Plain Text Conference Daily - Saturday 15 September Autumn Conference Brighton 2018 This plain text version of Conference Daily contains the text of the published Conference Daily. Page numbers refer to the printed 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 Federal Conference Committee for Saturday 15 September. Please read in conjunction with the Agenda and Directory and Conference Extra. Timetable and contents Timetable for Saturday 15 September: 09.00Ð09.05 F1 Opening of conference 09.05Ð09.40 F2 Report: Federal Conference Committee 3 F3 Report: Federal Policy Committee 3 09.40Ð10.25 F4 Policy motion: Improving Animal Welfare 4 10.25Ð11.15 F5 Policy motion: Righting Wrongs: Restoring the Rights of the Windrush Generation 4 11.15Ð12.30 F6 Policy motion: Establishing Real Freedom of Choice 4 12.30Ð12.50 F7 Speech: Layla Moran MP 12.50Ð14.40 Lunch 13.00Ð14.30 Consultative sessions: 4 Climate Change and the Low Carbon Economy Race Equality Vince Cable: Opening up the party 14.40Ð15.55 F8 Policy motion: Power for People and Communities 5 15.55Ð16.15 F9 Speech: Rt Hon Tom Brake MP 16.15Ð17.00 F10 Business motion: After Alderdice Ð Delivering Race Equality in the Liberal Democrats 17.00Ð18.00 F11 Business motion: Reforming our PartyÕs Disciplinary Processes 6 F12 Constitutional amendment: Reforming our PartyÕs Disciplinary Processes 6 Advance notice for Monday 17 September: F24 Europe Motion Ð amendments 7 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. Members wishing to speak are requested to submit a speakerÕs card as soon as possible. Saturday 15 September F2 Report of the Federal Conference Committee Q1. Submitted by: Adam Bernard Is it considered remarkable for FCC to select a motion for debate without having had sight of the policy paper which that motion endorses? Q2. Submitted by: Theo Butt Philip Why has the FCC limited questions to reports to just 25 words? What proportion of questions submitted to previous conferences were within this arbitrary and Q3. Submitted by: Richard Gadsden If a special conference is requested by Federal Board to consider VinceÕs recent proposals, can other topics be added to the agenda if sufficient signatures are collected, or would such action trigger a separate conference? If it would trigger a separate conference, could that be on the same date at the same venue to minimise costs? F3 Report of the Federal Policy Committee Q1. Submitted by: Mark Hall Will you consider doing more to campaign for the rights of leaseholders? Currently there are many people paying excessive charges and receiving a poor service from freeholders. This is the kind of issue missed by the two main parties. Q2. Submitted by: Mark Hall Should the Lib Dem policy on criminal justice differentiate more between violent and non-violent crime, for example, whilst calling for shorter or non-custodial sentences for non-violent crimes, we could call for significantly longer sentences for the most violent offences which would bring the policy more into line with wider public opinion? Q3. Submitted by: Clive Lever Domestic abuse is a terrible crime that inflicts horrendous damage on the lives of women and they need far more support than they get. It is often forgotten that the crime seriously damages the lives of male victims, and support available to them falls even further short of the need. How does the party propose to ensure that in future, both female and male victims and their children can get access to an appropriate level of support when they need it? Q4. Submitted by: Adam Bernard Is it considered remarkable for a policy paper not to be supplied to FCC in time for consideration with the motion which endorses it? Q5. Submitted by: Stewart Reddaway Should the Working Group on Climate Change take into account carbon embedded in imports and exports? F4 Improving Animal Welfare We are trialling electronic submission of speakerÕs cards in debates F4, F15, F24, F33A and F33B. To submit a card online, go to www.libdems.org.uk/speakers-card. Electronic submissions are open until one hour before the start of the debate. Cards can also be submitted in person as usual before and during the debate. Background Briefing This motion substantially updates and develops policy on animal welfare, in particular it creates new policy on taking animal welfare into account in public procurement, preventing unnecessarily painful practices in farming, establishing an independent horse welfare regulatory body, and banning the use of glue traps. Existing policy is set out in policy paper 129, A Rural Future: Time to Act (2017), the 2017 General Election Manifesto Change BritainÕs Future, and policy paper 61, Respecting All Animals (2003). F5 Righting Wrongs: Restoring the Rights of the Windrush Generation Background Briefing This motion creates new policy in response to the Ôhostile environmentÕ policy of the Conservative Government. F6 Establishing Real Freedom of Choice The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendment to the motion: In 1 (line 48) after Ôsafe abortionÕ insert Ô; any changes to the legislation would incorporate the existing 24 week term limitÕ. Background Briefing This motion creates new policy. Consultative sessions Climate Change and the Low-Carbon Economy Policy Working Group Chair: Duncan Brack. Rapporteur: Christian Moon. Hilton, Buckingham Room. Race Equality Policy Working Group Chair: Merlene Emerson. Rapporteur: Jonathan Everett. Hilton, Clarence Room. Vince Cable: Opening up the party Chair: Liz Barker. Rapporteur: To be announced. Hilton, Balmoral Room. The FPDC SupportersÕ Scheme consultative session has been rescheduled to 18.15Ð19.15, Sunday 16 September. F8 Power for People and Communities Amendment One 14 members Mover: Michael Kilpatrick Summation: Andrew Haldane Delete 1. d) and 1. e) (lines 42Ð47). After 3. d) (line 82) add: Conference, however, rejects the specific proposals in the paper on a devolved tier within England. Conference instead calls for the Federal Party to consult and engage with the English Regional Parties to establish a process by which a regional tier of government across England may be designed and implemented, on the basis that it should: I. Be a fully inclusive process combining top-down oversight and locally-led design so as to provide all parts of England with viable devolved government. II. Allow a geographic makeup reflecting local opinion and identity, economic units and travel-to-work areas. III. Prevent first-come-first-served or self-selective devolution and allow no power of veto by individual local authorities. IV. Devolve substantial powers from Westminster uniformly as much as practicable to avoid a multitude of ÔWest Lothian QuestionsÕ. V. Operate with pluralistic, elected assemblies. In the long run we will a develop a model for a written constitution for the UK entrenching the place of all devolved governments so that they cannot simply be swept away at the whim of central government. Amendment Two South Gloucestershire Mover: Claire Young Summation: Louise Harris After 2. f) (line 70) insert: g) Reforming the Combined Authorities so that they are more representative of their communities, by ensuring that they do not simply consist of council mayors and leaders alongside the elected Mayor, but instead have a membership where each party in the relevant area is represented in proportion to its number of representatives on the relevant councils. Background Briefing This motion and the accompanying policy paper substantially develop and update policy on devolution, localism and community empowerment within England. In particular, they develop policy on making it easier to set up Parish or Town Councils, on establishing a tier of devolved government within England, on improving transparency and accountability in local government and on supporting the work of voluntary community groups. Existing policy is set out in the 2017 General Election Manifesto Change BritainÕs Future, policy paper 117, Power to the People (2014), and policy paper 79, The Power to be Different (2007). F10 After Alderdice Ð Delivering Race Equality in the Liberal Democrats: RDC and Vice President BaME Mover: Dinesh Dhamija. F11 Reforming our PartyÕs Disciplinary Processes Amendment One 13 members Mover: April Preston Summation: Rebecca Plenderleith After 11. (line 127) add: 12. Routes should be set up to adopt a system so that complainants can log reports anonymously to the party, with the reports being accessible to the complainant, the Standards Officer, or such person who may replace the Standards Officer in any future version of the disciplinary procedure. The Standards Officer must identify multiple reports about the same person or persons, and should draw them to the attention of the Lead Adjudicator. The Lead Adjudicator should then determine whether or not to advise complainants, so that they can consider whether or not to waive their anonymity thus allowing further investigation. Amendment Two Young Liberals Mover: Tara Copeland Summation: Aria Dinakara Babu In 10. (line 120) after ÔrespondentsÕ insert Ô, including referrals to counselling services where appropriate,Õ. F12 Reforming our PartyÕs Disciplinary Processes The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: In line 39, delete ÔparagraphÕ and insert ÔsentenceÕ. In line 42, after Ôin accordance withÕ insert Ôthe guidance published underÕ. In line 53, after Ôin accordance withÕ insert Ôthe guidance published underÕ. Advance notice for Monday 17 September F24 Europe motion: Stopping Brexit The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: In I. (line 25) after ÔEU CommissionÕ insert Ô; many UK nationals living outside of the UK were excluded from participation in the referendum despite the result substantially affecting their livesÕ. After I. (line 25) insert: J. The status of EU citizens regarding their right to stand and vote in local elections is unclear, despite frequent requests for the government to clarify the matter and despite the hard work of councillors who are EU citizens and their valued contribution to civic life. After J. (line 27) insert: K. The Electoral CommissionÕs finding of overspending and illegal operations made by the Leave Campaign, which may lead to criminal prosecution. In iv) (line 39) after Ôliving in the UKÕ insert Ôand UK citizens living in the EUÕ. In 3. (line 62) after ÔUK referendumsÕ insert Ô, Local ElectionsÕ. After 4. (line 66) insert: 5. The UK Government to engage with the European Commission and the member states to grandfather the rights of UK citizens, their families and their dependents living and/or in the remaining member states of the European Union, including access to health care and disability support, as well as to uprating of pensions. Amendment one 11 members Mover: Sarah Brown Summation: Alisdair McGregor Delete 2. (line 60) and insert: 2. The Government to seek to extend Article 50 if required to legislate for a referendum on the deal, or to provide enough negotiating time to avoid a catastrophic no-deal scenario, and if such extension is not agreed to withdraw the Article 50 notification.