Conference 2006

4.12.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 22nd Sep 2006

Local representatives at Brighton included Grahame Hudson (2005 Parliamentary Candidate) and Carol Weaver (Web Manager). Grahame was selected to present an Urgent Issue discussion on the overstretch of the British armed forces, whilst Carol was invited to sit on the platform with Sir Ming Campbell and Lord Paddy Ashdown during the important green tax debate.

During his speech, Grahame, who was an officer in the Royal Navy for ten years, outlined the involvement of service men and women from all three services including those based locally at Cottesmore, North Luffenham and Melton Mowbray, many of whom are involved in current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. He emphasised that the cycle of constant deployment and operations is stretching all three services to their limits. Many distinguished people including Nick Harvey MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, supported Graham's views about the current very difficult situation for our armed forces.

The press made much of how, if the green tax bill was not supported unamended, this would be a snub to Ming as leader. Although most Lib Dems disagreed with that analysis, the amendment to keep the 50% income tax rate (as was our policy in 2005) for incomes over £150,000 per annum was, in fact, voted down.

There were many other highlights during the week including a most interesting speech to the main conference from Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the Russian Democratic party Yabloko.

Fringe events were held on education, health, civil liberties, home and international affairs, the EU, Trident, energy and many more subjects but the main thread throughout all events was Climate Change. (And the weather in Brighton was unusually hot for the time of year - partly due to Hurricane Gordon!)