Conference Daily Sunday 18th September Autumn Conference 2016 Brighton Plaintext Conference Daily Saturday 17th September. This plain text version of Conference Daily contains the text of the published Conference Daily. Page numbers refer to the published Conference Daily, motion line numbers have been omitted, some elements may appear in a different place in the document and graphics and complex page layouts have been omitted. Information from the Conference Committee for Sunday 17th September and report back for Saturday 17th September. Please read in conjunction with the Agenda and Conference Extra. Contents Report back for Saturday 17th September - 4 Timetable for Sunday 18th September 09.00Ð09.45 F15 Policy motion: Combatting Racism - 5 09.45Ð11.05 F16 Policy motion: The Opportunity to Succeed, the Power to Change - 6 11.05Ð11.25 F17 Speech: Alistair Carmichael MP 11.25Ð12.05 F18 Policy motion: UK and European Collaborative Research and Erasmus - 6 12.05Ð12.50 F19 Question and answer session: Education - 7 12.50Ð14.10 Lunch 14.10Ð14.50 F20 Emergency motion: Young People and Grammar Schools - 7 14.50Ð15.10 F21 Speech: Kirsty Williams AM 15.10Ð15.55 F22 Question and answer session: Leader 15.55Ð16.40 F23 Policy motion: Restoring Access to Justice - 8 16.40Ð17.15 F24 Report: Federal Executive - 9 17.15Ð18.00 F25 Constitutional amendments: Changes to the Leadership - 10 Monday 19th September late amendments to F27 - 11 Emergency motions ballot - 12 If no page number is indicated next to a session or item of business, there are no changes or additional information to that in the Conference Agenda or Conference Extra. Please note that timings are approximate only. Some items of business may occur earlier than indicated. Conference representatives wishing to speak are requested to submit a speakerÕs card as soon as possible. Conference Daily and other conference publications, in PDF and plain text formats, are available online www.libdems.org.uk/conference_paper or ask at the Information Desk in the Brighton Centre. ÔA vision for a Britain that is open, tolerant and unitedÕ Report back for Saturday 17th September F2 Report: Federal Conference Committee - Approved F3 Report: Federal Policy Committee - Approved F4 Report: Federal Finance & Administration Committee - Approved F5 Membership Subscription - Passed F6 Recognition of SAOs and AOs - Passed F7 Report: Federal Appeals Panel - Approved F8 Policy motion: Safe and Free - Passed F9 Policy motion: An End to Homelessness - Passed (Amendments One and Two passed) F10 Policy motion: Tackling Corruption and Corporate Crime - Passed (Amendment One passed) F12 F12 Policy motion: Adopting Pre-exposure Prophylaxis - Passed (Amendment One passed with lines 9Ð14 deleted) F13 Business motion: Towards a More Effective Party - Passed (Amendment One passed) Governance F14 Constitutional amendments: Party Strategy - Passed TRAINING UPDATE Please note that due to timetable conflicts, the following training session has had to be cancelled: Wales 2016 elections - lessons learnt and moving forward Sunday, 2.30pm Ð 4pm, Hilton, Balmoral Apologies for any difficulty this may cause. Sunday 18th September F15 Combatting Racism - 09.00Ð09.45 Hall Aide: Cara Jenkinson. The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: After d) (line 30), insert: e) Newcomers to the UK make a positive contribution to our economy, our public services and our culture. After e) (line 32), insert: f) Local authorities and democratically elected councillors have a strong role to play in bringing people together by working with their communities to stand up to racism, create community cohesion and share good practice. Amendment One Twickenham & Richmond Mover: Sarah Olney Summation: Cllr Gareth Roberts After e) (line 32), insert: f) We as a liberal party should stand shoulder to shoulder with France and Belgium but deplore moves in France to ban Muslim women from wearing burkas and burkinis, and that people must have the freedom to wear what they want. After 4. (line 43), add: 5. Hate and prejudice should not be encouraged by any governmentÕs policy and, therefore, people should have the freedom to wear any religious dress they want and citizens of any social, cultural background or orientation should not face prejudice for the clothes they decide to wear. Background briefing This motion develops and updates policy on combatting racism. Existing policy on tackling racism and hate crimes is set out in the General Election Manifesto, Stronger Economy. Fairer Society. Opportunity for Everyone (2015), and policy paper 118, Doing What Works to Cut Crime (2014). F16 The Opportunity to Succeed, the Power to Change - 09.45Ð11.05 Mover: Baroness Brinton (President of the Liberal Democrats) Summation: Duncan Brack (Vice Chair, Federal Policy Committee) The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendment to the motion: In 5. (line 34), delete Ôthrough dispersingÕ and insert Ôworking with democratically elected local government to disperseÕ. Background briefing This motion and the accompanying policy paper sets out the Liberal DemocratsÕ core beliefs, values and approach in the context of the challenges the UK is likely to face in the coming years, and identifies priorities for policy development to tackle these challenges throughout the remainder of this parliament. F18 UK and European Collaborative Research and Erasmus - 11.25Ð12.05 The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: In line 16, after ÔwillÕ insert: Ôcommit toÕ. In 1. (line 18), at end, add: Ôand to align with EU structures to facilitate future applicationsÕ. After 4. (line 24), add: 5. Support the capabilities of UK Universities and research institutions to attract, hire and retain research staff from the EU and elsewhere without undue legal hindrance. Amendment One Lewisham Mover: Dr Bill Town Summation: To be announced In lines 12 and 13, delete: ÔIn light of the inequitable split in the referendum between young and old and the UKÕs main hubs for science, technology and learning,Õ. In 1. (line 18), at the end, add: Ôand seek participation by the UK in similar research programmes in the post-Brexit futureÕ. In 2. (line 21), at the end, add: Ônow and in the futureÕ. Delete 4. (line 24) and insert: 4. Ensure our continued participation in the Erasmus programme for student exchange now and in the future. 5. Seek freedom of movement for scientists to ensure that existing and future collaborative research projects may continue unhindered. Background briefing This motion develops and updates policy on science and research in the light of the threats to the UKÕs leadership in this field posed by Brexit. In particular, the motion commits us to funding all ongoing research activities and the Erasmus Programme. Existing policy is set out in the General Election Manifesto, Stronger Economy. Fairer Society. Opportunity for Everyone (2015), policy paper 113, Prosperous, Sustainable and Secure (2013), and policy motion Developing a Future Ð Policies for Science and Research (2012). F19 Question and Answer Session on Education - 12.05Ð12.50 Aide: Jenni Lang. Hall Aide: Chris Maines. Additional panel member: Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (Chair, Education Policy Working Group) F20 Emergency motion: Young People and Grammar Schools - 14.10-14.50 Hall Aide: Zo‘ OÕConnell. The motion ÔCampaign to Save Parent GovernorsÕ that was on the original Agenda has been withdrawn with the permission of conference, in light of the GovernmentÕs U-turn on that issue. Federal Conference Committee has included the emergency motion on grammar schools in the vacant slot. 26 members Mover: Nigel Jones Summation: John Pugh MP (Education Spokesperson) Conference notes with great concern: i) That the current Government is considering bringing back grammar schools. ii) That the Government has confirmed that such reforms could include allowing Free Schools to introduce academic selection. iii) The revelation that the Government will first seek to expand grammar schools by the backdoor through exploiting loopholes in existing legislation. iv) That support is being encouraged for the premature selection and separation of young people according to a crudely measured academic ability. Conference believes: a) In the potential of all our young people to develop themselves and to contribute to society and our economy. b) That young people have varied and complex aptitudes and abilities and develop at different rates. c) That young people should be treated as individuals who can learn to socialise and respect differences. Conference: 1. Reiterates our opposition to the expansion of grammar schools. 2. Calls on the government to abandon the selection by ability and social separation of young people, into different schools. 3. Rejects any change to free schools to enable them to select on the basis of academic ability. 4. Calls on the Government to respect the spirit of existing legislation on Grammar Schools and not seek to use loopholes within it to create effectively new grammar schools under the pre-text of expansion. 5. Calls on the government to do more to cater for all young people according to individual aptitudes and abilities. Applicability: England. Background briefing This motion restates and updates policy on selection in state schools, as set out in policy paper 89, Equity and Excellence (2009). F23 Restoring Access to Justice Ð 15.55Ð16.40 The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: After h) (line 39), insert: i) The increased pressure not only on these legal aid professionals, but also on agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux. In 1. (line 41), after ÔurgentÕ insert: Ôand comprehensiveÕ. In 2. (line 44), after ÔClarificationÕ insert: Ôand advertisementÕ. Amendment One Rights Liberties Justice Mover: Joyce Arram Summation: Graham Colley After 19. (line 87), add: 20. Revival of the ÔGreen FormÕ Legal Aid system whereby litigants in person can be given initial constructive legal advice on the strengths (and weaknesses) of their cases. Background briefing This motion develops and updates policy on access to justice, with particular reference to legal aid, exceptional case funding and further potential government cuts. Existing policy is set out in the General Election Manifesto, Stronger Economy. Fairer Society. Opportunity for Everyone (2015) and policy paper 118, Doing What Works to Cut Crime (2014). F24 Federal Executive Report Ð 16.40Ð17.15 Hall Aide: Jenni Lang. Q1. Submitted by Alisdair McGregor How does the Federal Executive intend to assure that diversity within the diversity strands identified by motion F34 (clause 2.6) is promoted? Q2. Submitted by Simon McGrath How many Ôkey seatsÕ where candidates for a snap election needed to be selected by a members vote (rather than being appointed) were identified in England, Scotland and Wales. What criteria were used to identify them? Q3. Submitted by Sarah Noble What preparations are being made to enable the selection of candidates for the European Parliament elections in 2019? Q4. Submitted by Jonathan Hunt Given the continuing failure of local parties in winnable seats to select BAME candidates would you prefer a Campaign for Race & Gender Balance or just one for Race Balance? Q5. Submitted by Kevin Daws All the Presidential and Leadership candidates promised an inquiry into racism in the Liberal Democrats. Who has been appointed to run that inquiry and what is the timescale for reporting to conference. Will you undertake to consult and involve the partyÕs BAME members and organisations in determining the scope of the inquiry? A clause was accidentally omitted from the committee election regulations printed in the annex to the FE Report on page 27 of the Reports to Conference booklet. In addition to the vote on the FE report as a whole, there will be a vote to insert, on page 27, after 4 (b): 4 (c) No candidate may incur, or directly or indirectly authorise or cause to be incurred, any further expenses on campaigning at any time before or after the close of nominations. F25 Changes to Leadership Ð 17.15Ð18.00 Chair: Baroness Barker. Aide: Jenni Lang. Hall Aide: Chris Maines. The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: In 10.1 (line 21), delete Ô8.4Õ and insert Ô8.5Õ. In 10.5 (line 40), after ÔMember of theÕ, insert: ÔParliamentary Party in theÕ. In 10.6 (line 62), delete (i) and insert (a). In 10.6 (line 63), delete (ii) and insert (b). In 10.6 (line 66), delete (iii) and insert (c). In 10.6 (line 69), delete (iv) and insert (d). In 10.6 (line 72), delete (a) and insert (i). In 10.6 (line 76), delete (b) and insert (ii). Monday 19th September F27 Britain in the European Union The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: Delete 7. (lines 21Ð25) and insert: 7. Recognises that the priority should be to address the justifiable sense of economic grievance, alienation from the establishment and powerlessness which came to the fore in the campaign and which had domestic rather than EU drivers, including a voting system that has allowed politicians to become distanced from the people they purport to represent, and resolves to address its underlying causes through the pursuit of progressive, liberal policies on the economy, regional development and migration (including via a Migration Impact Fund), the devolution of power to communities and a fair voting system to give power to the people to elect a Parliament that properly represents their views. In 10. (line 57), at the end insert: Ôin which 16 and 17-year-olds must have the right to voteÕ. Amendment One 12 members Mover: Ruvi Ziegler Summation: Kirsten Johnson Delete 9. a) (lines 31Ð32) and insert: a) Protection of acquired rights, including the right to remain, of citizens of other EU member states residing in the UK, and of UK citizens residing elsewhere in the EU. Emergency motions ballot Two of the following motions and/or topical issue will be selected by ballot to be debated either as F26 at 09.00 on Monday 19th September or as F35 at 09.00 on Tuesday 20th September. A ballot paper is attached to the printed Conference Daily and is available from the Information Desk; the ballot box will be open in the Auditorium between 09.00 and 12.50 on Sunday 18th September. Emergency Motion 1: Ending the Southern Rail Dispute and Putting Passengers First South East Region Conference notes with concern: i) The introduction of an Emergency Timetable on Southern Rail on 11 July with no guarantee that services will be re-instated before the school term starts in September 2016. ii) Talks between Southern Rail and the RMT Union aimed at settling the long-running railway dispute broke down most recently on 5 and then 15 August. iii) That the ÔDelay RepayÕ compensation claims system is cumbersome, time-consuming, and thus deters passengers from claiming compensation; does not work for shorter distance commuters; that Southern Rail does not pass on the compensation it receives from the government to passengers at the same rates; and that in August 2016 Southern Rail reportedly changed its terms and conditions to block passengers making legitimate compensation claims via new third party providers seeking to simplify the compensation claims process. iv) The Conservative government is expected to announce an increase in rail fare prices of 1.9% from 2017 with no exceptions for those using Southern Rail services. Conference regrets that: a) Southern Rail has blamed disruption solely on high levels of employee sickness although other contributory factors include inflexible new centralised arrangements for overtime which prevent staff from negotiating anything less than a full shift; serious and unaddressed driver shortages; and failure to address a catastrophic collapse in morale and lack of trust with frontline staff and middle managers. b) The RMT Union (and ASLEF) claims that there are safety reasons over Driver Only Operated (DOO) doors on trains but appear to be using Ôdoor safety responsibilitiesÕ as a veil to guarantee jobs in the long-term (despite promises of no immediate job losses for conductors). c) The Conservative Government is using Southern as a spearhead to force through changes to working practices on the railway, in the knowledge that the nature of their management contract means the taxpayer picks up the bill for lost revenue. d) Conservative MPs whose constituents rely on Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) services, particularly those in the South East where Southern Rail operates, have collectively failed to hold their own Government to account, not only for its abject failure to intervene but for being complicit in perpetuating this completely avoidable situation. Conference believes that passengers should be put first meaning that the dispute must be ended urgently, normal services reinstated and substantial and fair compensation should be paid out automatically by Southern shareholders to all season ticket holders. Conference therefore calls on the Government immediately to: 1. Terminate the management contract for Southern, divorce it from the rest of the contract, take over the running of the Southern franchise using the governmentÕs own operating company (the Department for TransportÕs Directly Operated Railways holding company), and leave Govia to improve Thameslink and the Gatwick Express Ð the government should handle this until it can be handed over to a mutually-owned operator, owned by the frontline staff, managers and passengers, with a guarantee of investment in the rail system in the area by Network Rail. 2. Guarantee to passengers that staff will be put back on platforms and settle the dispute by agreeing that drivers shut the doors whilst guaranteeing that in future there will always be a second staff person on the train. 3. Commission an independent inquiry into the safety of Driver Only Operated Doors on Southern Rail operated routes. 4. Re-instate the full timetable of services and guarantee that last trains will not be cancelled 5. Freeze passenger fares on all Govia-operated lines. 6. Insist that GoviaÕs owners Go Ahead fund comprehensive compensation payments to all monthly and annual season ticket holders. 7. Allow third party apps which enable passengers to claim refunds immediately. 8. Bring forward the date from 2022 when Transport for London can take over GoviaÕs London metro routes, subject to an impact assessment and guarantees that there will be no adverse impact on longer-distance services. Applicability: England. Emergency Motion 2: Local Communities Welcoming Refugees ALDC - Liberal Democrat Campaigners & Councillors Conference notes: i) The refugee crisis over the summer including refugees from Syria but also from other countries; the publication of a House of Lords report on unaccompanied migrant children in July 2016 and the visit by a delegation of senior local government figures to the Calais ÔjungleÕ migrant camp in August 2016. ii) That 88,245 unaccompanied migrant children applied for asylum in 2015. iii) That there are an estimated 10,000 missing unaccompanied migrant children in the EU. Conference believes: a) The UK must welcome its fair share of refugees to ease this crisis including unaccompanied refugee children. b) That Government should make additional funding available to local authorities to help with this and to build capacity. c) That refugees contribute a huge amount to local communities throughout the UK. Conference calls for: 1. National co-ordination which is essential to share intelligence around foster care capacity across the country. 2. Central government to work closely with local government to ensure councils have the funding and support they need to help refugees. 3. UK and French governments to work together to ensure that unaccompanied children are reunited with their families or otherwise given long-term security including access to education. 4. Councils to support measures such as the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (SVPRS) and request that Syrian refugees are encouraged to settle in their area. 5. Suitable housing to be made available to refugees in need. 6. Councils to provide a contact point for newly arrived refugees to register their skills and qualifications and given assistance to find work. 7. Improved provision for English language teaching for those who need it. Applicability: Federal. Emergency Motion 3: Nuclear Power at Hinkley Point Bermondsey & Old Southwark and 21 party members Conference notes: a) The decision by Electricite de France (EDF) on 28 July to invest in the construction of a new nuclear power station, based on the EPR design, at Hinkley Point in Somerset. b) The announcement by the UK government later the same day that it would delay its decision on whether to approve the new station until the autumn. c) Existing Liberal Democrat policy to accept that new nuclear power stations can play a limited role in electricity supply provided they can be built without public subsidy. d) That the coalition programme agreed between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives in 2010 contained the same commitment. e) That in autumn 2015 the new Conservative government explicitly dropped the commitment not to subsidise new nuclear stations, and announced a loan guarantee to underwrite EDFÕs final investment decision. Conference further notes: 1. The conclusion of the National Audit Office in March 2016 that the additional cost to consumers of the electricity generated by the new station had risen from the £6.1 billion estimated in October 2013 to £29.7 billion. 2. That since the government agreed, in 2013, a fixed price of £92.50/MWh (in 2012 prices) for electricity generated by the new nuclear station, the costs of many renewable energy technologies, including in particular wind and solar PV, have fallen further and faster than almost anyone predicted, and now represent much better value low-carbon energy options. 3. That no working nuclear station based on the EPR design has yet been built, and that the two such stations currently under construction, in France and Finland, are both years behind schedule and significantly over budget. Conference believes that the construction of the new nuclear station at Hinkley Point is both entirely dependent on public subsidy and represents very poor value for money for UK consumers, and that therefore it should be opposed. Conference calls for a UK energy strategy resting on investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, storage and interconnection with European grids, thereby providing energy security, an end to fuel poverty and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the same time as creating jobs, exports and prosperity. Applicability: Federal. Emergency Motion 4: Requiring Police Officers Equipped with Tasers to Wear Body-cams Bermondsey & Old Southwark Conference notes that the unfortunate death of Mr Dalian Atkinson in August this year appears to have been a result of the use of a taser device, by police in Shropshire. Conference sends our condolences to the family and friends of Mr Atkinson, and to all those affected by the tragedy. Conference notes that the use of tasers (conducted electrical weapons) whether by threat of use, withdrawal form their holster, Ôred dottingÕ (by pointing the laser sight at a targetted person), or by firing the weapon at someone, is understandably, controversial. Conference further notes that they may be preferable to the use of fire-arms, but are deadly, and deserve special accommodation. Conference therefore calls for personnel armed with tasers to wear body-cameras, to record the lead-up to the situation requiring their: a) Threat; b) Withdrawal; c) Aiming (red dotting); or d) Discharge. Conference believes that the use of body-cameras would: 1. Protect victims of tasers, as well as the user of the device. 2. Allow courts to view evidence in support of the use of the device, should the decision to use be challenged. 3. Promote best use, and engender support for their appropriate use. 4. Justify the expense incurred. Applicability: England and Wales. Topical Issue 1: Sustainability & Transformation Plans in the NHS Steve Hitchins Background note: NHS EnglandÕs attempts to reform our NHS through the Five Year Forward View are welcome but the top-down approach in preparing local Sustainability & Transformation Plans (STP) is regrettable. An opportunity to make the NHS fit for the 21st century may be missed. The STP process has become focussed on short-term financial savings targets rather than longer-term sustainability which will lead to fragmented care, local rather than national health service, and widen inequalities. Furthermore, the potential benefits of involvement of local government, the moves to devolution and greater integration of health and social care could be frittered away. Volunteer calling drive to lapsing members The best way to encourage our members to renew their membership is a friendly call from a fellow Lib Dem. Come and phone people whose memberships are due to lapse at the end of September, and help us persuade them to stay part of the #LibDemFightback! LDHQ Membership Venue: Campaign Zone Sunday 12pmÐ3pm Ask an Expert Ask an Expert is the perfect opportunity to get advice and help on issues big and small. From fundraising to campaign strategy, seat approval and selection to agent issues - and everything else in between! You can even get one-toÐone tuition on Connect, NationBuilder, social media and much more. Whatever you need help or advice with, our team of Liberal Democrat experts will be pleased to help you. Drop in and chat with an expert at the Campaign Zone, every day at Conference from 9am until 6pm. Spokespeople Q&A sessions Sunday 18th September 11.30Ð12.30 Party Affairs with Tim Gordon, Federal Chief Executive, & Baroness Brinton, Party President. (Party members only.) 13.00Ð14.00 Business & Treasury with Susan Kramer & Lorely Burt. 15.00Ð16.00 Health with Norman Lamb & Joan Walmsley. 16.30Ð17.30 Home Office, Justice & Equalities with Alistair Carmichael, Meral Hussein-Ece, Jonathan Marks & Brian Paddick. All sessions will take place in Meeting Room 1 in the Brighton Centre. Sessions apart from Party Affairs are open to all, but Party members will be given priority. Hearing loop provided. Conference tours Are you a first timer? Have you not attended conference in a while? Do you have questions about the Party? Do you have a famed Lib Dem youÕve been waiting to meet? If youÕve answered yes to any of the above, then come along to a conference tour! Our tour guides are Lib Dem experts who are simply waiting to get tested on their knowledge. Questions are not limited to conference! Tours are also a great way of meeting people and having a good time, so pick one and weÕll see you there. Meeting point: Information Desk Sunday 14.15Ð15.00 tour guide Stephen Lloyd Monday 11.30Ð12.15 tour guide Susan Kramer Monday 15.15Ð16.00 tour guide Tom Brake Tuesday 10.30Ð11.15 tour guide Lorely Burt 5p charge on cups Did you know 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away in the UK each year? WeÕre extending our successful 5p charge on plastic bags to throwaway cups at this outlet to reduce waste. Help us protect the environment and #keepyourcup All money collected from the 5p charge will be donated to the Brighton CentreÕs nominated charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. Reusable cups are being sold by Lib Dem Image in the Exhibition Centre.