Spring Conference roundup: other news

2.53.00pm GMT Wed 25th Mar 2009

The Liberal Democrats held a successful Spring Conference in Harrogate.

The Liberal Democrats Spring Conference took place in Harrogate earlier this month. Here are some of the highlights (see separate stories for the speeches from Nick Clegg and Vince Cable):

OVERWHELMING BACKING FOR SCRAPPING TUITION FEES

The Spring Conference reaffirmed Liberal Democrat opposition to university tuition fees, and voted to extend the policy of free tuition to part time students. Shadow Universities Secretary Stephen Williams MP said, "bright young people are potentially being put off going to university by the thought of being saddled with £10k in tuition fee debt."

He added "the Liberal Democrats believe that everyone deserves the chance to develop the skills and knowledge that will give them the best opportunities in life."

PARTY PROMISES BIG INVESTMENT IN FREE CHILDCARE AND PATERNITY LEAVE

Conference backed plans to give all families 20 hours of free, high quality childcare as well as allowing fathers to take up to one year of paternity leave. Susan Kramer MP explained: "finding childcare that fits around their family's needs can be a real struggle for parents, and the need for flexible and affordable childcare has never been more urgent."

She said the motion was grounded in the Liberal Democrat's commitment "to giving all children the best start in life, and to providing families with the help they need to organise their busy lives."

CONFERENCE BACKS PLANS TO CUT PRIMARY CLASS SIZES TO 15

Party members endorsed plans to cut infant school class sizes to 15 and close the performance gap between children from rich and poor families. Shadow Schools Secretary David Laws explained this was needed because "after 12 years of Labour, there is still a yawning gap between state and private schools, and between the life chances of rich and poor pupils."

He explained that the policies aimed to close these gaps "to ensure that all children can rely on high quality state-funded education to enable all them to fulfil their potential."

FINANCE

The Lib Dems set out plans to bring the City to heel. A motion proposing a series of measures to restructure the financial sector was passed by the Conference. It blames government and the regulators for failing to heed Lib Dem warnings that they needed to act to moderate rising personal debt and property prices, and to rein-in excessively risky behaviour by lenders.

The proposals set out a full reconstitution of financial regulation, including new measures to discourage financial institutions from excessive short-term risk taking. Organisations, like hedge funds, in the 'shadow banking sector' need to be properly and effectively regulated, the party says.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The party passed a policy motion calling for the scrapping of the Government's plans for huge Titan prisons and re-emphasising plans for an extra 10,000 police officers. Proposed by Dr Jo Crotty from Warrington South, the motion labelled British prisons 'colleges of crime' with an awful re-offending rate.

The motion proposes using the money saved from scrapping ID cards to provide an extra 10,000 police officers. Responsibility for minor offenders would be dealt with by Community Justice Panels, promoting restorative justice, so that offenders fully recognise the impact their actions had upon its victims and the community. The party is also calling for a greater emphasis on rehabilitation to decrease the likelihood of re-offending.

ROYAL MAIL

The party has pledged to fight the Government's proposals for the Royal Mail unless they are changed to safeguard the post office network (including giving the network the investment it needs) and ensure a competitive Royal Mail. The party would separate Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail; keeping the former in the public sector and establishing a shared ownership model for the latter. A majority of shares would be divided equally between the Government and a Trust for Royal Mail staff.

The motion calls on the party to continue to campaign against the dismal failure of both Labour and the Conservatives to protect the post office network and equip Royal Mail to compete effectively.

GAZA

An emergency motion proposing measures to deal with the current crisis in Gaza was backed by the Conference. The motion criticised the Government's inadequate response to the crisis and called for a thorough investigation into allegations of war crimes during the recent conflict, the opening of the border crossing with Israel, and an international effort to prevent the smuggling of arms into Gaza.

Full details of the Liberal Democrats 2009 Spring Conference are available on the party website at:

http://tinyurl.com/c5ztca