Autumn Conference, Brighton Tuesday 22 September Information from the Federal Conference Committee for Tuesday 22 September. Please read in conjunction with the Agenda & Directory and Conference Extra. 09.00-09.50 F34 Trading with our Allies, Standing Up to Trump 4 09.50-10.00 F34A Spokesperson's Statement on Israel and Palestine 5 10.00-10.40 F35 Policy Motion: Sovereignty in the Age of AI 5 10.40-11.25 F36 Policy Motion: Restoring our Waters: Britain's Water Company Crisis 6 11.25-11.40 F37 Speech: Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP 7 11.40-12.10 F38 Policy Motion: Tackling Illegal E-Bikes and Dangerous Riding 7 12.10-12.50 F39 Policy Motion: Feeding Britain: A Food Security Emergency 8 12.50-14.10 Lunch break and fringe 14.10-14.30 F40 Party Awards 14.30-15.30 F41 Speech: Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 15.30 Close of Conference 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 & Directory 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 speaker's card as soon as possible. Report back for Monday 21 September F25 Policy Motion: A Fair Shot: Reforming Recruitment F26 Policy Motion: Introducing Anti-SLAPP Legislation Passed (Amendments One and Two passed) Passed F27 Policy Motion: Patient-Centred, Accessible and Preventive: A Liberal Vision for Primary Health Care (Primary Healthcare Policy Paper) F29 Policy Motion: Supporting People to Age Well F31 Policy Motion: Stopping Violence Against Women and Girls in the Digital Age F32 Report: Parliamentary Parties F33A Restoring Trans Rights F33B Britain's Wildfire Crisis Passed (Amendments One, Two, Three and Four passed) Passed (Amendment One passed) Passed (Amendments One and Two passed) Received Passed Passed 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 up to one hour before the start of the debate, online at: www.libdems.org.uk/speakers-card 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. F34 Trading with our Allies, Standing Up to Trump 12 members Mover: Joshua Reynolds MP (Spokesperson for Investment and Trade) Summation: Al Pinkerton MP (Spokesperson for Europe) 1 Conference notes with concern that: 2 a) On July 23rd, President Trump hit dozens of countries, including the 3 UK, with new tariffs, after the Supreme Court ruled his previous 4 'Liberation Day' tariffs illegal. 5 b) The US Government has begun accepting refund applications from 6 businesses around the world for the legally void tariffs they paid, 7 with $100 billion already refunded. 8 c) On August 22nd, the Trump administration escalated its trade war 9 against Canada by applying 50 per cent tariffs on $20 billion of 10 Canadian imports. 11 d) In August, the White House threatened the UK with 100 per cent 12 tariffs over Britain's Digital Services Tax, levied on global tech giants, 13 with the Burnham Government reportedly being "open to discussing 14 US concerns". 15 Conference reaffirms Liberal Democrat commitments to championing 16 free trade and expanding the UK's multilateral partnerships with 17 counterparts whom Britain can rely on - particularly in Europe and the 18 Commonwealth. 19 Conference therefore calls on the Government to: 20 1. Immediately drop its red lines on Europe and negotiate a new 21 Growth and Defence Partnership with the EU, including joining the 22 Single Market and a new Customs Union. 23 2. Offset Trump's latest tariffs in the short term, by urgently securing 24 participation in the EU's 'Made in Europe' scheme, vital for our steel 25 industry; concluding an SPS agreement for food and agricultural 26 produce; and securing regulatory alignment in key areas, such as the 27 mutual recognition of professional qualifications. 28 3. Stand shoulder to shoulder with Canada, commit to closer trade links 29 with our Commonwealth allies and build an economic coalition of the 30 willing to end Trump's trade war. 4. Launch a new initiative supporting eligible UK businesses in claiming US tariff refunds, including raising awareness and providing information and advice. 5. Defend British taxpayers against Trump by resisting US pressure to water down or scrap the Digital Services Tax. Applicability: Federal. Background briefing This motion updates and develops new policy. It builds on existing policy as set out in the 2024 General Election Manifesto, For a Fair Deal, policy paper 164, Strength, Resilience and Partnership: Securing Britain and Defending Liberalism in Turbulent Times, policy paper 157, Liberal Values in a Dangerous World (2024), policy motion Trump and the Wider World (2026), and policy motion The UK's Response to Trump (2025). 09.50 Spokesperson's Statement F34A Spokesperson's Statement on Israel and Palestine Calum Miller MP, the Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, will make a statement in response to the announcements by the Foreign Secretary on 8 September 2026. This statement will be made under Standing Order 1.7. F35 Sovereignty in the Age of AI Summation: Helen Cross Amendment One 14 members Mover: Lord Clement-Jones (Lords Spokesperson for Science and Innovation) Summation: To be announced In lines 89-91 delete 'ethical considerations, ensuring that AI systems are developed to use data responsibly and do not entrench existing inequalities' and insert 'frontier AI systems whose capabilities pose material risk of national security harm, catastrophic harm, or significant harm to individuals or groups, including through unsafe or rights- infringing outcomes.' Amendment Two Lambeth Borough Mover: Chris Lomax Summation: To be announced In line 106, delete 'Confronting the AI energy dilemma...,' and insert: 'Ensuring that data centre development remains consistent with the UK's objective of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, including ...' Background briefing This motion develops new policies on artificial intelligence. It builds on existing policy as set out in the 2024 General Election Manifesto, For a Fair Deal, and policy paper 158, Science, Innovation & Technology (2025). F36 Restoring our Waters: Britain's Water Company Crisis Amendment One Lambeth Borough Mover: Jeremy Clyne Summation: To be announced After line 37, insert new X.: X. The country faces a growing water shortage crisis, highlighted by current supply restrictions, largely resulting from climate change, and factors including emerging technologies and population growth, with England predicted by the government to be short, by 2055, of 5 billion litres a day for public water supplies, and a further 1 billion litres for the wider economy. After line 101, insert new 9.: 9. Develop urgently a comprehensive strategy to deal with predicted water supply shortages, including making full use of the latest developments in sustainable and cost-effective desalination technologies. Background briefing This motion develops new policies on the water industry. It builds on existing policy as set out in the 2024 General Election Manifesto, For a Fair Deal, policy paper 156, Tackling the Nature Crisis (2025), policy paper 140, Giving Consumers a Fairer Deal (2021), and policy motions The Clean Water Authority (2024), Are You Drinking What We're Drinking? (2024), and Ending Sewage Discharges (2022). F37 Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Chair: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie MSP F38 Tackling Illegal E-Bikes and Dangerous Riding Summation: Cllr Hina Bokhari AM Amendment One LD Friends of Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Mover: Katrin Harding Summation: Cllr Adrian Betteridge After line 33 insert new b): b) Legal E-bikes offer significant benefits for widening participation in active travel - particularly for disabled people, older people and those with longer commutes or caring responsibilities - and safe, legal e-bike adoption should be encouraged. In line 49 after 'apps' insert '..., including by ensuring that pay structures and work-allocation algorithms do not incentivise riders to exceed safe speeds or use illegal vehicles.' In line 54 after 'safety limits.' insert '..., and close the loophole permitting such vehicles to be marketed and sold under the pretence of off-road- only use when routinely ridden on public roads.' After line 65 insert new 5. and 6.: 5. Require delivery platforms to reform per-delivery pay structures so they do not incentivise riders to exceed safe speeds or use illegal vehicles, and to publish regular algorithmic safety assessments. 6. Work with industry to establish a government-backed e-bike safety kitemark, enabling landlords, transport operators, and insurers to distinguish legal, safe e-bikes from illegal machines to avoid unnecessary blanket restrictions on e-bikes. Amendment Two ALDC Mover: Cllr Darryl Smalley Summation: Cllr Hina Bokhari AM After line 45 insert new e): e) Illegal e-bike use and dangerous riding are also a local community safety and antisocial behaviour issue, directly affecting residents and communities and requiring effective partnership working between local authorities, police forces and other relevant agencies. After line 71 insert new 7.: 7. Strengthen support for local authorities and Community Safety Partnerships to tackle the antisocial behaviour associated with illegal e-bikes and dangerous riding, including through improved information-sharing, joint enforcement activity, prevention and community engagement. Background briefing This motion creates new policy on illegal e-bikes. F39 Feeding Britain: A Food Security Emergency The Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: In line 70, delete 'binding'. In line 76, delete 'requiring', and insert 'for' After line 102, insert new 11.: 11. Recognition of the vital role of local authorities in tackling food poverty, including through the delivery and coordination of free school meals, holiday food provision and other local programmes supporting children and families experiencing food insecurity, and ensuring that councils have the resources necessary to deliver these services effectively. Amendment One 14 members Mover: Caroline Voaden MP (Spokesperson for Schools) Summation: To be announced After line 22 insert new H.: H. Holiday hunger is a growing crisis for children dependent on free school meals, who receive no equivalent support during school holidays, leaving many vulnerable young people without reliable access to nutritious food. After line 42, insert new VI. and VII.: VI. Children cannot learn when they are hungry, and food security for young people must be treated as an educational and public health priority alongside a national security one. VII. Local food procurement for schools strengthens the connection between communities and the farms and growers in their area, cuts food miles, and ensures children benefit from fresh, seasonal produce. After line 102 insert new 11. and 12.: 11. Protection of existing school food voucher programmes from cuts or closure, recognising the safety net they provide for families already facing food insecurity. 12. Support for local authorities to develop Local Food Plans for schools, mapping local supply chains and connecting schools with nearby producers of fruit, vegetables and other fresh foods, prioritising seasonal and low food-mile produce. Amendment Two 13 members Mover: Duncan Brack Summation: To be announced After line 74, insert new 2.: 2. Support for the production of alternative proteins, allowing for reduced dependence on imports, particularly of low-quality meat. After line 102, insert new 11.: 11. Comprehensive preparations for major disruptions to food supply chains, including national contingency planning for major supply disruptions, better coordination between government, retailers and food producers, establishing regional distribution centres and giving local authorities powers and resources to develop local emergency stockpiles and emergency strategies. Amendment Three LDDA Mover: Katharine Macy Summation: To be announced After line 102 insert new 11.: 11. Local Food Plans to liaise with local NHS services to ensure those with allergies or food-related disabilities or illnesses such as diabetes are supported to receive the food they require. Separate Vote Delete lines 75-78 (as amended by the drafting amendment): 3. A national food security target for the UK to produce at least 75% of its own food by 2035, with targets around locally produced food. Background briefing This motion develops new policies on agriculture and rural affairs. It builds on existing policy as set out in the 2024 General Election Manifesto, For a Fair Deal, and policy paper 154, Food and Farming (2023). Help us win! Reform has £72m in the bank, but money alone doesn't guarantee seats: at the last election they spent £5.5m and won five, while we spent the same and won 72. That's the arithmetic that matters, and it's why urgent funding now, to scale up what we know beats Reform, will make the difference at the next election. In the constituencies that matter most, we are the ones standing between Reform and victory. Give because you believe in liberal democracy, in equality, in tackling climate change, in opportunity, and in a fairer, more decent Britain. 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