Conference Extra Spring Conference Harrogate 21-23 March 2025 Updates to the Conference Agenda and Directory, information from the Federal Conference Committee (FCC), amendments, emergency motions, and questions to reports. Please read in conjunction with the Conference Agenda and Directory. Please keep Conference Extra with you throughout conference and get hold of a copy of Conference Daily each day - they will be vital to your understanding of the day’s business - available at www.libdems.org.uk/conference_papers and via the Conference App. Limited hard copies of Conference Daily will be available at conference from the Information Desk. Contents Agenda Extra: Saturday 22 March 3 Sunday 23 March 18 Emergency Motions Ballot 21 Speakers Cards Information 29 Federal Conference Committee 30 Federal Policy Committee 31 Federal Board 32 Published by The Conference Office, Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PN. Layout by Frankie Roberts, frankie.roberts@libdems.org.uk. Agenda Extra Updates and amendments to the Agenda printed in the Agenda & Directory. Saturday 22 March F2 Federal Conference Committee Report: questions and accountability Q1. Submitted by Sir Simon Hughes There was last year a very long delay in publishing written answers to questions submitted to Conference. Please can all answers be published within 21 days of the last day of Conference in future? Q2. Submitted by Brandon Masih The Science Motion, as per the first drafts publication on the Facebook Federal Conference Group, is much longer in its calls for sections than what made the agenda in the end. Could FCC explain whether such shortening after submission is normal and why that means the motion text no longer discusses AI much? Q3. Submitted by Abrial Jerram F4 is, on the whole, extremely vague yet was selected despite much high quality competition. Would you have selected it for debate if it had not been submitted by FPC? Q4. Submitted by Christopher Johnson What has your committee done and what can it do to tackle discrimination (e.g. misogyny, ableism, transphobia) in the party? F3 Federal Policy Committee Report: questions and accountability Q1. Submitted by Christopher Johnson What has your committee done and what can it do to tackle discrimination (e.g. misogyny, ableism, transphobia) in the party? Q2. Submitted by Abrial Jerram Would you agree that F4 and it's accompanying policy paper is very vague and if so, is that deliberate? F4 Science, Innovation and Technology (Science Policy Paper) The following clauses at the end of the motion were accidentally omitted from the printed Agenda. The FCC has therefore agreed to draft them in. All the proposals in these lines were included in Policy Paper 158. 90 5. Ensure AI works for the common good – balancing innovation with 91 ethical responsibility – with a National AI Strategy including by: 92 a) Introducing a robust regulatory environment, learning from 93 experience of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology 94 Authority, with flexible monitoring, inspection, auditing and 95 enforcement powers that would oversee ethical and 96 transparent standards for AI. 97 b) Supporting open approaches to AI to democratise and 98 championing transparency. 99 c) Defending and expanding the rights of the public with regard 100 to automated decision making. 101 d) Reaching an international agreement on the governance and 102 use of AI. 103 e) Strengthening rules around copyright so that creators are 104 treated fairly, with record keeping duties and robust, 105 independent auditing of data and content use for AI 106 developers. 107 f) Strengthening our democratic processes and investing in new 108 technologies to detect illicit or harmful uses of AI. Fixing our crumbling public services with a comprehensive public sector technology policy and investment plan, notably by: a) Investing in skills, training and new technology across the public sector, with long term investment and planning. b) Improving health and care with a new approach to personal data, a new agreement with the European Medicines Agency and a comprehensive technology adoption programme. c) Ensuring our criminal justice system is able to make the most of new technology, with appropriate safeguards on AI to tackle biases and discrimination. d) Empowering local government, with investment in skills and training and a technology sandbox. Harnessing the power of technology to tackle the big social challenges of our time, notably by: a) Generating sustainable, inclusive economic growth through a long term, consistent industrial and people strategy. b) Tackling regional inequality through a digital inclusion strategy, national investment in digital infrastructure and investing in local government. c) Tackling social inequalities, particularly gender, ethnic, disability and class inequality, so that science and technology bring benefits to all. d) Tackling the digital divide with local and national plans for digital inclusion. e) Investing in green technologies to help mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. Applicability: Federal, except for 2. (lines 51-63), 6. (lines 109-120) and 7. (lines 121-134) which are England only. Amendment One 12 members Mover: Manuela Perteghella MP Summation: Lord Clement-Jones (Lords Spokesperson for Science and Innovation) 1 After line 23, insert: 2 Conference notes with disappointment the Labour Government's 3 confused approach to AI in its Copyright and AI consultation that has 4 unnecessarily created division between the creative and technologies 5 sectors. 6 Conference further notes that the significant benefits and uses AI can 7 bring to support creativity in the music, film, TV, gaming, arts and 8 media sectors must work in tandem with continuing to protect rights 9 holders. 10 After line 50, insert a new 2.: 11 2. Maintain a balance between enabling AIs to develop and 12 defending the fundamental rights of those who create and own 13 content by: 14 a) Increasing confidence in the transparency of AI development. 15 b) Introducing new record keeping duties and robust, 16 independent auditing of data and content use for AI 17 development. 18 c) Pushing for an active Government role in ensuring creators 19 receive appropriate and proportionate remuneration when 20 copyright material is ingested into generative AI models for 21 training purposes and derive the full benefit of technology 22 such as AI made performance synthesization and streaming. Amendment Two 12 members Mover: Max Wilkinson MP (Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport) Summation: Bobby Dean MP 1 After line 31, insert: 2 Conference notes the damaging effects of the concentration of 3 enormous power in the hands of US tech oligarchs, and regrets recent 4 moves away from crucial online safety and misinformation measures 5 by Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and others. 6 Conference condemns the Labour government’s decision to isolate 7 the UK on the global stage, by siding with Trump in failing to sign the 8 Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for 9 People and the Planet recently agreed in Paris. 10 After line 134, add: 11 Conference calls on the Government to adopt the principles of the 12 Paris AI agreement within a National AI Strategy. Amendment Three 16 members Mover: Brandon Masih Summation: Brandon Masih 1 After line 31, insert: 2 Conference also condemns the Home Office for its February 7th 3 technology capability notice (TCN), where they requested 4 technologically impossible demands of exclusive access to user data 5 stored via Apple’s iCloud system, putting user data at risk and 6 subsequent withdrawal of end-to-end encryption under Advanced 7 Data Protection (ADP) from some forms of iCloud data for new UK 8 users and those who have not enabled ADP prior to February 24th. 9 Conference further believes that exclusive, secure access to personal 10 data in a digital world via encryption is paramount for rights to privacy 11 and should not be abridged via encryption backdoors. 12 After line 134, add: 13 Conference further calls for any TCN issued by the Home Office in 14 relation to sweeping access to iCloud to be withdrawn, requests Apple 15 to subsequently restore the option of ADP to all UK Apple consumer 16 and calls on the Government to confirm no future plans on utilising 17 encryption backdoors on other communication platforms. F6 Reports of the Parliamentary Parties Q1. Submitted by Brandon Masih Is there a concern that parliamentarians may undermine the arguments we have in opposing Labour policy, considering one front bencher has, on social media, described a matter of terminology on one Government tax policy as ‘Orwellian’? Q2. Submitted by Emily Tester How can the Parliamentary Party best challenge the rise of the far right, in the UK with Reform and abroad? Q3. Submitted by Caroline Juss Do you feel that Parliament is adapting to having the smallest official opposition and the largest third party in history? What impact are the smaller parties having? Q4. Submitted by Abrial Jerram The issue of housing and planning will soon take centre stage in Parliament. What steps will MPs take to avoid the perception that we are compromising our values by putting the views of those who own homes ahead of those who are trapped by the housing crisis, noting that, by and large, Liberal Democrat MPs represent affluent areas which could make this hazard more dangerous? Q5. Submitted by Sir Simon Hughes Can the Commons Whips please make sure that parliamentary and constituency phone numbers and emails for all MPs are always available to House of Commons switchboards and published on websites and answered promptly? Thank you. Q6. Submitted by Tony Vickers What are we doing to enfranchise the 3.5m UK citizens abroad entitled to vote, 94% of whom aren't currently registered? Q7. Submitted by Christopher Johnson What has the Parliamentary Party done and what can it do to tackle discrimination (e.g. misogyny, ableism, transphobia) in the party? F9 Free to be Who You Are The FCC has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: 1 After line 10, insert: 2 v) Human rights are indivisible, so defending the rights of LGBTQ+ 3 people is crucial to upholding the human rights of all. 4 At the end of line 27, insert ‘..., and a number of British Overseas 5 Territories not recognising same-sex marriage.’ 6 At the end of line 65, insert: ‘..., including central government support 7 for local authorities to give consideration for LGBTQ+ supported 8 housing for older LGBTQ+ people, as has been successful in Lambeth 9 and Manchester, when looking to expand the supply of social 10 housing.’ Amendment One 12 members Mover: Lord Pack (President of the Liberal Democrats) Summation: To be announced 1 After line 27, insert: 2 Conference reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that young trans 3 people can access the high-quality healthcare they deserve in a timely 4 manner, noting the central finding of the Cass Review that they “must 5 have the same standards of care as everyone else in the NHS, and 6 that means basing treatments on good evidence" while also 7 recognising the toxic debate around aspects of the review and the 8 distress and uncertainty it has caused for members of the trans 9 community. Amendment Two 13 members Mover: Cllr Donna Harris Summation: Sarah Dyke MP 1 After line 58, insert: 2 d) Reviewing the Care Quality Commission’s grading system, to 3 ensure that all inspections take into account LGBTQ+ 4 residents' experience in a given care home, and that fresh 5 inspections swiftly follow any allegations of abuse. 6 e) Introducing a ‘pride in care’ quality mark and LGBTQ+ care 7 champion scheme for councils. Amendment Three Young Liberals Mover: Rebecca Jones Summation: Ulysse Abbate 1 After line 137, add: 2 Conference further notes with concern that the current waiting lists 3 for trans people attempting to access Gender Identity Clinics (GICs) in 4 the UK is on average five years, and in many cases even longer. 5 Conference believes that: 6 a) Trans people have a right to be seen by a specialist within 18 7 weeks, as set out in the NHS constitution 8 b) Trans people deserve further support while on an NHS waiting list 9 in relation to mental health support and Gender Affirming Care. 10 Conference therefore calls for: 11 I. The NHS to provide further support to trans people on waiting 12 lists, including more mental health support. 13 II. The NHS to commission further gender identity clinics and pilot 14 schemes to bring down waiting lists. 15 III. The NHS to be supported and encouraged to work with private 16 Gender Identity specialists to a greater extent, to provide shared 17 care agreements for transgender people. 18 IV. The Government to increase funding and capacity in NHS GICs. F10 Constitutional Amendment: Implementing the Lessons of the General Election Review Amendment One 12 members Mover: Cllr Chris White Summation: Baroness Grender 1 After line 1 insert: 2 A. State and Regional Candidate Chairs, their committees and the 3 other volunteers supporting their work are the backbone to our 4 Westminster candidate system. They are central to our efforts as a 5 party to find and support candidates and we are grateful for their 6 continued hard work. 7 B. We recognise the need to create the best possible Westminster 8 candidate system for our State and Regional Candidate Chairs, 9 their committees and other volunteers to operate within and for 10 them to receive the best possible support. 11 After line 45 insert: 12 8. It is for local party members to determine who their Liberal 13 Democrat candidate is in Westminster elections. There is no 14 proposed change to this. As is currently the case, the 15 responsibility to decide who is a Liberal Democrat Westminster 16 candidate in each constituency will continue to rest with local 17 party members. 18 9. The delivery of our Westminster candidate function depends on 19 the vital work of our Regional Candidates Committees (in England) 20 and State Candidate Committees in England, Scotland and Wales 21 and their other volunteers. There is no proposed change to this. 22 As is currently the case; these committees and volunteers will 23 continue to delivern their important work and, for Regional 24 Candidates Chairs in England, continue to sit on the State 25 Candidate Committee. 26 At the end of line 100, insert: 27 In carrying out its role under (d), the JCSC shall establish a 28 Consultative Group, including representatives from each State 29 Candidates Committee, who may include one or more Chairs of 30 Candidate Committees created by Regional Parties. The Consultative 31 Group shall offer advice to the JCSC, and the JCSC shall respond to any 32 advice offered. Amendment Two Liberal Democrat Women Mover: Cllr Donna Harris Summation: To be announced 1 After line 19, insert: 2 E. Despite making up 51% of the population, women only made up 3 28% of Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates in the General 4 Election: a lower percentage than the Conservative, Labour, and 5 Green parties. 6 At the end of line 35, insert: ‘... and diversity must be embedded into 7 the candidates process and made a key priority’. 8 After line 35, insert new 5.: 9 5. Recognising the significant underrepresentation of women among 10 Liberal Democrat candidates, it is essential to take action to 11 enhance their representation both within the candidate pool and 12 across the party as a whole. 13 After line 45, insert new 9.: 14 9. Clearly defined metrics help to create an open and transparent 15 working environment, while acting as a motivator for Local Parties 16 and candidates. 17 After line 98, insert new f. and g.: 18 f. To develop and implement candidate diversity action plans, led by 19 the Vice President responsible for working with ethnic minority 20 communities. 21 g. To produce clearly communicated, realistic workload expectations, 22 including a comprehensive schedule and pathway at every seat 23 level, set out clearly in the candidates’ compact. F14 The UK’s Response to Trump Aide: Cllr Hannah Kitching Hall Aide: Lord Mohammed The FCC has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: 1 Delete iii) (lines 12-13) and insert: 2 iii) Trump’s suspension of military aid to Ukraine, and lack of 3 commitment to NATO. 4 In iv) (line 15) after ‘Greenland’ insert: ‘...and his threat to annexe 5 Canada as the US 51st state.’ 7 After line 15, insert new v): 8 v) Trump’s reckless comments proposing that Palestinians be 9 removed from Gaza and ‘resettled’ elsewhere - which would 10 constitute a grave violation of international law - undermining the 11 already fragile ceasefire and disregarding the legitimate right of 12 Palestinians for their own state. 13 After line 28, insert new x), xi) and xii): 14 x) Trump’s cancellation of USAID, which could lead to China 15 increasing its influence in the Global South. 16 xi) The disgraceful verbal assault by Trump and Vance on President 17 Zelensky in the Oval Office on 28 February 2025. 18 xii) The Trump Administration’s actions to roll back the rights of 19 LGBTQ+ people in the US, in particular towards trans people, as 20 well as those of women and ethnic minorities. Amendment One 12 members Mover: Helen Maguire MP (Spokesperson for Defence) Summation: Baroness Smith of Newnham (Lords Spokesperson for Defence) 1 After line 37, insert: 2 Conference welcomes the Government's decision to raise defence 3 spending to 2.5% of GDP, but expresses concern that doing so by 4 cutting Official Development Assistance will ultimately make the UK 5 less secure. 6 Delete E. b) (lines 69-70) and insert: 7 b) Committing to spending 2.5% of GDP as soon as possible - to 8 be funded by raising the Digital Services Tax from 2% to 10% - 9 and holding cross-party talks to agree a consensus on how to 10 reach spending 3% of GDP on defence. 11 After line 84, insert: 12 d) Support the creation of a Rearmament Bank, together with 13 our European and other allies, to enable greater access to 14 finance for defence programmes. Amendment Two 12 members Mover: James McCleary MP (Spokesperson for Europe) Summation: David Chalmers (Chair of the Federal International Relations Committee) 1 At end of line 39, insert: ‘...and that enhancing economic ties with the 2 EU, including by cutting red tape and boosting trade links, is essential 3 for insulating the UK from Trump’s unpredictability as well as growing 4 our economy’. 5 At end of line 57, insert: ‘...and, as the culmination of the third stage in 6 our roadmap, negotiate a new UK-EU Customs Union by 2030 at the 7 latest.’ Amendment Three Yorkshire and Humber Mover: Samuel Jackson Summation: Adrian Ramsdale 1 After line 53, insert new B.: 2 B. Ensure Ukraine’s participation in peace negotiations as an equal 3 partner to safeguard against a coerced and detrimental peace 4 settlement. F15 Federal Board Report: questions and accountability Q1. Cllr Donna Harris Under Section 106 of the Equality Act, the party will soon have to publish anonymised diversity data around candidates as well as their approval, nomination and selection. How does the party plan to meet these transparency requirements? Q2. Eleanor Kelly As part of our response to the General Election review, Liberal Democrat Women requested data concerning the gender, region and seat status of candidates. Nearly six months later, this has not been fully provided. When can we expect it? How will the President support robust diversity data monitoring, not only for members as outlined in his report, but also for candidates? Q3. John Grout and Christopher Johnson Is the Federal Board taking steps to protect the Party and plan for the Party's survival in the event that a data breach of NGP VAN is engineered by hostile actors as a pretext for shuttering the company and/or the US Democratic Party? Should we look at developing a new canvassing software with our European parties in order to reduce our reliance on American companies following the US President's recent statements on Ukraine? Q4. Submitted by Abrial Jerram Do you believe the same willingness to reinvent ourselves that took place after 2019 is needed post 2024 General Election in acknowledgment of the fact that the next general election is going to be nothing like the last? Q5. Submitted by Sir Simon Hughes Please can all party elections require that members can vote by post as well as email, and that all local council selections have rules to maximise gender balance and diversity? Q6. Submitted by Andy Williams Are there plans to standardise MPs local party tithes in future. Given that they seem to range from sensible to zero? Q7. Michael Berwick-Gooding Please can you state how many people in the consultation wanted no change to the number of nominators required to stand for a Federal Party Committee and how many people wanted an increase? Q8. Christopher Johnson What has your committee done and what can it do to tackle discrimination (e.g. misogyny, ableism, transphobia) in the party? Q9. Submitted by John Grout What, in the Board's opinion, is the acceptable level of harm it is prepared to inflict on a vulnerable minority (and the party's reputation), to avoid litigation from those determined to exterminate them, in contravention of the party's values? Q10. Submitted by Gareth Epps Is there nothing the party will not agree to do when issued legal threats by people who do not share our values? Q11. Submitted by Leon Duveen Yet again, the Party has been blackmailed by threat of expensive legal action into accepting a stall from a group that opposes basic Liberal Democrat principles. This is an intolerable situation and what is the Federal Board doing to make sure that such groups that do not respect the fundamental values of our Party are not allowed to have a stall or hold fringe events at our Conference? Q12. Submitted by Sir Simon Hughes How many complaints against members as of 1 March 2025 are awaiting a) hearings and b) decisions for longer than 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, and can speedy decisions be ensured in future. Q13. Submitted by Sir Simon Hughes Since 1 March 2020, as of 1 March 2025 a)how many legal cases have been initiated by members or former members against the party, b)how many concluded, c)how many with awards or judgements against the LDs and d) at what total cost? Q14. Submitted by Sir Simon Hughes Since 1 March 2020 and until 1 March 2025 how many complaints have been made against party members in each year, how many have been concluded, how many are still unresolved and what is the maximum time for a decision. Q15. Submitted by Sir Simon Hughes Will the President and all party officers confirm the right of all LD PPCs and MPs as a matter of personal liberal conscience to express views and vote against abortion, assisted dying, euthanasia and the legal right to change sex, and to be respected for doing so. Q16. Submitted by Robert Reiss The public version of the party style guide was last updated in September 2018. To assist local parties in maintaining coherence with federal party branding, will the style guide be reviewed and updated as a priority? Q17. Submitted by Tony Vickers Is Lib Dems Abroad working with British Overseas Voters Forum, given the likely high propensity for Brits based abroad to vote Liberal Democrat? Q18. Submitted by Janey Little Part of the rationale behind F10 Constitutional Amendment: Implementing the Lessons of the General Election Review, is to improve diversity. If the amendment passes, can you detail how this is going to be enacted under the new JCSC framework? Or if the amendment fails, the plans to improve diversity if it remains within the old model? F16 Electoral Regulations Please note that the changes to the electoral regulations can be found on pages 19-37 of the printed Reports document and pages 13-25 of the online Reports document. See: https://www.libdems.org.uk/conference/papers/spring-2025/reports-to- conference F18 Federal Communications and Elections Committee Report: questions and accountability Q1. Christopher Johnson What has your committee done and what can it do to tackle discrimination (e.g. misogyny, ableism, transphobia) in the party? F19 Campaign for Gender Balance: questions and accountability Q1. Christopher Johnson What has your committee done and what can it do to tackle discrimination (e.g. misogyny, ableism, transphobia) in the party? F20 Federal International Relations Committee Report: questions and accountability Q1. Christopher Johnson What has your committee done and what can it do to tackle discrimination (e.g. misogyny, ableism, transphobia) in the party? Q2. Christopher Johnson As we enter the 110th anniversary of the Greek, Armenian and Assyrian Genocides, is it not time our party and our country recognise them? F21 Federal Council Report: questions and accountability Mover: Cllr Prue Bray Q1. Christopher Johnson What has your committee done and what can it do to tackle discrimination (e.g. misogyny, ableism, transphobia) in the party? Sunday 23 March F22 Emergency Motion There will be a ballot for one motion to be debated in this agenda slot. Please see pages 21-28 below. F23 Animal Welfare in the Food System Amendment One 10 members Mover: Baroness Grender (Lords Spokesperson on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Summation: To be announced 1 After line 48, insert new 4.: 2 4. Its commitment to implement new targets to ensure 50% of food 3 supplied to the public sector is produced by British farmers or 4 certified to higher animal welfare and environmental standards. 5 After line 116, insert new b) and c): 6 b) An annual report on the level of high welfare food supplied to 7 the public sector is laid before Parliament. 8 c) The Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering 9 Services (GBSF) are properly monitored and enforced. Amendment Two 10 members Mover: Elliot Chapman-Jones Summation: To be announced 1 At end of line 77, insert: 2 ‘…, including more funding for peer-to-peer learning to reward farmer 3 networks for sharing knowledge and skills’. 4 After line 77, insert new b): 5 b) Ensuring that the Growth and Skills Levy takes into account 6 the importance of agricultural skills to provide access to 7 apprenticeships in the sector and support the next generation 8 with expertise in animal welfare. F25 Ending the Crisis: A Fair Deal for Children with SEND The FCC has agreed to make the following drafting amendment to the motion: 1 In IV (line 88), after ‘local government’, insert: ‘and trade unions’. Amendment One 17 members Mover: Andy McGowan Summation: Lee Dargue 1 After line 33, insert new xii) and xiii): 2 xii) The lack of support for children with SEND, particularly during 3 school holidays, has a significant impact on parent carers and 4 siblings, including their health, wellbeing and opportunities. 5 xiii) Research by Carers Trust and the We Care campaign shows that 6 parent carers do not have access to their statutory right to 7 assessments and, if needed, support. 8 After line 96, add new VI.: 9 VI. Take measures to improve access to support for parent carers and 10 siblings including through: 11 a) Working with local government to ensure that parent carers 12 have access to Parent Carers’ Needs Assessments and support 13 in every local authority. 14 b) Ensuring that any future carers strategy or reforms to SEND 15 specifically consider the needs of parent carers and siblings. 16 c) Making sure that Ofsted inspections of local authorities 17 specifically assess how councils are identifying and supporting 18 parent carers. 19 d) Including young carers as a priority group within any holiday 20 activity programmes. Amendment Two Liberal Democrat Disability Association Mover: Katharine Macy. Summation: To be announced. 1 At end of V. (line 96), insert: ‘...,while ensuring quality of transport and 2 education is not lowered’. 3 After line 96, add: 4 VI) Support Higher and Further education by allowing pre-16 5 diagnosis of disabilities such as neurodivergence like dyslexia, 6 ADHD and autism to be accepted to access Disability Student 7 Allowance and reasonable adjustments Emergency Motions Ballot One of the following motions will be selected by ballot to be debated at F22 on Sunday 22 March. 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 Friday 22 March. Emergency Motion 1: Dropped Targets - A Threat to Care 13 members 1 Conference notes: 2 i) The 2025 mandate to NHS England, delivered on the 30th January 3 2025, which abolished almost half (14 of 32) of the NHS targets. 4 ii) Its delivery to Parliament in the form of a Written Ministerial 5 Statement, without any oral statement or debate, which did not 6 allow for proper scrutiny of such large-scale organisational 7 changes. 8 iii) Its impact on key areas such as mental health, women’s health, 9 dementia diagnosis and access to community services, where 10 performance targets have been abolished. 11 iv) Many in the health sector’s concerns that these areas will be 12 rapidly deprioritised, and patients will suffer. 13 v) The two million people on mental health waiting lists and the lack 14 of a credible plan to ensure these patients get the help they need. 15 vi) The failure of the government to meet the now-eliminated 16 dementia diagnosis target since 2020, and the Darzi investigation’s 17 assertion that the government must improve quantity and quality 18 of care for dementia patients. 19 vii) The over 30 million British women who will no longer have 20 mandated access to a women’s health hub to access smear tests, 21 breast checks, contraception, menopause advice and more. 22 viii) The refusal of the government to consider reinstating the dropped 23 targets or debate the issue in Parliament. 24 Conference believes: 25 a) The Conservatives brought our NHS to breaking point through 26 mismanagement and underinvestment, leading to spiralling 27 waitlists, an unending cycle of winter crises, and despite the 28 continual readjustment of targets down to easier and easier 29 levels, a repeated inability to meet many. 30 b) Labour has inherited a challenging legacy but their lack of 31 ambition when it comes to fixing the NHS has been shocking. 32 c) Addressing unacceptably long wait times and improving access to 33 primary care and A&E services cannot come at the cost of proper 34 treatment of dementia patients, those struggling with mental 35 health, and women’s wellbeing. 36 d) The deprioritisation of these key areas signals the government’s 37 complacency for our NHS and, shamefully, will result in many 38 patients not receiving the care they urgently need. 39 e) Without properly supporting social care, community care, general 40 practices, dentistry, pharmacies, and early intervention and 41 prevention practices, the pressure on A&E services and hospitals 42 will continue to rise. 43 f) Mental health should be treated with equal priority to physical 44 health. 45 Conference accordingly calls on the Government to: 46 1. Reinstate the dropped targets on mental health, dementia 47 diagnosis, women’s health and access to community services. 48 2. Improve early access to mental health services by establishing 49 mental health hubs for young people in every community and 50 introducing regular mental health check-ups at key points in 51 people’s lives when they are most vulnerable to mental ill-health. 52 3. Create a statutory, independent Mental Health Commissioner to 53 represent patients, their families and carers and champion parity 54 of esteem within the NHS. 55 4. Develop a sustainable funding strategy for community services, to 56 put them on a stable footing for years to come and reduce 57 pressure on emergency services and hospitals by investing to 58 save. 59 5. Fully implement the immediate and essential actions (IEAs) raised 60 by the Ockenden report to ensure women do not have to continue 61 to suffer unsafe maternity care. Applicability: England. Emergency Motion 2: Local Elections: Democracy Delayed is Democracy Denied Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners and 10 members 1 Conference notes that: 2 i) On 5th February 2025, the Government announced that local 3 elections in nine councils would be postponed for at least a year. 4 ii) The last general election demonstrated sweeping electoral change 5 in this country. 6 iii) The local authorities whose elections have been postponed have 7 not had elections since 2021 in what was a wholly different 8 political climate. 9 Conference believes: 10 a) The Government should have reversed their decision to postpone 11 local elections this May. 12 b) Voters have been denied their democratic right to vote for their 13 local representatives, some of whom may now serve for seven 14 years. 15 c) Local people are entitled to local authorities that represent their 16 values and beliefs. 17 d) The Government has failed to provide clarity about when the 18 postponed elections will take place, even suggesting that some 19 areas will have two elections in two years; one in 2026 for the 20 council due to be abolished and another in 2027 for the new 21 council due to be established. 22 e) Devolution is about shifting power out of the centre in 23 Westminster and Whitehall, so that decisions are made by and for 24 the people and communities they affect. 25 Conference reaffirms the Liberal Democrat commitment to 26 representative local government. 27 Conference calls on the Government to: 28 1. Reverse their disastrous decision to postpone local elections in 29 nine areas this May. 30 2. Adopt proportional representation for all local elections in 31 England. 32 3. Agree that local government reorganisation should only take place 33 when there is full consultation with existing structures and when 34 local consensus is reached. Applicability: England. Emergency Motion 3: New Hospitals Programme - A Broken Promise 13 members 1 Conference notes: 2 i) The announcement on the 20th January 2025 that the 3 implementation of the New Hospitals Programme would be 4 delayed, with 18 of the 40 hospitals not set to begin construction 5 until after 2030, the original completion deadline. 6 ii) The implications of the delays for repairs backlogs at the 18 7 hospitals not due to start construction until at least 2030, which is 8 projected to spiral from £2.1bn to £5.7bn. 9 iii) Its impact on patients across the country, who will continue to 10 receive treatment in subpar conditions or struggle to even access 11 treatment due to closures and repairs. 12 iv) Over twenty per cent of the premises in general practice predate 13 the founding of the health service in 1948. 14 v) Capital underinvestment is one of the key areas contributing to 15 lower-than-desired NHS productivity, according to two sets of 16 analyses by the Institute for Government and the Institute for 17 Fiscal Studies. 18 vi) The pattern of cannibalising NHS capital budgets to keep services 19 running day to day, with an estimated transfer of £930 million 20 from the 2024/2025 capital budget, further reducing investment in 21 the NHS estate. 22 Conference believes: 23 a) Patients have the right to be treated in safe, comfortable and 24 dignified conditions without fear of the hospital roof falling in, 25 walls crumbling or pipes leaking and freezing over in winter. 26 b) The Conservative Government is responsible for this crisis, due to 27 their sustained underinvestment into the NHS estate. Moreover, 28 they made an intentionally empty promise when they launched 29 the New Hospitals Programme with no realistic strategy for 30 delivery behind it. 31 c) Whilst the Labour Government has inherited a crumbling NHS 32 estate and an intentionally shoddy plan for reform, they have not 33 been nearly ambitious enough on delivering for patients, instead 34 opting to embrace a false economy of dither and delay. 35 Conference accordingly calls on the Government to: 36 1. Reverse the costly and unfair delay to the New Hospital 37 Programme by creating a new crumbling hospitals taskforce to 38 work on bringing these construction dates forward and deliver on 39 the promise made to patients. 40 2. End the vicious cycle of false economies and rising repair backlogs 41 by putting the NHS estate on a plan towards sustainable funding. 42 3. Develop a plan to invest in the primary care estate, including to 43 repair and replace GP surgeries, many of which are older than the 44 NHS itself. Applicability: England. Emergency Motion 4: Restoring International Development Assistance Green Liberal Democrats 1 Conference notes: 2 i) The Liberal Democrats were the first UK political party to commit 3 to meeting the OECD target of spending 0.7% of Gross National 4 Income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance (ODA), and 5 enshrined this target in law whilst in government. 6 ii) On Nov. 25, 2020, Rishi Sunak announced a ‘temporary’ cut to 7 0.5%; this resulted in thousands of preventable deaths and cuts to 8 vital programmes. 9 iii) The current Labour Government’s manifesto committed to 10 restoring development spending at the level of 0.7% of GNI “as 11 soon as fiscal circumstances allow”; despite this, on 25th February 12 2025 Keir Starmer announced an immediate cut from 0.5% to 13 0.3% of GNI. 14 iv) The international development budget has been further eroded 15 by the large increase of in-donor refugee costs due to the decision 16 of the previous Conservative government to pause asylum 17 approvals - as well as leaving thousands of people trapped in 18 limbo, these costs have occupied an increasingly large share of 19 ODA. 20 Conference believes that: 21 a) While there is an acute need to increase defence spending to 22 support Ukraine and ensure the UK’s future security, this can be 23 met through fair measures such as a digital sales tax and does not 24 require yet another cut to ODA. 25 b) The government’s cuts to ODA will cost lives and are completely 26 unjustified. UK aid provides desperately needed support to the 27 most vulnerable people in the world, particularly in fragile and 28 conflict affected states, and is a key tool in meeting our climate 29 commitments. 30 c) The UK’s commitment to development has been one of our most 31 effective foreign policy tools in recent decades and is a key pillar in 32 ensuring our future security. 33 d) Sudden cuts to ODA fall disproportionately on the most 34 vulnerable – those affected by humanitarian crisis – due to 35 annualised budget cycles being easier to cut. 36 Conference calls for: 37 1. The immediate restoration of UK aid spending at 0.5% of GNI and 38 a roadmap to restore 0.7% of GNI as soon as possible within this 39 parliament. 40 2. A halt to the charging of asylum hosting costs to the ODA budget, 41 freeing up billions for global poverty reduction, climate action and 42 humanitarian response 43 3. The Government to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP as 44 soon as possible - based on funding plans outlined by the Liberal 45 Democrats - and to hold cross-party talks to agree a consensus on 46 how to reach 3%. Applicability: Federal Emergency Motion 5: Securing a Path to Citizenship for Refugees 14 members 1 Conference notes with concern the new Home Office guidance, issued 2 in February 2025, which states that anyone who enters the country 3 irregularly “having made a dangerous journey” will be refused 4 naturalisation regardless of how long they’ve lived in the UK - 5 potentially blocking a large number of people who have already been 6 granted refugee status from ever becoming British citizens. 7 Conference further notes that: 8 i) The former Conservative Government closed down safe and legal 9 routes to sanctuary, leaving desperate people to make perilous 10 attempts to cross the Channel in small boats or make other 11 dangerous journeys - often in the hands of criminal smugglers 12 and traffickers. 13 ii) More than 140 charities and faith leaders have united to condemn 14 the ban, urging the Home Secretary to rethink the new guidance. 15 iii) The new guidance immediately came into effect, with no 16 opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny. 17 iv) The Home Office has said that the new restrictions will “likely not 18 apply” to children, but has given no unequivocal confirmation that 19 this will be the case. 20 Conference believes that: 21 a) The Government needs to do more to stop dangerous Channel 22 crossings, but a ban on citizenship for refugees will do nothing to 23 achieve that or combat the criminal trafficking gangs responsible. 24 b) Citizenship plays a vital role in integration, providing refugees with 25 certainty and a sense of belonging in their new country. 26 c) The UK must uphold its obligations under international law, which 27 states that refugees should not be penalised for illegal entry to a 28 country. 29 Conference therefore calls on the UK Government to: 30 1. Bring forward new guidance that ensures a path to citizenship for 31 refugees. 32 2. Provide safe and legal routes to sanctuary for refugees from all 33 countries, as outlined in policy motion Safe and Legal Routes to 34 Save Lives (2021). 35 3. Bring forward a new integration strategy to enable refugees and 36 asylum seekers to fully rebuild their lives, contribute to our 37 economy, and integrate into our communities. Applicability: Federal Speaking and Voting at Conference 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: 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. The Federal Conference Committee Nick da Costa, Chair Jon Ball, Vice Chair Cara Jenkinson, Vice Chair Mark Pack, Party President Dr Sam Barratt Duncan Brack Belinda Brooks-Gordon Wendy Chamberlain MP Fraser Graham Charley Hasted Allison Jenner Eleanor Kelly Hannah Kitching Chris Maines Paul McGarry Simon McGrath Shaffaq Mohammed Lucas North Matt Palmer Kath Pinnock Jennie Rigg Callum Robertson Darryl Smalley The Federal Policy Committee Ed Davey MP, Chair Lucy Nethsingha, Vice Chair Jeremy Hargreaves, Vice Chair Helen Morgan MP, Vice Chair Mark Pack, Party President Ulysse Abbate Duncan Brack Alex Brewer MP Belinda Brooks-Gordon Sally Burnell Christine Cheng Chris Coghlan MP Tara Copeland Helen Cross Alyssa Gilbert Stephen Harte Martin Horwood Chloe Hutchinson Elizabeth Jewkes Susan Juned Dr Mohsin Khan Janey Little Keith Melton Edward Morello MP Kath Pinnock Joshua Reynolds MP Ben Rich Luke Richards John Shreeve Julie Smith Peter Thornton Claire Tyler The Federal Board Mark Pack, Party President Jeremy Hargreaves, Vice-Chair, FPC Rep Amna Ahmad, Vice President (Ethnic Minorities) Nick da Costa, FCC Chair Ed Davey MP, Leader Kath Pinnock, FCEC Chair Caroline Pidgeon, Chair, English Party Mike Cox, FFRC Chair Jenni Lang, Convenor, Scottish Party Claire Hudson, FPDC Chair Tim Sly, President, Welsh Party Chris White, Principal Local Authority Councillor Harvey Jones, Young Liberals Chair Neil Fawcett Lucy Nethsingha Callum Robertson