Federal Policy Committee - Papers for Autumn Conference 2023

The Federal Policy Committee (FPC) has now completed a run of four meetings to finalise our papers for Autumn Conference. We’ll be submitting five papers to the Federal Conference Committee – and once the conference agenda is decided, the motions and papers behind them will be published and made available for debate and discussion.

Firstly, we have developed a full Pre-Manifesto Paper. The aim of this is to show the Party our current thinking about the manifesto for next year’s General Election, and to gather views and allow the Party to debate it. In response to consistent comments on this, we have given particular attention to its overall story, and what we think our overall pitch is, which its individual policies sit beneath. We will welcome comments on this at Conference. The great bulk of policies in the paper come from, of course, our existing body of party policies approved by Conference. 

Next, The FPC has finalised a paper with proposals on Food & Farming. This makes strong submissions in a range of areas, including measures to tackle the sharp rise in food prices; food poverty; working with farmers; and strengthening food security. We intend to work on further motions concerning animal welfare to bring to Conference next year.

We have agreed a paper on Early Years & Childcare. This will both assist parents looking for childcare and help to make the sector more sustainable; make changes to parental leave; and also develop support in the area of special educational needs and disabilities. 

The Committee has completed a paper which makes proposals in many areas of the Housing and Planning system. Starting from a core need for many more houses to build, it will also provide much more help to private sector renters and leaseholders; tackle the environmental impact of the sector; and the problems of land banking.

Lastly, we have a much-needed – and much-delayed – set of proposals to support Biodiversity and the Natural Environment. This puts forward motions in many relevant areas of nature, including: public access to a clean natural environment; land management; energy usage and its environmental impacts; and international cooperation. 

In addition, we have established our new working group on the Future of Work. The FPC have appointed Vinous Ali to chair this group which will contain wide experience from many relevant sectors. Along with the group which looks at Science & Innovation, they will be developing proposals which we hope to bring to Conference in Autumn 2024.