting a speaker’s card prior to the commencement of the consideration of the report, stating the section(s) which they wish to have rejected. All moves to reject a report must be debated (except that the chair shall have discretion to choose between moves to reject the same part of the report), at the conclusion of the question session. The person who made the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. c) A request to refer back any part of the report or the report as a whole may be submitted by any of the bodies or groups listed in Standing Order 1.3(b). The deadline for submission of such a request shall be the same as that for amendments to motions. In exceptional circumstances, the chair of the debate shall have discretion to accept a request for a reference back if it is received in writing after this deadline. A proposal to refer back shall include a written statement of the reasons, not exceeding 150 words, including reasons why rejecting the report would not achieve a similar result, together with any recommendations to the committee or sub-committee tabling the report. The Committee or, in the case of late submissions, the chair, shall decide how many references back to take if more than one is submitted. The representative of the body or group that submitted the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. 12.6 Receipt of reports from other bodies a) Any report tabled by a body other than a Federal Party committee or sub- committee must be submitted for receipt by the conference and must be voted upon accordingly. b) A voting member may move not to receive any part of the report or the report as a whole, by submitting a speaker’s card prior to the commencement of the consideration of the report, stating the section(s) which they wish not to receive. All moves not to receive a report must be debated (except that the chair shall have discretion to choose between moves not to receive the same part of the report), at the conclusion of the question session. The person who made the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. c) A request to refer back any part of the report or the report as a whole Standing Orders may be submitted by any of the bodies or groups listed in Standing Order 1.3(b). The deadline for submission of such a request shall be the same as that for amendments to motions. In exceptional circumstances, the chair of the debate shall have discretion to accept a request for a reference back if it is received in writing after this deadline. A proposal to refer back shall include a written statement of the reasons, not exceeding 150 words, including reasons why not receiving the report would not achieve a similar result, together with any recommendations to the body tabling the report. The Committee or, in the case of late submissions, the chair, shall decide how many references back to take if more than one is submitted. The representative of the body or group that submitted the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. 13. Amendment of Standing Orders 13.1 Amendment of standing orders These standing orders may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members of conference voting on a motion duly submitted and selected in accordance with standing orders. Subject to any amendment they shall remain in force from meeting to meeting. 14. The Chair and Vice Chairs of the Committee 14.1 Chair and Vice Chairs At its first meeting after a new election the Committee shall elect a Chair, who must be a member of the Committee directly elected by party members, and at least one Vice Chair, who must be members of the Committee either directly elected by party members or elected by one of the State Parties. The Federal Party The Federal Party is responsible for the Party’s overall strategy, overall preparations for Parliamentary Elections; the overall presentation, image and media relations of the Party; and our international relationships. It has the following committee structure: Federal Conference Federal Policy Committee (FPC) Federal Board Federal Conference Committee (FCC) Finance & Resources Committee (FFRC) Communications & Elections Committee (FCEC) People & Development Committee (FPDC) International Relations Committee (FIRC) Audit & Scrutiny Committee (FASC) The roles of each Committee are outlined in Articles 9 through 16 of the Federal Constitution. The Committees have the following Chairs: l Federal Board: Dr Mark Pack, Party President l Federal Conference Committee: Cllr Nick da Costa l Federal Policy Committee: Sir Ed Davey MP l Federal Finance and Resources Committee: Mike Cox, Registered Treasurer l Federal Communications and Elections Committee: Baroness Cllr Kath Pinnock l Federal People and Development Committee: Claire Hudson l Federal International Relations Committee: David Chalmers l Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee: Dave Radcliffe l Federal Council: Cllr Anthony Hook Details of all the Committees, their functions and members can be found on the Party website at: www.libdems.org.uk/committees_organisations