AGENDA - PLAINTEXT Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference Brighton 17-22 September 2022 This plain text version of the Conference Agenda contains the text of the published Agenda. Note that page numbers refer to the pages in the published Agenda. Graphics and some complex page layouts are omitted. Page number references refer to the published Agenda. Welcome to the Liberal Democrat Autumn 2022 Conference Agenda. If you have any questions whilst at conference please ask a conference steward or go to the Information Desk on the ground floor of the Brighton Centre. For features, general conference information, exhibition and fringe, see the separate Conference Directory. Conference venue Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2GR Please note that the Brighton Centre is within the secure zone and that access is only possible with a valid conference pass. Further information, registration and conference publications (including plain text and clear print versions) are available at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference Contents Agenda index and timetable 4 Auditorium information 6 Conference timetable 2023 13 Saturday 17 September 14 Sunday 18 September 45 Monday 19 September 65 Tuesday 20 September 88 Standing orders 99 Federal Party 118 Published and promoted by Mike Dixon on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PN. Design and layout by Mike Cooper, mike@mikecoopermcc.co.uk. Agenda index and timetable Saturday 17 September 2022 09.00-09.15 F1 Opening of Conference 09.15-09.40 F2 Report: Federal Conference Committee 14 F3 Report: Federal Policy Committee 14 F4 Report: Federal Appeals Panel 14 09.40-10.35 F5 Policy motion: Taking a Stand for Mental Health 15 10.35-11.25 F6 Policy motion: UK-EU Cooperation on Foreign and Security Policy 17 11.25-12.15 F7 Constitutional amendment: Party Committees 20 12.15-12.35 F8 Constitutional amendment: Making Diversity More Intersectional 33 12.35-12.50 F9 Speech: Kira Rudik, Leader of Holos Party and ALDE Vice President 35 12.50-14.40 Lunch break and fringe 13.00-14.30 Consultative sessions: 35 General Election Manifesto * Early Years Education and Childcare * 14.40-16.10 F10 Policy motion: The UK's Nuclear Deterrent 38 16.10-16.25 F11 Speech: Wendy Chamberlain MP 39 16.25-17.15 F12 Policy motion: Supporting the Creative Industries and Protecting Channel 4 39 17.15-18.00 F13 Policy motion: Reversing the Centralisation of Power in Whitehall 42 18.00 Close of session 18.30-19.30 Conference Rally 20.15-late Evening fringe Sunday 18 September 2022 09.00-09.25 F14 Report: Parliamentary Parties 45 09.25-10.25 F15 Policy motion: Cutting VAT to Ease the Cost of Living Crisis 45 10.25-11.05 F16 Policy motion: Connecting Communities: Improving Bus Services 49 11.05-12.35 F17 Policy motion: Towards A Fairer Society Policy Paper 51 12.35-12.50 F18 Speech: Munira Wilson MP 55 12.50-14.10 Lunch break and fringe 14.10-14.55 F19 Policy motion: Standing up for Rural Communities 56 14.55-15.10 F20 Speech: Sarah Olney MP 58 15.10-16.05 F21 Question and answer session with Sir Ed Davey MP 59 16.05-17.20 F22 Policy motion: The Natural Environment Policy Paper 59 17.20-18.00 F23 Policy motion: Child Maintenance 62 18.00 Close of session 18.30-late Evening fringe Monday 19 September 2022 09.00-09.30 F24 Report: Federal Board 65 F25 Report: Report: Federal International Relations Committee 65 F26 Report: Campaign for Gender Balance 65 09.30-10.10 F27 Policy motion: Access to Dental Care 66 10.10-11.05 F28 Policy motion: Against Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing 68 11.05-11.20 F29 Speech: Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP 70 11.20-14.10 Lunch break and fringe 13.00-14.00 Consultative session: 71 Defining Racism - creating a modern, winning party 14.10-15.20 F30 Policy motion: A More Caring Society Policy Paper 71 15.20-15.35 F31 Speech: Cllr Mike Ross 73 15.35-16.15 F32 Standing orders amendment: Selection of Motions for Debate 74 16.15-16.35 F33 Standing orders amendment: Selection of Speakers 76 16.35-17.20 F34 Policy motion: Making the Fight Against Climate Change Accessible to Everyone 78 17.20-17.40 F35 Constitutional amendment: FIRC Changes 80 F36 Business motion: FIRC Representation 81 17.40-18.00 F37 Business motion: Code of Conduct for Members and Registered Supporters 83 18.00 Close of session 18.30-late Evening fringe 19.45-21.00 Consultative session: International Security * 87 Tuesday 20 September 2022 09.00-09.10 F38 Report: Federal Communications and Elections Committee 88 F39 Business motion: Membership Subscription and Federal Levy 88 09.10-10.00 F40 Policy motion: China: A Strategy for The UK 89 10.00-11.05 F41 Policy motion: For a Fair Deal 92 11.05-12.35 F42 Emergency motions / topical issues 97 12.35-12.50 F43 Speech: Cllr Josh Babarinde 97 12.50-14.10 Lunch break and fringe 14.10-14.30 F44 Party business: Party Awards 98 14.30-15.30 F45 Speech: Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 98 15.30 approx Close of Conference All conference sessions take place in the auditorium in the Brighton Centre except the consultative sessions, as stated in the body of the Agenda and in the index as follows: * will take place in The Grand Hotel; and # will take place in Meeting Room 1D in the Brighton Centre. Auditorium information This Agenda covers the auditorium sessions at autumn conference. The formal rules for conference are set out in standing orders on pages 99-117. General conference information can be found in the conference Directory. Conference Extra and Conference Daily Conference Extra is published ahead of conference and Conference Daily each day at conference, containing updates to the agenda including changes to timings, amendments, topical issues, emergency motions and questions to reports, and will be available at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_papers and via the Conference App. Limited hard copies of Conference Daily will be available each morning at conference - enquire at the Information Desk. Venue All conference sessions take place in the auditorium in the Brighton Centre, unless indicated otherwise in the body of the Agenda. Access to the Brighton Centre is possible only with a valid conference pass worn with the official lanyard. You will be asked to show your pass when you enter the secure area and you are required to wear the pass visibly at all times within the area. Do allow time for security check queues during key times - particularly after lunch and ahead of popular events. Please ensure mobile phones are on silent before entering the auditorium. Accessibility l There is access to the stage via a ramp at the back of the stage. The chair of the session will ensure wheelchair users are called in plenty of time to access the stage. l An induction loop system, which can be linked to hearing aids. l Sign language interpretation during all auditorium sessions; a number of seats are reserved for attendees using this service, at the front of the auditorium. l Reserved seats at the front of the auditorium for those who would benefit from being closer to the stage due to a visual impairment. l A limited number of electric scooters will be available for use around the conference venue (they need to be returned each evening). If you need assistance at the venue, please contact the Information Desk in the Brighton Centre. If you need assistance or information in advance or to request the use of an electric scooter, please contact the Conference Team on conferences@libdems.org.uk Live Stream The auditorium will be streamed live in case you miss any sessions or want to see them again! Watch at: www.libdems.org.uk/live Debates and votes at conference Debates on policy and business motions are at the heart of federal conference. It is through them that the party sets its policy and future direction. Unlike in other parties, Liberal Democrat members are sovereign, and what they decide really matters. The structure of debate on policy and business motions: Proposer of the motion speaks V Proposers of any amendments speak in turn V Speakers called on all sides of the debate with the chair seeking to ensure balance V Summators of amendments speak in turn V The summator of the motion speaks V The chair takes votes for and against the amendments and separate votes (if any) in turn V A vote will be taken on the motion as a whole Interventions: concise (one minute) speeches made from the intervention microphone(s) on the floor of the auditorium, during debates where it is indicated in the Agenda. Amendments: all motions except emergency motions are open to amendment; amendments accepted will be published in Conference Daily. Voting: decisions on most motions and all amendments and separate votes are by simple majority of those voting (2/3 majority for constitutional amendments). To vote, voting members must show their voting badge whilst seated on the ground floor of the auditorium. Separate votes: a vote to delete or retain the specified words or section. A request for a separate vote may be submitted by any party member by the start of the first conference session on the day before the debate is scheduled, or by the deadline for emergency motions for debates scheduled for the first day of conference. A request for a separate vote should be submitted using the online form at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_papers or by email to separate.votes@libdems.org.uk or in writing to the Speakers' Table in the auditorium. Counted vote: the chair of the session may decide that a vote needs to be counted. Any voting member may request a count from the floor; if fifty voting members stand and show their voting cards, a count will be taken. Communications with the chair and aide: the chair and aide team can be contacted at conference - solely for formal communication on procedural motions and points of order, via the Speakers Desk or via the link: www.libdems.org.uk/procedural-motions Speaking and voting at conference Eligibility to speak and vote All party members are entitled to speak and vote in conference debates, providing they are attending conference as a party member (and not for example an exhibitor or observer). Party members fulfilling these criteria are known as 'voting members'. Length of speeches The length of speeches is shown against each motion in the Agenda. There are three lights on the speaker's rostrum and visible either side of the stage. The green light comes on at the beginning of the speech. The amber light comes on 60 seconds before the end of the allowed time (20 seconds before the end of an intervention). The red light comes on when all the time is used up, and the speaker must stop immediately. Applying to speak To make a speech in a debate you must: l 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 l submit an electronic speaker's card, from 10 September 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. Interventions To speak during interventions, voting members should complete an intervention form, collected from and returned to a steward in the auditorium. Speakers will be chosen by the chair of the session by random. Other conference sessions Emergency motions Emergency motions are debated and voted on and make formal party policy like other motions, but refer to a substantial development since the deadline for submission of motions. There is a slot for emergency motions at F42 on Tuesday 20 September. Motions selected for debate, and/or for selection by ballot along with the ballot procedure, will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. The emergency ballot will be held in the auditorium between 09.00 and 13.00 on Saturday 17 September. Topical issue discussions The FCC may decide to use part of this slot for topical issue discussions. This will allow members and spokespeople to discuss and comment on a political issue live at the time of conference; they do not make party policy. Party members may submit suggested topics for a discussion, which will be considered by officers of the FCC and FPC. If a topical issue discussion is selected, it will be published in the relevant Conference Daily. Question & answer sessions Any voting member may submit a concise question (maximum 25 words) on any subject for the Leader's Q&A (F21). Questions will be selected by the chair and the questioner will be able to ask their question via the interventions microphone. Questions may be submitted by 17.00 on the day before the session using the online form at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions Questions may also be submitted on a form collected from and returned to the Speakers' Table in the auditorium by 12.50 Sunday 18 September. Reports The reports of Federal Committees and Parliamentary Parties are printed in the separate reports document. Any voting member may submit concise questions on these reports. Questions may be submitted by 13.00 on 5 September using the online form at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions Questions received by the deadline above will be published in Conference Extra and are guaranteed a reply, in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted using the same online form until one hour before the start of the relevant session, but will only be called if time allows and at the discretion of the chair of the session. Submitting amendments, emergency motions, topical issues and appeals Amendments and emergency motions Amendments and emergency motions must be: l signed by 10 party members; OR l submitted by one or more of: a local party, state party, regional party in England, Federal Specified Associated Organisation or Federal Party Committee. And must be submitted by 13.00 on 5 September online at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions Submitters should include: l For amendments - a short explanation of the intended effect of the amendment. l For emergency motions - a short explanation of its emergency nature. Topical issues Suggestions for topical issues may be submitted by any party member by 13.00 on 5 September online at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions The title of the issue should be no more than ten words, and should not include an expression of opinion; please include full contact details of the submitter and up to 100 words explanatory background. Drafting advice Submitters are encouraged to use our drafting advice service: draft amendments and emergency motions should be submitted by 13.00 on 22 August online at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions Appeals If you wish to appeal the FCC's decision not to select your emergency motion or amendment, follow these instructions. The appeal should come from the email address of the original contact for the motion and should be no longer than one side of A4. It should explain why you are appealing and any new information the FCC was unaware of when it made its decision. The email should also contain a contact name and telephone number. Appeals should be emailed by 13.00 on 15 September to: appeals@libdems.org.uk Conference timetable 2023 17-19 March 2023, York Drafting advice deadline (motions): 13.00, Friday, 16 December 2022. Motions deadline: 13.00, Wednesday, 11 January 2023. Drafting advice deadline (amendments, emergency motions): 13.00, Tuesday, 14 February 2023. Deadline for amendments to motions, emergency motions, topical issues, questions to reports: 13.00, Monday, 6 March 2022. Autumn conference deadlines are to be confirmed. Saturday 17 September F1 09.00 Party business Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Jon Ball. F1 Opening of Conference by Dr Mark Pack, President of the Liberal Democrats @markpack, #LDConf 09.15 Party business Chair: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). F2 Federal Conference Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, Federal Conference Committee). See notes to F4 below. F3 Federal Policy Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, Federal Policy Committee). See notes to F4 below. F4 Federal International Relations Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: Phil Bennion (Chair, Federal International Relations Committee). Notes to F2, F3 and F4: The deadline for questions for F2, F3 and F4 is 13.00 on Monday 5 September. Questions selected will be published in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. These questions will be guaranteed an answer, either in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted up until 08.15 Saturday 17 September; such questions are only taken at the discretion of the chair. See pages 11-12 for further information. 09.40 Policy motion Chair: Professor Belinda Brooks-Gordon. Aide: John Bridges. Hall Aide: Chris Maines. F5 Taking a Stand for Mental Health Young Liberals and 10 members Mover: Fergus Ustianowski. Summation: Munira Wilson MP (Spokesperson for Education, Children and Young People). Conference notes that: A. According to the Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing in England, one in six people aged 16+ experienced symptoms of a mental health issue in the past week. B. COVID-19 has severely impacted people's mental health, with the number of children with probable mental health disorders rising from one in nine in 2017, to one in six children in 2021. C. Financial difficulties, which have been exacerbated by the cost of living crisis and the Conservative Government's failure to effectively respond to it, can have devastating impacts on people's mental health. D. In 2021, there were 4.3 million referrals to mental health services, hitting record levels. E. Data on children and young people's mental health is incredibly unreliable, with statistics on waiting times and spend per person being reported differently from Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to CCG, and no data published on mental health in schools F. Young people, the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority communities, disabled people, carers, and those who are unemployed or who live alone have increased chances of long-term poor mental health. G. Suicide rates are higher among men than women, and men face additional stigma in speaking about their mental health. H. Studies have demonstrated that children with mental health difficulties are more likely to have lower attainment when it comes to educational outcomes. I. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health will last for many years. Conference believes that: i) Mental health is as important as physical health. ii) Mental health support should not be a postcode lottery, everyone deserves access to help regardless of their background. iii) It is important that the differing needs of minority groups and those disproportionately affected by mental health issues are addressed in a response to the mental health crisis. iv) After the severe negative impacts of lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions on people's mental health, we need a high-quality system of care, with early interventions. Conference reaffirms the Liberal Democrat commitments to: a) Make prescriptions for those with chronic mental health conditions free on the NHS. b) Improve integration between mental health trusts, Local Authorities, and hospitals. c) Develop a Student Mental Health Charter so that universities and colleges provide sufficient mental health provision for their students. Conference calls on the UK Government to: 1. Publish a strategy to tackle the mental health crisis, with increased funding, specific mental health policies and consideration of the impact of other areas of policy on mental health. 2. Introduce maximum waiting times for both referral and treatment under mental health services for young people. 3. Reform Ofsted's Inspection Framework to ensure children's mental health and wellbeing are at the heart of the way schools are graded. 4. Provide a dedicated, qualified mental health practitioner to every school. 5. Publish a strategy for rolling out mental health support in the workplace. 6. Work cross-departmentally to ensure that a holistic approach is taken to mental health in government policy, with a full consultation to develop policies to specifically address the mental health challenges faced by different minority groups. Applicability: England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion, see page 12, and for requests for separate votes, see pages 8-9, is 13.00 Monday 5 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. 10.35 Policy motion Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Aide: Mary Regnier-Wilson. Hall Aide: Paul McGarry. F6 UK-EU Cooperation on Foreign and Security Policy Federal Policy Committee Mover: Layla Moran MP (Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development). Summation: Baroness Smith of Newnham (Lords Spokesperson on Defence). Conference believes: i) In the universal liberal values of internationalism, human rights, democracy and the rule of law and in the duty of the government of the UK to keep its people safe. ii) That the war in Ukraine has highlighted the importance of the UK working cooperatively with the EU and its member states on foreign and security policy, both by itself and through NATO. iii) That the UK's failure to take part in EU foreign and security policy schemes, especially those which involve third countries such as the USA, has been driven solely by the Conservative government's ideological hostility to cooperation with the EU. Conference reaffirms: a) The Liberal Democrats' rejection of the Conservative government's antagonistic approach to relations between the UK and EU, which has made the UK less safe and secure. b) The roadmap to re-establishing good relations and rebuilding the associations between Britain and its European neighbours across a wide range of policy areas, as set out in policy paper 144, Rebuilding Trade and Cooperation with Europe. c) The Liberal Democrats' support for a longer-term objective of UK membership of the EU, which will contribute to greater security and safety for both the UK and its EU neighbours. Consistent with this approach, conference therefore calls for a new approach to UK-EU cooperation on foreign and security policy, including: 1. Making a clear declaration of a fundamental change in the UK's approach, setting out the UK's intentions to act as a good neighbour to the EU and to repair the damage caused by the Conservatives. 2. Offering to establish formal cooperation mechanisms on foreign and security policy issues, including regular ministerial meetings. 3. Rebuilding relations with the European External Action Service and the European Commission, and using bilateral relations with EU member states further to cultivate good will. 4. Taking advantage of unused provisions within the Trade and Cooperation Agreement regarding cooperation on cyber defence and security, including offering resumed exchanges of personnel with the European External Action Service. 5. Seeking association membership or cooperation arrangements with relevant EU agencies and bodies such as the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). 6. Joining one or more of the EU's existing Common Security and Defence Policy missions, such as the UN-mandated peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), and formalising UK support and involvement through a framework participation agreement. 7. Engaging with PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) projects such as the EU Military Mobility Scheme (which includes the US and Canada) to improve transfer of military equipment across Europe. 8. Extending intelligence sharing with the EU and its member states. 9. Deepening coordination of sanctions policy, in particular against Russia. 10. Improving cooperation over defence-industrial issues between the UK and member states of the EU and NATO, including joining common equipment procurement projects and supporting innovative defence technologies. 11. Extending the principle of close cooperation with the EU and its member states to other policy areas, including international initiatives in areas such as development cooperation, responsible business conduct and supply chain security, and international negotiations on topics such as climate change or biodiversity. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion, see page 12, and for requests for separate votes, see pages 8-9, is 13.00 Monday 5 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. 11:25 Party business Chair: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Bex Scott. Hall Aide: John Bridges. F7 Constitutional amendment: Party Committees 10 Members Mover: Richard Gadsden. Summation: to be announced. ARTICLE 9: The Federal Board - with effect from declaration of the results in the committee elections in 2022 Delete Article 9.2 i. and insert: i. One person who, at the date of the close of nominations for election under this paragraph, is a member of the Local Government Group defined in Article 17.6, elected by all members of the Local Government Group. Casual vacancies shall be filled in accordance with election regulations; In Article 9.4, delete 'three years' and insert: 'one term of office for elected members as defined in Article 8.5'. Delete Article 9.12 c. and insert: c. Three persons who, at the date of the close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Local Government Group defined in Article 17.6, elected by all members of the Local Government Group. Casual vacancies shall be filled in accordance with election regulations; ARTICLE 10: The Federal Policy Committee In Article 10.2, move sub-paragraph D. from Article 10.2 I (voting members) to Article 10.2 II (non-voting members). Delete Article 10.2 I B. and insert: B. three persons who, at the date of the close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Parliamentary Group defined in Article 17.1, elected by all members of the party. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled by a by-election in which only members of the Parliamentary Group may vote; Delete Article 10.2 I E. and insert: E. three persons who, at the date of the close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Local Government Group defined in Article 17.6, elected by all members of the party. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with election regulations; Subject to ratification by all State Parties under the terms of Article 2.10 C., delete Article 10.2 I F. and insert: F. one member elected by all members of each State Party, according to their own procedures; Delete Article 10.2 I G. and insert: G. twenty persons, who shall be party members elected by all members of the Party except that persons who, at the date of close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Parliamentary Group defined in Article 17.1 shall not be eligible to be candidates for election under this paragraph. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations; In Article 10.2, final paragraph, delete 'three years' and insert: 'one term of office for elected members as defined in Article 8.5'. ARTICLE 11: The Federal Conference Committee In Article 11.2, move sub-paragraphs B., D., E., F. and G. of Article 11.2 I (voting members) to 11.2 II (non-voting members). Subject to ratification by all State Parties under the terms of Article 2.10 C., delete Article 11.2 I C. and insert: C. one member elected by all members of each State Party, according to their own procedures; Delete Article 11.2 I H. and insert: H. twenty persons, who shall be party members elected by all members of the Party except that persons who, at the date of the close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of Parliamentary Group defined in Article 17.1 shall not be eligible to be candidates for election under this paragraph. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations; In Article 11.2 I, insert new sub-paragraph: I. three persons who, at the date of the close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Parliamentary Group defined in Article 17.1, elected by all members of the Party. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled by a by-election in which only members of the Parliamentary Group may vote; In Article 11.2, final paragraph, delete 'three years' and insert: 'one term of office for elected members as defined in Article 8.5'. ARTICLE 12: The Federal Finance and Resources Committee Delete Article 12.2 H. and insert: H. five persons, who shall be party members elected by all members of the Party except that persons who, at the date of close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Parliamentary Group defined in Article 17.5 shall not be eligible to be candidates for election under this paragraph. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations; In Article 12.2, final paragraph, delete 'three years' and insert: 'one term of office for elected members as defined in Article 8.5'. ARTICLE 13: The Federal Communications and Elections Committee Delete Article 13.2 H. and insert: H. three persons, who shall be party members elected by all members of the Party except that persons who, at the date of close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Parliamentary Group defined in Article 17.5 shall not be eligible to be candidates for election under this paragraph. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations; In Article 13.2, final paragraph, delete 'three years' and insert: 'one term of office for elected members as defined in Article 8.5'. ARTICLE 14: The Federal People Development Committee In Article 14.3 D., delete 'six members elected by the Federal Board, one of whom shall be elected by members as Chair', and insert: 'six persons elected by the voting members of Federal Board by single transferable vote in a secret ballot, one of whom shall be elected by members of FPDC as Chair'. In Article 14.3, final paragraph, delete 'three years' and insert: 'one term of office for elected members as defined in Article 8.5'. Article 15: The Federal International Relations Committee In Article 15.2, move sub-paragraphs A., B., D., E., and F. from Article 15.2 I (voting members) to 15.2 II (non-voting members). Subject to ratification by all State Parties under the terms of Article 2.10 C., delete Article 15.2 I C. and insert: C. one member elected by all members of each State Party, according to their own procedures; Delete Article 15.2 I G. and insert: G. ten persons, who shall be party members elected by all members of the Party except that persons who, at the date of close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Parliamentary Group defined in Article 17.1 shall not be eligible to be candidates for election under this paragraph. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations; In Article 15.2 I, insert new sub-paragraph: H. two persons who, at the date of the close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of the Parliamentary Group defined in Article 17.1, elected by all members of the party. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with election regulations; Delete 15.2 II D. and insert: D. one representative of any local party or parties established to represent members outside of Great Britain. If there is more than one such party, the representative shall represent all the local parties jointly. In Article 15.2, final paragraph, delete 'three years' and insert: 'one term of office for elected members as defined in Article 8.5'. ARTICLE 17: The Parliamentary Parties Delete Article 17.4. In Article 17.5, delete 'The Chief Whips of each Parliamentary Party shall agree how many places each Parliamentary Party shall occupy on each Federal Committee, having due regard to the size of each Parliamentary Party.' Renumber Article 17.5 as 17.1 and renumber accordingly. After 17.4 insert new Articles: 17.5 Any person in receipt of the Liberal Democrat Whip in any of the following bodies shall be treated as a member of the Parliamentary Group as defined in Article 17.1: A The Scottish Parliament [subject to ratification by the Scottish Liberal Democrats under the terms of Article 2.10 C]. B The Welsh Parliament / Senedd Cymru [subject to ratification by the Welsh Liberal Democrats / Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru under the terms of Article 2.10 C]. C The Greater London Assembly [subject to ratification by the English Liberal Democrats under the terms of Article 2.10 C]. D The Northern Ireland Assembly (in the event that there is a Liberal Democrat Whip introduced in that Assembly). E Any Assembly or Parliament for England or an English region [subject to ratification by the English Liberal Democrats under the terms of Article 2.10 C]. F The European Parliament (in the event that there is a Liberal Democrat Whip reintroduced to that Parliament). 17.6 Any party member in good standing holding any of the following directly-elected positions shall be treated as being a member of the Parliamentary Group as defined in Article 17.1: A An elected Mayor of a Combined Authority. B The Mayor of London. C A Police and Crime Commissioner. 17.7 Any person holding any of the following positions shall not be treated as being a member of the Parliamentary Group as defined in Article 17.1 by virtue of holding that position; these people shall be members of the Local Government Group: A A Councillor on a principal local authority. B An elected Mayor of a council (as distinct from the Mayor of London or a Mayor of a Combined Authority). 17.8 If any new post is created that is directly elected by a public election in which UK citizens vote, the Federal Board shall bring a constitutional amendment to the next available conference adding that post to one of Articles 17.5-17.7, or shall state in its report to that conference that it has chosen not to do so. If an election to the federal committees occurs before such an amendment shall have passed, the Federal Board shall designate by majority vote whether any Liberal Democrat elected to that new post is to be counted as a member of the Parliamentary Group or the Local Government Group or neither for the purposes of that election, casting transferable votes if necessary to choose between the three alternatives. 17.9 If any person who is a member of a federal committee elected by all members becomes or ceases to be a member of the Parliamentary Group or the Local Government Group, this does not affect their membership of that committee during an elected term. ARTICLE 20: Officers In Articles 20.1, 20.3 D., 20.4 and 20.5, delete 'a term of three years' and insert: 'a term of office of the same length as that for Federal Committees as defined in Article 8.5'. In Article 20.1, final sentence, delete 'a period of three years thereafter' and insert: 'a period of the same length as the term of office for Federal Committees as defined in Article 8.5 thereafter'. The existing text of the relevant parts of the Federal Party Constitution are reproduced below. The current constitution can be found at www.libdems.org.uk/constitution. ARTICLE 9: The Federal Board 9.2 It shall consist of the following voting members: ... i. A principal local authority councillor, elected Mayor or Police and Crime Commissioner, elected by the principal local authority councillors, elected Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners of the Party. ... 9.4 Following each election for the European Parliament and the House of Commons, the Federal Board shall commission a report on the Party's work in that election and shall report to the Party on the outcomes of that review. It shall report on its work, including the work of all committees and other bodies responsible to it, to each meeting of the Conference. ... 9.12 There shall be a Federal Council which shall consist of the following voting members: ... c. Three principal local authority councillors, elected Mayors or Police and Crime Commissioners, elected by the principal local authority councillors, elected Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners of the Party; ... ARTICLE 10: The Federal Policy Committee 10.2 I voting members: ... B. six members of the Parliamentary Group as defined in Article 17.5, normally including at least one from each Parliamentary Party; C. the President; ... D. one person elected by the Federal Communications & Elections Committee from amongst its membership ... F. one representative of each State Party, elected by its internal procedures (State Parties may appoint a substitute member should the elected member be unable to attend a specific meeting of the FPC); G. one more person than the total number elected or appointed under paragraphs (a) to (f) above, who shall be party members elected by all members of the Party except that persons who, at the date of close of nominations for election under this paragraph, are members of any of the Parliamentary Parties listed in Article 17 shall not be eligible to be candidates for election under this paragraph. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations. 10.2 final paragraph: The Federal Policy Committee thus constituted may co-opt such persons and for such periods not exceeding three years as it thinks fit who shall be entitled to attend and speak but not vote (but so that there shall not be more than three persons co-opted at any time). ARTICLE 11: The Federal Conference Committee 11.2 I Voting members: ... B. the Chief Whip of the Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons or their substitute from within the Parliamentary Group as defined in Article 17.5; C. one representative of each State Party, elected by its internal procedures (State Parties may appoint a substitute member should the elected member be unable to attend a specific meeting of the FCC); D. one person elected by the Federal Board from amongst its members; E. two persons elected by the Federal Policy Committee from amongst its members; F. one person elected by the Federal Communications & Elections Committee from amongst its members; G. one person elected by the Federal People Development Committee from amongst its members; H. 12 persons elected by party members. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations. 11.2 II Non-voting members ... C. one representative of the staff employed by the Federal Party or by the Parliamentary Parties and elected by such staff. ... 11.2 final paragraph: The Conference Committee thus constituted may co-opt such persons and for such periods not exceeding three years as it thinks fit who shall be entitled to attend and speak but not vote (but so that there shall not be more than three persons co-opted at any time). ARTICLE 12: The Federal Finance and Resource Committee 12.2 final paragraph: The FFRC thus constituted may co-opt such persons and for such periods not exceeding three years as it thinks fit who shall be entitled to attend and speak but not vote (but so that there shall not be more than three persons co-opted at any time). 12.2 It shall consist of: ... H. five persons elected by the Federal Board. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations. ARTICLE 13: The Federal Communications and Elections Committee 13.2 The Committee shall consist of: ... H. two members elected by the Federal Board from among its members. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations. 13.2 final paragraph: The FCEC thus constituted may co-opt such persons and for such periods not exceeding three years as it thinks fit who shall be entitled to attend and speak but not vote (but so that there shall not be more than three persons co-opted at any time). ARTICLE 14: The Federal People Development Committee 14.3 The Committee shall comprise: ... D. six members elected by the Federal Board, one of whom shall be elected by members as Chair. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations; ... 14.3 final paragraph: The FPDC thus constituted may co-opt such persons and for such periods not exceeding three years as it thinks fit who shall be entitled to attend and speak but not vote (but so that there shall not be more than three persons co-opted at any time). ARTICLE 15: The Federal International Relations Committee 15.2 I Voting members: A. one person elected by the Federal Board from amongst its members; B. one person elected by the Federal Policy Committee from amongst its members; C. one person elected by each State Party according to its internal procedures; D. one person elected by the Affiliated Organisation representing youth and students; E. one person elected by Members of the European Parliament as set out in clause F. one person representing Foreign Affairs spokespeople in the Westminster Parliament G. six members who shall be elected by all members of the Party. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations. 15.2 II Non-voting members ... D. one representative of Liberal Democrats Abroad. ... 15.2 final paragraph: The FIRC thus constituted may co-opt such persons and for such periods not exceeding three years as it thinks fit who shall be entitled to attend and speak but not vote (but so that there shall not be more than three persons co-opted at any time). ARTICLE 17: The Parliamentary Parties 17.4 The Parliamentary Party in the European Parliament shall consist of all members of the European Parliament elected from constituencies from within the United Kingdom and in receipt of the UK Liberal Democrat Whip. It shall be entitled to make such regulations (not being inconsistent with this Constitution) as it thinks fit for the conduct of its own proceedings. 17.5 For the purposes of representation on Federal Committees, the Parliamentary Parties listed in Article 17 shall form the Parliamentary Group. The Chief Whips of each Parliamentary Party shall agree how many places each Parliamentary Party shall occupy on each Federal Committee, having due regard to the size of each Parliamentary Party. ARTICLE 20: Officers 20.1 The President shall be the principal public representative of the Party and shall chair the Federal Board. The President shall be elected by the members of the Party for a term of three years starting from 1st January in the year immediately following the election and shall hold office until death, incapacity, resignation or the election of a successor; the President shall be eligible for re-election once only. A candidate for the office of President shall require the nomination of not fewer than 200 members in not less than 20 Local Parties (including, for this purpose, the Affiliated Organisation representing youth and students). The President shall report to the annual meeting of the Conference and may make reports to any other meetings of Conference. The Federal Board shall have the power, in the event of a casual vacancy, to elect an Acting President from any of the Vice-Presidents and to determine a convenient date for a ballot to elect a successor who shall serve for the remainder of the term, except that if the remainder of the term is less than twelve months, the successor shall serve for the remainder of the term plus a period of three years thereafter. 20.2 The Federal Board shall have power to vote on a motion of no confidence in the party's President. Such a vote may only be taken with at least seven days notice to all Board members and shall require a two-thirds majority of voting Board members (with vacancies, abstentions or absences counted as votes against). If the vote passes, a casual vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred and the processes in Article 20.1 shall be followed. The President deemed to have vacated office in this way shall have the right to seek nomination in the subsequent election. If they win re-election, this shall not count as a re-election for the purposes of the term limit in Article 20.1, and they shall not be eligible to be subject to a further vote of no-confidence for the remainder of that term. 20.3 The Vice Presidents of the Party shall be: ... D. a Vice President responsible for working with ethnic minority communities, elected by the members of the Party for a term of three years starting from 1st January in the year immediately following the election and shall hold office until death, incapacity, resignation or the election of a successor; this Vice President shall be eligible for re-election once only. 20.4 The Chair of the FFRC, who shall be responsible for the overall budget and finances of the Party, shall be its treasurer for the purposes of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and shall be responsible for its compliance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and as later amended, shall be elected for a term of three years by the Federal Board and shall, upon election, become a member of any fund-raising committee established by the Federal Board. 20.5 The Treasurer, who shall be responsible for fund-raising, shall be elected by the Federal Board at its first meeting in every term and shall serve for a term of three years and shall, upon election, become a member of the FFRC and chair of any fund-raising committee established by the Federal Board. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion, see page 12, and for requests for separate votes, see pages 8-9, is 13.00 Monday 5 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. 12.15 Party business Chair: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Bex Scott. Hall Aide: John Bridges. F8 Constitutional amendment: Making Diversity More Intersectional 10 members Mover: Richard Gadsden. Summation: to be announced. In Article 2.5, at end, insert: ', except that if 40% is less than one, but it is possible for there to be both one man or non-binary person and one woman or non-binary person, then there must be at least one of each'. In Article 2.6, insert new paragraph D.: D. not less than 10% or, if 10% is not a whole number, the whole number nearest to but not exceeding 10% shall be people who are eligible on the grounds of age for membership of the Affiliated Organisation (or of any of the Affiliated Organisations if there is more than one) representing youth. Insert new Article 2.7: 2.7 Whenever this Constitution provides for the election by party members of twenty or more persons to any Federal Committee or other Federal body, and thus the numbers of reserved places under each paragraph of Article 2.6 are two or more persons, the provisions of Article 2.5 shall be applied to the persons elected under each paragraph of Article 2.6 as if they were an elected body. The existing text of the relevant parts of the Federal Party Constitution are reproduced below. The current constitution can be found at www.libdems.org.uk/constitution. ARTICLE 2: Provisions Relating To The Constitution 2.5 Whenever this Constitution provides for the election by party members to a Federal Committee, not less than 40% or, if 40% is not a whole number, the whole number nearest to but not exceeding 40% of those elected shall self-identify as men or non-binary people, and self-identify as women or non-binary people respectively. 2.6 Whenever this Constitution provides for the election by party members of ten or more persons to any Federal Committee or other Federal body: A. not less than 10% or, if 10% is not a whole number, the whole number nearest to but not exceeding 10% shall be from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds; B. (not less than 10% or, if 10% is not a whole number, the whole number nearest to but not exceeding 10% shall be disabled people; and C. not less than 10% or, if 10% is not a whole number, the whole number nearest to but not exceeding 10% shall be people from under-represented sexual orientations and gender identities, including trans and non-binary identities. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion, see page 12, and for requests for separate votes, see pages 8-9, is 13.00 Monday 5 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. 12.35 Speech Chair: Layla Moran MP. Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). F9 Kira Rudik (Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, Leader of Holos and Vice President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) @kiraincongress, #LDConf 12.50 Lunch break and fringe Please see the Conference Directory for our fringe and exhibition programme. 13.00-14.30 Consultative sessions General Election Manifesto Group The Grand Hotel, Empress Room. Chair: Lord Newby. Early Years Education and Childcare Policy Working Group The Grand Hotel, Alexandra Room. Chair: Cllr Dine Romero. Consultative sessions provide a less formal mechanism than the full-scale conference debates for conference representatives and other Party members to participate in the Party's policy- and decision-making process. Each session examines a particular topic and hears contributions from Party members and in some cases outside speakers. The session will be organised by the relevant Working Group. The conclusions of the session will be taken into account by the group when drawing up their final recommendations. 14.40 Policy motion Chair: Duncan Brack. Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). F10 The UK's Nuclear Deterrent 12 members Mover: Jamie Stone MP (Spokesperson for Defence). Summation: Richard Foord MP. Conference reaffirms: 1. The universal liberal values of internationalism, human rights, the pursuit of peace, and the rule of law. 2. The duty of the United Kingdom to keep its people safe. 3. Our long-held desire to negotiate towards a world where nuclear weapons are put beyond use. 4. Our belief that the United Kingdom is safer and more prosperous when working with multilateral institutions, including NATO. 5. The United Kingdom's long-standing legal and moral obligations to pursue global disarmament. Conference notes: I. Our 2017 policy paper on nuclear weapons, Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons, which recommended a change in the UK's nuclear posture from Continuous At-Sea Deterrent (CASD) to a medium-responsiveness posture with no continuous deployment. II. That the global security environment is characterised by increasing instability, including the fragmentation of nuclear arms control agreements, and has deteriorated following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. III. Russia's veiled threats as to its readiness to use nuclear weapons, on the battlefield or elsewhere. IV. That the UK's nuclear weapons are declared for the defence of NATO and so play a key protective role for our allies. Conference believes that: A. Vladimir Putin's Russia poses a clear threat to our national security and that of our NATO allies. B. We have no wish to see the current conflict in Ukraine escalate, yet in these circumstances NATO must retain all the necessary elements of a credible nuclear deterrent. C. Abandoning the current posture of continuous at-sea deterrence (CASD) would send the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin and our European allies about our willingness to come to their defence, and weaken the credibility of the UK's nuclear deterrent. D. Taking a step down the nuclear ladder at a moment when it is so unlikely to be reciprocated will sadly do nothing to further our ambition of global disarmament. E. The challenging security environment and rising nuclear risks should embolden the UK to make a renewed push for global disarmament, and while the strategic context is challenging, opportunities which arise in the future must not be squandered. F. The UK Government's approach to global disarmament has been at best counter-productive and at worst in breach of legal and moral obligations. Conference therefore calls on the UK Government to: i) Maintain a minimum, credible nuclear deterrent. ii) Maintain the current posture of continuous at-sea deterrence. iii) Retain the option of a future move down from continuous at-sea deterrence to a medium-responsiveness posture as a credible step to demonstrate leadership on nuclear disarmament, if and when the strategic environment is more conducive to progress. iv) Take a decision on whether the UK requires a fourth Dreadnought-class submarine on the basis of a full assessment of the strategic environment at the time, before major fabrication begins. Conference urges the UK Government to pursue global disarmament, including by: a) Reversing plans to increase the cap on the stockpile of nuclear weapons; and associated reductions in transparency commitments. b) Publicly recommitting to the UK's obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. c) Making global disarmament a diplomatic priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. d) Looking to engage further with non-Nuclear Weapon States on disarmament initiatives, including the Stockholm Initiative and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (while acknowledging that the UK cannot sign that Treaty). Given the unlikelihood of disarmament developments with Russia under the present Russian Government, Conference believes that the UK Government should also explore opportunities to pursue disarmament initiatives with other Nuclear Weapon States, including: 1. Engaging with other Nuclear Weapon States regarding bilateral adoption of transparency measures. 2. Continuing engagement with Nuclear Weapon States which are yet to sign the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty, which Russia has already signed. 3. Encouraging remaining countries which have not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty, which Russia has already ratified, to do so. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion, see page 12, and for requests for separate votes, see pages 8-9, is 13.00 Monday 5 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 8 and 10 for further information. 16.10 Speech Chair: Kevin Lang. Aide: Professor Belinda Brooks-Gordon. F11 Wendy Chamberlain MP (Chief Whip in the Commons and Spokesperson for Work and Pensions) @wendychambLD, #LDConf 16.25 Policy motion Chair: Baroness Doocey. Aide: Chris Maines. Hall Aide: Professor Belinda Brooks-Gordon. F12 Supporting the Creative Industries and Protecting Channel 4 11 members Mover: Charles Brand. Summation: Lord Clement-Jones (Lords Spokesperson for Digital). Conference believes that: A. The UK's thriving cultural sector is a national treasure and the creative industries are a crucial part of our economy that are neglected and threatened by this Conservative Government. B. Art subjects help children and young people to develop crucial creative and emotional skills, as well as preparing them for jobs in the creative industries. C. As public service broadcasters, both the BBC and Channel 4 have distinctive and vibrant roles to play in the UK's cultural and media landscape, including driving growth, innovation and job creation in our creative industries. Conference notes that: i) The UK's world-leading creative industries contribute more than £100 billion a year to our economy and employ more than 2.3 million people across all regions and nations. ii) The Conservative Government is planning to sell off Channel 4 despite it being successful and receiving no taxpayer funding - a move that would hit the UK's independent TV and film production sector by an estimated £3.7 billion over a decade. iii) The number of students taking arts and creative subjects at GCSE and A-Level has fallen by a third in the last decade. iv) The Government is damaging the UK's creative industries further by: a) Failing to include arts subjects in the English Baccalaureate. b) Halving the funding for creative arts subjects at university. c) Erecting new barriers to British musicians and actors performing elsewhere in Europe, and to European artists performing in the UK. v) Creators and artists are too often presented with take-it-or-leave-it contracts which, where there are no collective agreements, offer little scope for negotiation and demand full assignment of their rights or unnecessarily wide licences; the UK is one of the few countries where moral rights and authorship can be waived entirely. Conference reaffirms the Liberal Democrat commitment to: A. Protect the BBC as an independent, universally available, properly resourced public service broadcaster, including by ensuring future decisions about the licence fee are made transparently by an independent body. B. Negotiate free and simple short-term travel for UK artists to perform in the EU, and EU artists to perform in the UK, including the transport of sets and equipment. Conference calls on the Government to: 1. Abandon its plans to sell off Channel 4. 2. Promote creative subjects in schools, further education and universities, including by: a) Giving power to Ofsted to monitor the curriculum so that schools continue to provide a rich curriculum including subjects like art, music or drama. b) Including arts subjects in the English Baccalaureate. c) Properly funding creative arts degrees. d) Ensuring that high-quality apprenticeships are available in the creative and digital industries. 3. Implement the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances to grant the extension of moral rights to performers and creative workers and empower performers to combat the misappropriation of their images, likenesses and performances. 4. Establish an independent review to explore the merits of introducing image and publicity rights and to ensure that the purpose of copyright in stimulating and sustaining creativity is met, so that: a) Creators and artists receive: i) A fair share of the money consumers pay for copyright content, and where their rights are transferred, broadcast or sold. ii) Appropriate and proportionate remuneration through collective agreements when they licence or transfer their rights. iii) Up-to-date and comprehensive information from assignees and/or licensees about how their works are being exploited, including transparent calculations of contractual entitlements and relevant revenue and remuneration data. iv) Additional, appropriate and fair remuneration where the remuneration originally agreed is disproportionately low compared to the revenues generated from exploiting the works or performances. b) Creators and artists derive the full benefit of technology such as AI-made performance synthetisation and streaming. c) Rights are returned to creators if they are no longer being exploited. d) Creators retain the rights to be named when their work is used and to complain of derogatory uses. e) Independent and SME designers are better protected from design right infringement and counterfeit products. f) Writers and publishers are protected from damaging changes in copyright exhaustion rights. Applicability: Federal; except 2. (lines 43-51), which is England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion, see page 12, and for requests for separate votes, see pages 8-9, is 13.00 Monday 5 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. 17.15 Policy motion Chair: John Bridges. Aide: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Bex Scott. F13 Reversing the Centralisation of Power in Whitehall 12 members Mover: Christine Jardine MP (Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office and Scotland). Summation: Wendy Chamberlain MP (Chief Whip in the Commons). Conference believes that: A. This Government has devalued many of the democratic principles that underpin our constitution. B. Ensuring power is spread as widely as possible is a fundamental principle of liberalism. C. Power has been shifted away from devolved administrations and local communities, moving instead towards the Executive in the past few years faster than ever before. D. The union of the four nations of the United Kingdom should be a partnership of equals. Conference notes that: i) This Government has a history of changing norms and unlawful behaviour, including the prorogation of Parliament in 2019 which was found to be unlawful by the Supreme Court. ii) The Queen's Speech introduced a Bill to use secondary legislation more liberally, taking power away from Parliament and putting it directly into the hands of Secretaries of State. iii) Multiple Bills introduced by the Conservatives, including the Internal Market Bill, Subsidy Control Bill and Procurement Bill, are overriding areas of devolved authority. iv) The Government's Elections Act 2022 has given the Executive power over the previously independent Electoral Commission. v) The Government has spent over £500 million in four years on lawyers to block legitimate freedom of information requests in the past. Conference calls on the UK Government to: a) Introduce a duty on the Government to ensure Legislative Consent Motions are passed by the Devolved Administration before Parliament can legislate on a devolved issue. b) Create a regular, transparent and statutory Ministerial group between the leaders of Devolved Administrations and the UK Government to ensure greater cohesion within the Union. c) Remove the new powers for ministers to determine the remit of the Electoral Commission. Conference also renews its calls on the UK Government to: 1. Introduce a Devolution Enabling Bill to Parliament, permitting the transfer of legislative powers from the UK Parliament to councils or groups of councils working together in England. 2. Implement the recommendations of the Silk Commission for Wales. 3. Implement in full the delivery plan for further Scottish powers promised by the three pro-Union party leaders during the independence referendum campaign without any conditionality on progress in other areas. Applicability: Federal; except 1. (lines 35-37), which is England only; 2. (line 38), which is Wales only; and 3. (lines 39-42), which is Scotland only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion, see page 12, and for requests for separate votes, see pages 8-9, is 13.00 Monday 5 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. 18.00 Close of session Please see the Conference Directory for our fringe and exhibition programme. Sunday 18 September F14 09.00 Party business Chair: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Cllr Simon McGrath. Hall Aide: Bex Scott. F14 Reports of the Parliamentary Parties Movers: Wendy Chamberlain MP (Chief Whip of the Commons Parliamentary Party) and Lord Newby (Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords). The deadline for questions for F14 is 13.00 on Monday 5 September. Questions selected will be published in Conference Extra and Sunday's Conference Daily. These questions will be guaranteed an answer, either in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted up until 08.00 on Sunday 18 September; such questions are only taken at the discretion of the chair. See pages 11-12 for further information. 09.25 Policy motion Chair: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, FPC). Aides: Paul McGarry. Hall Aide: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). F15 Cutting VAT to Ease the Cost-of-Living Crisis 10 members Mover: Christine Jardine MP (Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, Women & Equalities and Scotland). Summation: Sarah Olney MP (Spokesperson for the Treasury and Business and Industrial Strategy). Conference believes that: I. All UK households, and particularly the least well-off, deserve timely, robust and fair support with the cost-of-living crisis. II. The Conservative Government is failing British households and businesses in these unprecedented circumstances. III. The UK is in need of effective economic measures that will support families with the cost of living, facilitate economic growth, and help keep inflation in check. Conference notes with concern that: A. According to the latest OBR forecast, households are experiencing the largest fall in living standards in a single year since 1956 due to rising inflation, low earnings, and tax rises. B. Inflation currently sits at 9.1% - a forty-year high - and is expected to reach 11% this year. C. Salaries aren't keeping up with inflation, with average pay excluding bonuses falling by 2.2% in real terms in the year to May. D. Food prices are rapidly rising, with the cost of essentials such as meat, vegetables, pasta and milk up by 15% to 50% in the year to April. E. The typical household energy bill went up by nearly £700 in April and will rise by another £830 in October. F. Filling up a typical car with petrol now costs more than £100, which disproportionately hurts rural areas with fewer public transport options. G. A household on average earnings will pay an additional £210 in national insurance and income tax this year, and £630 next year. H. Tens of thousands of struggling households are set to miss out on the Government's £150 Council Tax rebate due to not being registered for direct debit. I. Small businesses, who are not protected by the energy price cap, have seen their energy bills soar, and are grappling with a 22% increase in input costs - yet they have received no support from the Government. J. The Bank of England has warned that the UK will slide into recession this year, whilst the OECD expects Britain's growth in 2023 to be the worst in the developed world, except for Russia. K. The support payments announced by the Government fail to match the cost-of-living hit caused by Conservative tax rises; real-terms cuts to benefits and pensions; the scrapping of the £20 per week Universal Credit uplift; spiralling energy bills; rising fuel prices; and increasing shopping costs. L. The Government was too late in introducing a windfall tax on the super-profits of oil and gas producers; it has failed to tax super-profits accrued before May 26th 2022; it has added carve-outs allowing oil and gas giants to save billions in tax; and it will raise less than £5 billion for cost-of-living support, when a similar tax in Italy will raise nearly £9 billion. Conference further notes that: i) Due to inflation, the Treasury is expected to raise an additional £40 billion in VAT receipts over the next four years, according to official OBR figures. ii) VAT is a regressive tax, with lower-income households spending a larger proportion of their incomes on VAT than higher-income ones. iii) Cutting the main rate of VAT to 17.5% for one year would benefit every household in the UK, by putting an average of £600 back into their pockets. iv) When a 2.5% cut to VAT was last implemented, in December 2008, inflation fell by 1% within a month, and average inflation for the duration of the measure remained 1.4% lower than the year before. v) Cutting VAT would boost high streets and facilitate economic growth, as retail sales rose by about 1% and aggregate expenditure by 0.4% when a similar VAT cut was last implemented in 2008. Conference reaffirms Liberal Democrat calls to: a) Scrap the unfair National Insurance hike which disproportionately impacts low earners. b) End the unfair freeze of the Income Tax personal allowance, which is a stealth tax falling disproportionately on low earners. c) Protect pensioners from rising prices, including the 1.5 million low-income people on pension credit, by uprating pensions in line with the latest inflation forecast for this year. d) Reinstate the £1,000 boost to Universal Credit, to ensure that the most vulnerable households get proper support. Conference further calls on the Government to: 1. Cut the main rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, to support every family and business in the UK with the spiralling cost of living, help keep inflation in check, and boost the UK's economic growth. 2. Commit to providing families with additional cost-of-living support in the autumn, when household energy prices will increase by £830. 3. Urgently support small businesses with their energy bills - especially in energy-intensive sectors such as manufacturing and hospitality - to prevent closures and help avoid further price rises. 4. Support households in rural communities which face even higher fuel costs, by increasing Rural Fuel Duty Relief from 5p to 10p and expanding it to more rural areas. 5. Provide local councils with all necessary funding and support to ensure that no household misses out on the £150 Council Tax rebate - including by undertaking information campaigns and mailing cheques directly to beneficiaries; and extend support to low-income households in Council Tax bands E and F, who are currently excluded. 6. Close the loopholes in the current windfall tax by ensuring it applies to super-profits accrued since October 2021; scrapping carve-outs that allow oil and gas giants to offset their tax liabilities against investments they were going to make anyway; and setting a target of raising no less than £10 billion over one year, in line with similar taxes implemented in other European countries. Applicability: Federal; except 2. and 3. (lines 77-81) and 5. (lines 85-89), which are England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Saturday 17 September; see pages 8-9. 10:25 Policy motion Chair: Mary Regnier-Wilson. Aide: Chris Maines. Hall Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). F16 Connecting Communities: Improving Bus Services 10 members Mover: Wera Hobhouse MP (Spokesperson for Transport). Summation: Baroness Randerson (Lords Spokesperson for Transport). Conference notes with concern that: A. Bus fares across England have risen by 80% since 2005. B. More than a quarter of bus routes have been cut in the last ten years. C. London buses are facing cuts across 80 routes by the end of 2023. D. Road transport contributes the greatest proportion of UK emissions (25%). E. The Government's Bus Back Better scheme has already seen funding more than halved. Conference believes that: i) Buses are one of the most accessible and affordable modes of public transport. ii) Buses are often relied upon by the very poorest as well as the old and the young to get to school or work, and to widen opportunities for sporting, social and cultural participation in both rural and urban areas. iii) Providing bus links boosts local economies and enables people to access a wider range of local services. iv) Buses are often forgotten in debates about public transport, despite buses being used much more widely than the railways. v) Buses are the easiest form of public transport to introduce, improve and expand because they require minimal infrastructure investment, especially when compared to trains or trams. vi) Improving bus services is essential if the UK is to reduce CO2 emissions and cut air pollution. vii) Decarbonising the UK's bus network is far easier than decarbonising all privately-owned cars, the railways and aviation. Conference reaffirms pledges in the Liberal Democrat 2019 manifesto to: a) Give new powers to local authorities and communities to improve transport in their areas, including the ability to introduce network-wide ticketing, like in London. b) Ensure that all new buses licensed to operate in urban areas are ultra-low-emission or zero-emission vehicles by 2025. c) Support rural bus services and encourage alternatives to conventional bus services where they are not viable. Conference calls on the Government to: 1. Provide funding to restore cut bus routes and create new ones. 2. Give all local authorities greater powers to franchise bus services and simplify the franchise application system. 3. Reverse the ban on local authorities setting up their own bus companies. 4. Extend half-fares on buses to 18 year-olds, allowing them to continue receiving half-fares while still in full time education. 5. Introduce a 'Young Person's Buscard', similar to the Young Person's Railcard, for 19 to 25 year olds giving them a third off bus fares. 6. Support local authorities in switching from petrol and diesel buses to low-emission alternatives such as electric or hydrogen. 7. Support the development of innovative rural schemes, including on demand services. Applicability: England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Saturday 17 September; see pages 8-9. 11.05 Policy motion Chair: James Gurling. Aide: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Joe Otten. F17 Towards A Fairer Society (Fairer Society Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Wendy Chamberlain MP (Spokesperson for Work and Pensions). Summation: Julia Goldsworthy (Chair of the Policy Working Group). Conference believes that every individual should have a fair chance and level-playing field to make their aspirations a reality. Conference embraces a Liberal Democrat concept of fairness including: a) Access to opportunities for every individual across society regardless of their background, inherent characteristics, or where they live. b) Access to the social and economic support each individual and community needs to maximise their own ability to make decisions and make use of opportunity. c) Consistent and fair processes that enhance trust in employers, the government, and other actors across the economy, and that encourage such actors to place trust in people. d) A fair playing field throughout the economy where large and established players can't shut out innovators and challengers. e) Encouragement of vitality and non-conformity that honours people's own ambitions whatever they are, rather than a narrowly economic test of 'success'. Conference regrets the many ways in which British society is unfair and holds back many people from achieving their full potential, in particular: A. Low and unstable incomes, along with poor working conditions, which have put many people under immense financial and emotional stress while those in power party behind closed doors. B. The current cost of living crisis, which is showing once again the lack of effective support for those who need it most across Britain. C. A regionally unbalanced economy, with poor skills and infrastructure investment, that freezes innovation and means that people's opportunities are often driven by where they grow up, not what they are capable of. D. The failure of successive Governments to treat people with dignity and respect - with benefits claimants demonised and working rights not enforced. E. The loss of trust in our national institutions by the self-serving and unprincipled actions of the Conservative Government. F. The unfairness in the ways that public services and contracts are allocated, leading to cronyism and queue-jumping. Conference therefore endorses Policy Paper 146, Towards A Fairer Society, as a range of policies to engage with the big economic challenges facing our country and move towards our ultimate aim of a fairer society. In particular, conference welcomes its proposals to: 1. End Deep Poverty, including a radical overhaul of the welfare system so no family ever has to use a food bank in Britain, by: a) Taking immediate steps to repair the safety net, including restoring the £20 uplift to Universal Credit, introducing emergency grants (not loans) and stopping deducting debt repayments at unaffordable rates. b) Following this up in the longer term with fundamental reforms to the welfare system by: OPTION 1: replacing tax and national insurance allowances with a Universal Basic Income for working age adults, set at a level which would compensate for the loss of allowances (while retaining most of the existing benefits structure including universal credit). OPTION 2: introducing a Guaranteed Basic Income by increasing Universal Credit to the level required to end deep poverty within the decade and removing sanctions. OPTION 3: conducting large scale trials of UBI and GBI, keeping our strategic options open until the outcome of such trials is known. 2. Create real community control, giving money and power to local communities in England to lead their own way to growth in ways that best address their distinctive needs and opportunities, including by: a) Shifting 50% of all public spending to regional and local government. b) Abolishing all departmentally-led regional funding pots as part of creating a £50 billion capital investment fund; this will be distributed as 'single pot' funds, on a needs-led basis to address historic underinvestment in left behind communities and regions. c) Ensuring there is strengthened regional representation on key national infrastructure bodies such as the National Infrastructure Commission and the Major Projects Authority. d) Allocating at least half of the absolute uplift in Research & Development funding allocation to be spent through regions. e) Supporting rural areas through these measures and beyond, to ensure that often overlooked challenges for our rural communities, such as high housing and transport costs, poor quality jobs and lack of access to services can be tackled head on. 3. Improve access to skills, training and advice, including by: a) Introducing a 'Universal Work Service' to replace the flawed support service currently offered through JobCentres. b) Giving New Skills Wallets for every adult, giving them £10,000 to spend on education and training throughout their lives; these Skills Wallets will empower people to develop new skills so that they can thrive in the technologies and industries that are key to the UK's economic future. c) Expanding the apprenticeship levy into a wider 'Skills and Training Levy' to help prepare the UK's workforce for the economic challenges ahead. d) Introducing a Training Tax Credit to incentivise training in the private sector. 4. Propose a new Workers Charter, with modern protections for a modern workforce including fairer flexible working rights, including: a) Establishing a new streamlined Worker Protection Enforcement Authority which would both enforce rights more effectively and give employers a simplified institutional contact. b) Changing the law so that flexible working is open to all from day one in the job, with employers required to advertise jobs accordingly, unless there are significant business reasons why that is not possible. c) Ensuring that shared parental leave is offered on the same terms as enhanced maternity leave, where this is in place. d) Promoting alternative models of ownership like co-operatives, mutuals and social enterprises. e) Strengthening the ability of unions to represent workers effectively by broadening the right to collective bargaining in pay and conditions, including pay and pensions, working time and holidays, equality issues, health and safety, training and development, work organisation and the nature and level of staffing. Applicability: Federal; except 2. and 3. (lines 56-87), which are England only. Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Saturday 17 September; see pages 8-9. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 8 and 10. The arrangements for taking votes between the three options in 1. b) (lines 47-55) will be set out in Sunday's Conference Daily. 12.35 Speech Chair: Paul McGarry. Aide: Kevin Lang. F18 Munira Wilson MP (Spokesperson for Education, Children and Young People) @munirawilson, #LDConf 12.50 Lunch break and fringe Please see the Conference Directory for our fringe and exhibition programme. 14.10 Policy Motion Chair: Chris Maines. Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair FCC). Hall Aide: John Bridges. F19 Standing Up For Rural Communities 10 members Mover: Helen Morgan MP (Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government). Summation: Richard Foord MP. Conference notes that: A. According to recent polling, half of rural voters think the Conservatives are taking them for granted. B. Petrol and diesel across the country have risen significantly in the past year, with many rural areas seeing significantly higher prices than urban areas. C. Heating oil, which many homes in rural areas use as their primary source of heating, has more than doubled in price and is not protected by a price cap. D. The APPG on Rural Health and Care has concluded that health outcomes are worse for those in rural areas than they are in urban areas. E. The Government has made no assessment of the potential impact that closures of community ambulance stations have in rural areas. F. Government data has demonstrated that childcare providers in rural areas are closing at a staggering rate compared with those in urban areas. G. Farmers' livelihoods are being placed at risk by the Conservatives, who have demonstrated with the Australia trade deal that they are happy to sign trade deals which undermine British standards. H. Many people in rural areas see very little visible policing - they experience long delays when they call 999 to report a crime, leaving them feeling unsafe in their own communities. Conference believes that: i) Those in rural areas should no longer be taken for granted - the Liberal Democrats are best placed to help them, as shown by our victories in North Shropshire and Tiverton and Honiton and our successes in taking control of Somerset and Westmorland & Furness councils. ii) Rural areas are often the last places to benefit from upgraded internet or mobile phone infrastructure. iii) People in rural areas should be able to easily access local health services. iv) Everyone should be confident that, no matter where they live, if they ring 999 they will get the emergency treatment they need, when they need it. v) Farmers are at the very heart of many of our rural communities and must be supported to protect and enhance our countryside. Conference reaffirms pledges to: a) Set up a £2 billion Rural Services Fund to enable the co-location of services, such as doctors surgeries and schools, in local hubs around existing local infrastructure. b) Prioritise a programme of installing hyper-fast, fibre-optic broadband across the UK - with a particular focus on connecting rural areas. c) Guarantee that all future trade deals will meet UK standards for animal welfare and ensure that Parliament signs off negotiating mandates and completed trade deals. d) Support farmers properly in restoring our peat bogs, creating new natural flood protections and managing land to encourage species recovery, while producing the food for our tables. e) Restore proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and focused on preventing and solving crimes. Conference calls on the Government to: 1. Introduce a price cap on heating oil and other off-grid fuels, while ensuring that small suppliers are not left out of pocket to protect competition in the market. 2. Expand the rural fuel duty relief scheme to cover more areas and double the relief to 10p, while also expanding electric vehicle charging points in rural areas. 3. Protect the rural workforce by protecting rural childcare providers with a package of support. 4. Make emergency funding available to ambulance trusts to reverse or cancel closures of community ambulance stations, where desirable. 5. Prioritise the hard-to-reach areas when upgrading mobile phone or broadband infrastructure. Applicability: England only; except 1. and 2. (lines 54-59) and 5. (lines 64-65), which are Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Saturday 17 September; see pages 8-9. 14.55 Speech Chair: Kevin Lang. Aide: Paul McGarry. F20 Sarah Olney MP (Spokesperson for Treasury and Business and Industrial Strategy) @sarahjolney1, #LDConf 15.10 Question and answer session Chair: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Bex Scott. Hall Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). F21 Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Members may put questions on any topic to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats. Concise questions (maximum 25 words) may be submitted online until 17.00 on Saturday 17 September, or to the Speaker's Table by 12.50 on Sunday 18 September. See Page 11. 16.05 Policy motion Chair: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Cllr Joe Otten. Hall Aide: Cllr Simon McGrath. F22 The Natural Environment (Natural Environment Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Tim Farron MP (Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Summation: Richard Benwell (Chair of the Policy Working Group). Conferences notes that: A. Nature is in decline locally, nationally and internationally. B. Continued government failure to reverse the decline of nature is harming health and wellbeing, weakening our economy, and leaves the future of many species and habitats in doubt. It is socially unjust, economically foolhardy, and environmentally irresponsible. C. It will be impossible to mitigate and adapt to climate change and go to net zero and beyond without restoring our natural world. D. Urgent action is needed across every area of Government policy to address the twin ecological and climate emergency and create a nature-positive society. Conference recognises that the ecological emergency is one of the greatest threats to life on Earth, and to people's health, wellbeing and prosperity, and without urgent and effective action domestically and internationally nature and human life will be put in serious jeopardy. Conference therefore endorses policy paper 147, The Natural Environment, and its proposals to: i) Introduce a statutory 'Right to Nature', establishing everyone's human right to a healthy environment - healthy air, clean water and access to nature. ii) Stop the decline of nature by 2030 at the latest and 'double nature' in England by 2050 by: a) Doubling the area of the most important wildlife habitats across England. b) Doubling the area of land that is effectively protected and managed for nature. c) Doubling the abundance of species in the UK from the current baseline. iii) Reduce the UK's environmental impact globally by: a) Mandating disclosure of impacts on nature in major financial and business sectors. b) Upholding the highest environmental standards in our trade deals. c) Aiming to reconnect with the European Union across a range of programmes, including the REACH system of chemicals management. Conference resolves to make environmental improvement a guiding principle across Government, and all major sectors, including with the following measures laid out in the policy paper: 1. Manage our land for nature, with strong regulation and a long-term funding guarantee of public money for public goods in agriculture, based on environmental needs. 2. Manage our seas for nature by rewarding the most sustainable fisheries and ensuring that 30% of our waters are fully or highly protected by 2030. 3. Manage rivers and streams for nature by: a) Mandating major sewage infrastructure upgrades, implementing catchment budgets, and reducing agricultural pollution b) Setting new 'blue flag' standard for rivers, streams and lakes to ensure clean, healthy water and introduce a 'blue corridor' programme to make our rivers and streams accessible and healthy for wildlife and people. 4. Manage markets for nature by establishing a new Office for Environmental Integrity to set standards to ensure all markets work for nature and climate, and eliminating greenwash. 5. Manage our planning system for nature by requiring plans and decisions to be compatible with nature's recovery and climate change mitigation, and designating more areas for wildlife. 6. Manage our economy for nature by delivering an Environment and Wellbeing Budget alongside the traditional budget, focused on ensuring we are a country that is rich in nature. 7. Tackle the Climate Emergency by: a) Protecting the UK's most important carbon store with a complete ban on horticultural peat use, ending damaging rotational heather burning on peatlands, and restoring the peatlands that have been damaged. b) Doubling woodland cover by 2050. c) Retrofitting inner city areas to ensure that canals and waterways are up to scratch, urban green spaces are accessible and in good condition, and that natural solutions to drainage and flooding are in place across the country. d) Ensuring that a portion of funds from offshore infrastructure development is dedicated to the creation and restoration of coastal and oceanic habitats. Applicability: England only; except iii) (lines 29-36), 4. (lines 53-55) and 6. (lines 59-61), which are Federal. Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Saturday 17 September; see pages 8-9. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 8 and 10. 17.20 Policy motion Chair: Jenni Lang. Aide: Duncan Brack. Hall Aide: Mary Regnier-Wilson. F23 Child Maintenance 10 members Mover: Wendy Chamberlain MP (Spokesperson for Work and Pensions). Summation: Z”e Franklin. Conference notes with concern that: i) Around half of children in separated families - 1.8 million children - continue to receive no support from their non-resident parent. ii) The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee found that unpaid maintenance owed to parents on Collect and Pay, the service operated by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to distribute payments, is set to rise to £1 billion by March 2031. iii) The National Audit Office review into the CMS in March 2022 stated that the work of the CMS has "not, so far, increased the number of effective child maintenance arrangements across society". iv) The Department of Work and Pensions upholds more complaints for every 1,000 customers on child maintenance than any other area. v) Withholding or artificially reducing child maintenance payments is being used as a form of economic abuse and that some survivors find it especially difficult to obtain the evidence necessary to get the Child Maintenance Service to increase the amount their abuser has to pay. Conference believes that: a) Every child has a legal right to be supported financially by both their parents and that child maintenance payments are vital for the well-being of children from separated families, particularly single parent families. b) For survivors of domestic abuse, using the statutory child maintenance system is not a matter of choice - it is a matter of safety. c) Service charges for the Collect and Pay service are unfair and penalise the parent receiving funds for the unwillingness of the other parent to pay. d) The Government has no strategy to improve the Child Maintenance Service and seems incapable of retrieving payments from parents that refuse to pay. e) The formula used to determine maintenance payments does not accurately reflect the true cost of raising a child. Conference calls for: 1. A full review and reform of the Child Maintenance Service to ensure it works for all children and parents. 2. The removal of the 4% charge for receiving parents using the Collect and Pay service as well as the initial £20 charge to be enrolled onto Collect and Pay. 3. Review the formula used to determine maintenance payments to better reflect parents' circumstances, such as the age of their children and their differing needs. 4. Guidance on child maintenance payments to survivors of domestic abuse to be written into law, including direction on extracting payment from those using payments as a form of ongoing coercive control. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Saturday 17 September; see pages 8-9. 18.00 Close of session Please see the Conference Directory for our fringe and exhibition programme. Monday 19 September F24 09.00 Party business Chair: Chris Maines. Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Joe Otten. F24 Federal Board Report: questions and accountability Mover: Dr Mark Pack (President of the Liberal Democrats). The Federal Board report is in the Reports to Conference booklet and includes a report to conference on the complaints process rules made under Article 23.3 of the Federal Constitution. The Federal Board report is the chance for party members to hear how the party is being run and what is being done to implement the election review, and to put questions direct to the Party President. The Party Vice President responsible for ethnic minority communities will also report to Conference in this session. See notes to F26 below. F25 Federal International Relations Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: Phil Bennion (Chair, Federal International Relations Committee). See notes to F26 below. F26 Campaign for Gender Balance Report: questions and accountability Mover: Julia Cambridge (Vice Chair, Campaign for Gender Balance). Notes to F24, F25 and F26: The deadline for questions for F24, F25 and F26 is 13.00 on Monday 5 September. Questions selected will be published in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. These questions will be guaranteed an answer, either in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted up until 08.00 on Monday 19 September; such questions are only taken at the discretion of the chair. See pages 11-12 for further information. 09.30 Policy motion Chair: Baroness Featherstone. Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Bex Scott. F27 Access to Dental Care 10 members Mover: Daisy Cooper MP (Spokesperson for Health and Social Care). Summation: Baroness Brinton (Lords Spokesperson for Health and Social Care). Conference notes with concern that: A. People are resorting to DIY dentistry because they cannot get a dental appointment on the NHS and cannot afford to pay hundreds, if not thousands for private dental care. B. Healthwatch England found that 41% of people are struggling to get an NHS dental appointment, with one in five unable to access all the treatments they needed. C. The British Dental Association (BDA) estimates that 3,000 dentists in England have moved away from NHS work entirely since March 2020 with many more significantly reducing their NHS commitment, and have warned of an "unprecedented" collapse, barring significant government intervention. D. One in six dentists are approaching retirement, the vast majority of local practices have already started shutting their doors to new NHS patients and some are preparing to stop taking NHS patients altogether. E. Emerging 'dental deserts' with the fewest dentists per person and often in rural or deprived areas, has left people waiting for basic, often urgent care and is leading to millions missing appointments, as well as growing health inequalities. F. Tooth decay is consistently the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children and children from the most deprived areas are already three times more likely to have hospital extractions than their peers. Conference believes that: i) Everyone should be able to access an NHS dentist if they need one and no one should be forced to pay hundreds of pounds for private care. ii) The Government's failure to address the shortage of NHS dental appointments and refusal to fund the system properly is leading to a two-tier system, with those that can afford dental care and those that cannot. iii) The NHS dental contract is putting government targets ahead of needs of patients and sets perverse targets that are leading to poor outcomes. iv) The number of NHS dentists is critical to tackling long waiting times and poor access to NHS dental appointments. v) The Conservative Government's efforts to increase the number of NHS dental appointments has made no significant impact. Conference calls for: 1. Reform of and increased funding for the NHS dental services contract, to ensure it: a) Encourages and incentivises dentists to take on NHS patients. b) Meets patient need and demand rather than arbitrary targets. c) Puts an end to 'dental deserts'. 2. An increase to the number of dentist training places in the UK and continued recognition of EU trained dentists' qualifications. 3. Proper workforce planning for health and social care to be written into law, including projections for dentists and dental staff. 4. The launch of an emergency scheme to ensure children, pregnant women and young mothers have access to their free check ups on time. 5. Supervised tooth brushing training for children in early years settings, such as nurseries. 6. The removal of VAT on children's toothbrushes and children's toothpaste. Applicability: England only; except 2. (lines 46-47) and 6. (lines 55-56), which are Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 18 September; see pages 8-9. 10.10 Policy motion Chair: Duncan Brack. Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Chris Maines. F28 Against Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing 10 members Mover: Cllr Sophie Thornton. Summation: Cllr Simon McGrath. Conference notes: I. The policy passed in September 2019 as part of the motion Stop Brexit to Save the NHS and Social Care, which said we supported: "Investing in a more coherent and evidence-based strategy to reduce harm from alcohol addiction by expanding public health services for addicts, including introducing minimum unit pricing in England". II. The commitment in the 2019 manifesto to: "Introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol, taking note of the impact of the policy in Scotland". III. The cost of living crisis. IV. The recent report by Public Health Scotland Evaluating the impact of Minimum Unit Pricing in Scotland on people who are drinking at harmful levels, which found that: a) Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) led to a marked increase in the prices paid for alcohol by people with alcohol dependence. b) There is some evidence that MUP led to people drinking at harmful levels switching from consuming stronger ciders to spirits, and particularly vodka, in response to these price increases. c) There is no clear evidence that MUP led to an overall reduction in alcohol consumption among people drinking at harmful levels or those with alcohol dependence, although some individuals did report reducing their consumption. d) There is also no clear evidence that MUP led to a change in the severity of alcohol dependence symptoms among those presenting for treatment. e) MUP led to increased financial strain for a substantial minority of those with alcohol dependence as they obtained extra money via methods including reduced spending on food and utility bills, increased borrowing from family, friends or pawnbrokers, running down savings or other capital, and using foodbanks or other forms of charity Conference believes: A. That the principles of evidence based decision making, including good evaluation of policies implemented, will lead to more effective policy choices. B. In particular that policies intended to influence people's decisions benefit from thorough evaluation because responses to such policies can be contrary or difficult to predict. Conference therefore resolves to: 1. Revoke support for Minimum Unit Pricing of alcohol in party policy. 2. Reaffirm our support for investing in a more coherent and evidence-based strategy to reduce harm from alcohol addiction by expanding public health services for addicts. 3. Support greater investment in local government community outreach alcohol dependency units. Applicability: England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 18 September; see pages 8-9. 11.05 Speech Chair: Wendy Chamberlain MP. Aide: Mary Regnier-Wilson. F29 Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP (Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats) @agcolehamilton, #LDConf 11.20 Lunch break and fringe Please see the Conference Directory for our fringe and exhibition programme. 13.00-14.30 Consultative session Defining Racism - creating a modern, winning party Brighton Centre, Meeting Room 1D. Chair: Amna Ahmad. (Vice President of the Liberal Democrats). See notes to the consultative session on page 35. 14.10 Policy motion Chair: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Baroness Featherstone. Hall Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair FCC). F30 A More Caring Society (Social Care Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Baroness Jolly (Chair of the Policy Working Group). Summation: Daisy Cooper MP (Spokesperson for Health and Social Care). Conference believes that: A. Social care is an essential service, comparable to healthcare or education. B. Everyone has a right to access high quality care, regardless of their ability to pay. C. Carers, paid and unpaid, deserve a fair deal. Conference condemns a string of broken Conservative promises on social care, including: i) Boris Johnson's 2019 promise that no one should have to sell their home to pay for their care, when many people will have to do just that. ii) Watering down their commitment to the cap on lifetime care costs making it harder for poorer people to afford the cost of care. iii) Failing to implement the provisions of the Care Act since 2015. iv) In 2019 committing to a cross-party consensus on social care, and refusing any meaningful engagement with other parties. Conference therefore endorses policy paper 148, A More Caring Society, in particular its proposals to: 1. Ensure everyone has access to social care, regardless of their ability to pay by introducing Free Personal Care, based on the system introduced in Scotland by the Liberal Democrat-Labour government. 2. Build on the Liberal Democrat-led Care Act to move towards full personalisation of social care services so people have choice and control over the way their care is planned and delivered. 3. Move towards a preventative approach to social care, so people can stay in their own homes for longer. 4. Introduce a National Care Agency, which will set national standards and give the social care sector long term leadership. 5. Deliver effective integration of health and social care services by: a) Putting people first over institutional restructuring. b) Empowering local government to integrate services from the bottom up, rather than from the top down. 6. Introduce a long-term plan for the social care workforce, including: a) Introducing a real living wage for care workers. b) Investing in skills, professionalisation and accreditation of the workforce. c) Replicating NHS pay bands with clear career progression for social care workers. d) Introducing a national register of care workers and the creation of a college for social care comparable to the Royal Colleges for nursing and midwives. 7. Deliver a fair deal for unpaid carers by: a) Adding being an unpaid carer to the list of protected characteristics under the Equality Act. b) Providing unpaid carers with greater rights in the workplace and more broadly, for example, the right for employees to take one week's unpaid carer's paid leave each year. c) Introducing a range of financial benefits to those providing care. d) Improve how government departments and public service providers communicate and work together to support unpaid carers. e) Increasing the training and accreditation of skills available to unpaid carers. f) Giving all young carers a legally enforceable 'Education Guarantee' and a right to a normal childhood. Conference also reaffirms pledges in motion Standing Up for Unpaid Carers (March 2021) to support unpaid carers. Applicability: England only; except 7. (lines 42-55), which is Federal. Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 18 September; see pages 8-9. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 8 and 10. 15.20 Speech Chair: Mary Regnier-Wilson. Aide: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). F31 Cllr Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council @cllrmikeross, #LDConf 15.35 Party business Chair: Bex Scott. Aide: John Bridges. Hall Aide: Paul McGarry. F32 Standing orders amendment: Selection of Motions for Debate Basingstoke and Deane Mover: to be announced. Summation: to be announced. Conference notes that: A. The Conference standing orders do not set out the reasons why the Federal Conference Committee may refuse to select motions, while they do set out the reason why the FCC may refuse amendments to the Constitution and the standing orders (SO 4.3) and emergency motions (SO 4.4). B. Standing order 6.1 states that proposers need to provide reasons why the expressed reasons for rejection are not valid but as there is no list of valid reasons this can be difficult. C. At each conference many motions are not selected to be debated by the Federal Conference Committee. D. Voting members can vote to decide which emergency motions are discussed at Conference but do not have a vote on determining if any non-emergency motions are selected. Conference resolves to amend the standing orders as follows: Add new standing order: 4.2 Policy motions The Committee may refuse to select a policy motion if, in their opinion: a) It is similar in effect to another motion or motions which have been selected for debate or ballot at the same meeting of conference, in which case the Committee must consider whether it is appropriate for it to be composited with that or those motions. b) It encompasses a policy area covered by a policy motion and accompanying policy paper that has been passed after the last general election or by conference in the last two years. c) It encompasses a major change to party policy in an area being considered by a policy working group which is scheduled to be discussed at either of the next two conferences. d) It is similar in effect to a motion that has been discussed at either of the last two meetings of conference. e) It does not include any new policy. f) It is unclear as to its meaning or intent or is, in the opinion of the Committee, too poorly drafted to provide a sensible basis for debate. g) It is ambiguous. Add new standing order: 4.3 Ballots for policy motions All policy motions, except those rejected under standing order 4.2, must be placed either on the agenda for debate or in a ballot for selection by members of the Party. The Committee may hold separate ballots to select which of a range of policy motions to debate. If one or more ballots are held the Committee shall circulate the text of all balloted motions in the Agenda and shall specify closing times for the ballots. Following the counting of any ballots the Committee shall decide how many motions shall be debated in the time available. Amendments can be proposed and taken to any motion in the ballot(s) under this standing order in the same way as other motion in the Agenda. Renumber accordingly, and in standing order 3.2 delete '4.3' and insert '4.5', and in standing order 4.5 delete '4.4' and insert '4.6'. The existing text of Conference standing orders is printed in this Agenda at pages 99-117. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 18 September; see pages 8-9. Standing order amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. 16.15 Party business Chair: Cllr Joe Otten. Aide: Professor Belinda Brooks-Gordon. Hall Aide: Baroness Featherstone. F33 Standing orders amendment: Selection of Speakers 11 members Mover: David Barnsdale. Summation: Toby Keynes. Conference believes that: A. There can be no genuine and meaningful debate unless opposing viewpoints are heard, even if one side may appear to be in a small minority. B. Genuine, balanced debate should bring forward ideas and arguments that participants have not previously considered, may identify major flaws in a motion and should result in better decision-making. Conference resolves to amend standing order 8.7 as follows: Delete: 'The Chair shall be responsible for the choice of the speakers and shall attempt to provide a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the conference, but may announce a departure from this rule if there is an overwhelming preponderance of members wishing to speak on the same side'. and insert: 'The Chair shall be responsible for the choice of the speakers and shall attempt to provide a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the conference reflected in the number of speaker cards submitted, but may, at their discretion, depart from strict proportionality in favour of the minority if it seems that to do so would ensure that conference is sufficiently informed about the issues involved to make a decision. In assessing the number of speakers allocated to each side the proposer and summation will count as part of the allocation for those speaking for the motion or amendment. The Chair shall ensure that there is at least one speaker for the motion and at least one speaker against the motion and the same for each amendment, provided there are members who are willing and able to speak. After the motion and all amendments have been proposed, speakers against the motion and each amendment shall be called next unless there are no members wishing to speak in opposition. At the end of the debate, but before voting starts, the Chair shall announce the balance of cards submitted for and against the motion and each amendment'. The existing text of Conference standing orders is printed in this Agenda at pages 99-117. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 3 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 18 September; see pages 8-9. Standing order amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. 16.35 Policy motion Chair: Cllr Simon McGrath. Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). F34 Making the Fight Against Climate Change Accessible to Everyone 12 members Mover: Charley Hasted. Summation: Wera Hobhouse MP (Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change). Conference notes that: a) Single-use plastics used in Health and Social Care contexts create millions of tonnes of plastic waste a year, much of which will go to landfill or be incinerated. b) While there are some alternatives to single-use plastics in equipment used for medical, social care and accessibility equipment, many are unavailable, unaffordable or impractical for many people. c) Many older and disabled people have experienced difficulties with different climate change or pollution prevention strategies such as the banning of plastic straws, pedestrianisation, cycle lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, which often fail to take their needs into account. d) Many transport alternatives to private cars remain inaccessible or unaffordable for disabled and older people, especially where they require adaptive or alternate provision. Conference believes that while there have been many progressive steps in reducing climate change in recent years, efforts to consider the specific needs of disabled and older people have often been missed, leading to many disabled people experiencing significant difficulty in supporting the fight against climate change, or feeling excluded from society by some measures. Conference further believes that disabled and older people deserve to have access to options which allow them to take a full and equal part in the fight against climate change and in society as a whole. Conference therefore calls for: 1. The allocation of at least 3% of government research and development funding on environmental and anti-climate change to projects centred around bringing benefits and change to the health and social care sectors and a further 2% to projects that will support disabled people to live more environmentally friendly lives while maintaining their health and independence (e.g. developing affordable biodegradable or recyclable alternatives to commonly used items such and gloves, packaging and incontinence pads). 2. Requirements on NHS trusts, care agencies, residential facilities and local authorities to develop strategies to reduce plastic use and increase the recycling of non-biohazardous plastic waste. 3. Schemes aimed at increasing the uptake of environmentally friendly transport options to provide accessible and adaptable options (e.g hand cycles and tricycles in cycle salary sacrifice schemes). 4. Requirements on public transport and infrastructure companies to make all their provision completely and independently accessible by 2026. 5. Requirements on central and local government initiatives focusing on reducing emissions and improving public transport and public spaces to work with disabled people in the planning and implementation stages of projects to mitigate any negative impact on disability communities. Applicability: England only; except 1. (lines 26-33), which is Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 18 September; see pages 8-9. 17.20 Party business Chair: Paul McGarry. Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Simon McGrath. F35 Constitutional amendment: FIRC Changes 14 members Mover: Phil Bennion. Summation: Hannah Bettsworth. Delete Article 15.2 I. E.. In Article 15.2 I. G., delete 'six' and insert 'eight'. Delete Article 15.2 II. C.. If constitutional amendment F7 is passed, lines 1 and 2 of this constitutional amendment will fall. The existing text of the relevant parts of the Federal Party Constitution are reproduced below. The current constitution can be found at www.libdems.org.uk/constitution. ARTICLE 15: The Federal International Relations Committee 15.2 I. Voting members: ... E. one person elected by Members of the European Parliament as set out in clause 17.4. ... G. six members who shall be elected by all members of the Party. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations. 15.2 II. Non-voting members: ... C. one representative of the Committee of the Regions. ... Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 18 September; see pages 8-9. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass. F36 FIRC Representation Chair: Paul McGarry. Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Simon McGrath. 14 members Mover: Phil Bennion. Summation: Hannah Bettsworth. Conference agrees that the Liberal Democrats are committed to continued membership of Liberal International and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and their successor organisations. Conference further agrees that from 1 January 2023: 1. The Liberal Democrat delegation to the ALDE Council shall comprise: a) The Chair of the Federal International Relations Committee (FIRC), or a deputy drawn from and elected by the directly elected members of FIRC. b) Any Liberal Democrat members of the ALDE Bureau, unless they already have their own place as Council members. c) Additional delegates as required, elected by all party members under the election regulations made under Article 9.6(c), with the diversity requirements for those elections of a minimum of one person from each state party and one person under the age of 26 at the time of the election. Runners up in the election to be ordered as reserve delegates. 2. The Liberal Democrat delegation to the Liberal International Executive Committee shall comprise: a) The Chair of FIRC or a deputy drawn from and elected by the directly elected members of FIRC. b) Any Liberal Democrat members of the Liberal International Bureau, unless they already have their own place as Executive Committee members. c) Additional delegates as required elected by the voting members of FIRC. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 18 September; see pages 8-9. 17.40 Party business Chair: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC) Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Baroness Featherstone. F37 Code of Conduct for Members and Registered Supporters Federal Board Mover: Gareth Lewis Shelton. Summation: Mary Regnier-Wilson. Conference agrees to ratify the following code of conduct, which supersedes the previously used Member Code, Registered Supporters Code and Online Code: Code of Conduct for Members and Registered Supporters Our values The Preamble to Our Constitution contains these words: 'The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. ... Upholding these values of individual and social justice, we reject all prejudice and discrimination based upon race, ethnicity, caste, heritage, class, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation and oppose all forms of entrenched privilege and inequality.' This applies as much to the internal working of our party as to the type of society we wish to build and should always influence how we conduct ourselves in private, public and online. We expect our members and registered supporters at all times to behave lawfully, honestly and with integrity. They should always act with respect towards each other and particularly towards staff, volunteers and people who interact with the Party in their professional capacity. As a member or registered supporter, you have the right to be treated fairly, equally, and within the bounds of party rules. You also have a responsibility to help ensure that these rules are upheld, and that the party can abide by its external legal and regulatory obligations. We provide a range of pastoral support services to help when things are not going right (www.libdems.org.uk/getting-support-when-you-need-it). The Party reserves the right to refer any breach of this code of conduct which breaks the law to the police rather than/as well as dealing with it under this code of conduct. Valuing debate and democracy Liberal Democrats believe passionately in freedom of speech, diversity of thought and freedom of conscience and will always defend these principles in law. However, every political party must have some shared values, and on joining the party our members and registered supporters must acknowledge that they agree with the party's fundamental values and objectives as expressed in the preamble to our constitution, though this does not mean they must agree with every single party policy. Within the bounds of these shared fundamental values and the desire for our party to be successful, we encourage robust and passionate debate on policy, strategy and the way in which the party functions. We also encourage our members and registered supporters to play the ball, not the person, and be measured in their criticism. Whilst we should all treat each other with respect, nobody has the right not to be offended. One of our fundamental values is to reject all prejudice and discrimination based upon race, ethnicity, caste, heritage, class, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. The party has adopted definitions of Anti-Semitism, Islamaphobia and transphobia in order to help people understand how our values apply to our behaviour. Holding party office or public office Anyone running for or holding public office must be aware of how their actions may be associated with the party and the greater responsibility that comes with higher or more prominent office. Behaviour which may be acceptable from a private individual may not be appropriate when carried out by someone who, by virtue of the post they hold, is seen by members of the public or those they interact with as representing the party. This also applies to those elected or appointed to party office, who should strive within their leadership roles to proactively empower and support others to contribute fully to our community. Those whose roles within the party give them more power and influence should take particular care to exercise this properly and not use it to intimidate, exclude, coerce or otherwise bully other members. If you need help in carrying out your role, you have a right to appropriate training, support and guidance. In turn, if a change in circumstances means you are not able to carry out your duties properly, you have a responsibility to notify colleagues so that suitable arrangements can be made. We encourage all parts of the party to support volunteers through the different chapters in their life, including making provision for informal or formal temporary leave from party posts in cases of illness or when an office holder faces parental or caring responsibilities. Those who are elected as Liberal Democrats are expected to conform to both the Liberal Democrat Code of Conduct and their own electing body's Code of Conduct when acting as elected officials. Online conduct The standards in this code also apply to electronic communications, online social media and written media, where members should strive to ensure their comments cannot easily be misconstrued or their actions misinterpreted. Where honest mistakes do happen, prompt apology and clarification is important. Online interactions are often carried out in public, and all members should be aware of the extra risk of bringing the party into disrepute during public online exchanges. Those who have large or influential social media profiles should be especially wary of using these to encourage or enable others to harass, bully or intimidate individuals. Members will be expected to fully comply with the Member's Code of Conduct in private online groups endorsed by the Liberal Democrats. Some groups will also have their own rules regarding suitable subject matter and repeated postings and members are also expected to comply with these. Where the party runs online events, forums or similar, the party may actively moderate the online community so that people can come together, debate big ideas, learn and engage with each other in a safe, healthy and supportive way. Specific additional rules that comply with this Code of Conduct and the Party's constitution may also be set by the organiser, such as for hustings, and you will be expected to comply with them as well. If moderators believe you are not complying with either this code or such additional rules, your contributions can be removed, you may be blocked from further participation in this event, or other events in future. Your actions may also be reported to our disciplinary process and/or the police. All moderation decisions are final, except in cases where there is a published appeals process. In such cases, you must follow that process rather than post further messages disputing a moderation decision. Moderators for official party events and groups run by the party are under a duty to behave fairly, objectively and impartially and must never use their powers to favour one side of a debate or to silence views with which they personally disagree. Annex: registered supporters For party members, details of our disciplinary process are set out on the party website and in our constitution. For registered supporters the Liberal Democrats reserve the right to revoke your registration as a registered supporter at any time, without notice, if we believe you have broken this code of conduct, or have acted in any way that is in conflict with our values. There is no right of appeal and you cannot reapply to become a registered supporter for four years You have the right to resign from your registration as a supporter with immediate effect at any time. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. Conference has the power to ratify rules proposed by the Federal Board under Articles 9.7A and 9.7E of the Federal Constitution. This motion is therefore not open to amendment or separate votes. 18.00 Close of session Please see the Conference Directory for our fringe and exhibition programme. 19.45-21.00 Consultative session International Security Policy Working Group The Grand Hotel, Empress Room. Chair: Dr Christine Cheng. See notes to the consultative session on page 35. Tuesday 20 September F38 09.00 Party business Chair: John Bridges. Aide: Duncan Brack. Hall Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). F38 Federal Communications and Elections Committee Report: questions and accountability Mover: Cllr Lisa Smart (Chair, Federal Communications and Elections Committee). The deadline for questions for F38 is 13.00 on Monday 5 September. Questions selected will be published in Conference Extra and Tuesday's Conference Daily. These questions will be guaranteed an answer, either in the session or in writing thereafter. Questions may also be submitted up until 08.00 Tuesday 20 September; such questions are only taken at the discretion of the chair. See pages 11-12 for further information. F39 Membership Subscription and Federal Levy Federal Board Mover: Mike Cox. Summation: Richard Flowers. Conference agrees the following for 2023: 1. To freeze the existing minimum membership rates (£15 for new members, £12 for members from before 2022). 2. To freeze the £6 minimum for those in receipt of or entitled to state benefits, and the £6 minimum for members paying via Young Liberals. 3. To drop the recommended membership rate, as this is no longer used in our membership work (for example, people are encouraged to pay more by reference to the average membership subscription, not the recommended rate). 4. That nothing in this motion shall prevent a State Party from setting via their internal procedures higher recommended or minimum subscription rates or from introducing additional concessionary rates. 5. That the Federal Levy remains at 55 per cent. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 3 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Monday 19 September; see page 8-9. 09.20 Policy motion Chair: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Chris Maines. Hall Aide: Mary Regnier-Wilson. F40 China: A Strategy for the UK 10 members Mover: George Cunningham. Summation: Layla Moran MP (Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development). Conference notes: i) China's rise since the 1980s has been remarkable, raising millions of its citizens out of poverty, with the country expected to be the world's largest economy in nominal GDP within the next decade. ii) President Xi's decade-long leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increasingly transformed China into a political and economic systemic rival to the current world order, including by: a) Its challenges to the international liberal order, such as at the UN Human Rights Council. b) Its human rights abuses, as noted in Conference motions Hong Kong's Future and The Uyghur Genocide. c) Its aggressive posturing towards Taiwan. d) Its friendship 'without limits' with Russia. e) Its military and nuclear weapons build-up, including in the South China Sea where it is in breach of international law. f) Its surveillance technology, which is used for suppression in China and is exported to prop up other regimes. g) Its concerted campaign to interfere in civic debate in western countries. iii) In 2021, the UK's trade deficit with China more than tripled to £40.5 billion, creating a trade over-dependency on China. Conference believes that: I. The UK must always stand on the side of democracy, human rights, international law and multilateralism. II. The UK needs to reduce its economic dependency on China, given the CCP's increasingly arbitrary decisions, coercion tactics, and human rights abuses. III. However, China's significance on the world stage means that the UK must continue to engage with China especially on global issues such as climate change, biodiversity, health and nuclear non-proliferation, while pushing back wherever our values and the security of our citizens are threatened. Conference calls on the UK Government to: A. Issue a comprehensive China Strategy, which places human rights, effective rules-based multilateralism, and working with our European partners, centre stage. B. Develop an Industrial Strategy, enabling UK companies to be more competitive and self-reliant. C. Make the UK economy more resilient by: i) Reviewing preferential UK market access agreements with China. ii) Strengthening foreign direct investment screening and cyber defences, including increased data transparency requirements. iii) Encouraging greater diversification of UK trade, investment and supply chains, in particular with other democracies. iv) Ceasing research cooperation on technology with China, its companies and researchers if adequate reciprocity and transparency cannot be achieved. v) Using sanctions when considered necessary. D. Strengthen the UK's National Security Bill, by making the protection of our open society a priority. E. Work, especially within the Commonwealth and Africa, to partner in development needs more effectively, flexibly and competitively than China, including restoring the UK's international development budget. F. Take further action on Hong Kong by: i) Auditing UK-based assets owned by the CCP, state-owned enterprises and Hong Kong officials. ii) Assessing whether Hong Kong's autonomous status should be revoked. iii) Reviewing bilateral Foreign Direct Investment with Hong Kong; iv) Using Magnitsky sanctions against those responsible for the erosion of Hong Kong's freedoms. Conference further calls on Liberal Democrats to stand in solidarity with Hong Kong, Taiwan, Uyghurs, Tibetans and all others who are being oppressed, discriminated against or undermined by the CCP, and to also: 1. Continue to fight for BN(O) passport holders' rights, welcoming Hong Kongers to the UK. 2. Stand against rising anti-Asian hate crimes in the UK, including by: a) Campaigning for further provision of resources and training to allow law enforcement to identify and prevent them. b) Condemning inflammatory rhetoric by those with public platforms. 3. Develop even stronger links with our sister party in Taiwan, the DPP. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Monday 19 September; see page 8-9. 10.05 Policy motion Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Aide: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Professor Belinda Brooks-Gordon. F41 For a Fair Deal (Pre-manifesto Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Cllr Lisa Smart (Chair, Federal Campaigns and Communications Committee). Summation: Lord Newby (Chair, Manifesto Group). Conference applauds the outstanding courage, strength and ingenuity of people across the United Kingdom, working hard for their families often in very difficult circumstances, from skyrocketing prices to under-funded public services. Conference condemns the shameful betrayal of Britain's hardworking and law-abiding citizens by the Conservative government which: A. Now presides over some of the highest inflation and lowest economic growth prospects of any developed country, with no coherent policy for the economy in response. B. Has permitted a sustained rise in child poverty, with 31% now living in poverty. C. Actively promotes a divided and profoundly unfair society, in which some rules seem not to apply to a wealthy and privileged few, and actively fostering cultural divisions between social groups. D. Has created the biggest crisis in the history of the NHS, with ambulance response times, waits to see a GP, and waiting lists all at sky-high, dangerous and rising levels. E. Allows water companies to pump filthy sewage into our rivers. F. Lacks all urgency and ambition in tackling the climate and nature emergency. G. Has institutionalised lying and corruption within government and is, unbelievably, willing to break international law - including their own recent treaties. Conference confirms that the Liberal Democrats' purpose is to ensure every individual has control of their own lives, and for society to enable them in that aim, balancing liberty, equality and community, and ensuring no-one is enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity - we want to see democratic and legal systems which are fair and effective, a strong international order in which we work with our partners, and a long-term relationship with the planet which is environmentally sustainable. Conference affirms again the Liberal Democrats' existing support for closer economic and cultural ties with our European neighbours, and a longer-term objective of UK membership of the EU. Conference reaffirms our commitment to a society which gives everyone a fair deal and the opportunity to get on in life, wherever they start, where everyone plays by the same rules, and which puts power in all our hands, so we can all play our part for our children, our community, business and the environment. To implement our vision for society, conference therefore endorses paper 149, For a Fair Deal, as a statement of current Liberal Democrat political priorities, including: 1. Supporting individuals and businesses in difficult economic times by reducing VAT to 17.5%, reducing business rates and employment costs and instituting a revolutionary green investment programme. 2. Ensuring no-one fears for their future, struggles to put food on their table or heat their home through a package of support measures including reinstating the £20 uplift to Universal Credit, and extending it to people on legacy benefits, most of whom are disabled, and protecting the triple lock on pensions. 3. Ensuring that when people need medical help or care they can get it in time, through training and recruiting more GPs so that everyone can get an appointment when they need one, putting mental health on the same footing as physical health, reforming the funding formula for NHS Dentists so that no one is forced to pay hundreds of pounds for private care, and increasing the Carer's Allowance so that unpaid carers have the support they so desperately need. 4. Repairing the damage done to democracy by the Conservatives and transfer power to the people through fair votes, scrapping voter ID requirements, shifting powers away from Whitehall and Westminster to the nations and regions of the UK, and introducing a codified written constitution. 5. Building a free society where every person's rights and liberties are protected, through Championing the Human Rights Act and resisting any attempts to weaken or repeal it, giving police and prosecutors the resources and training they need to prevent and prosecute all hate crimes, and banning all forms of Conversion Therapy. 6. Delivering a good home for all through building at least 150,000 new council and social homes a year, while giving local authorities the powers to end the right to buy in their areas and requiring them to have a landlord licensing scheme. 7. Taking strong action to protect and enhance the natural environment, through setting targets to double the size of the Protected Area Network, the area of most important wildlife habitats, and the abundance of species by 2050, and ending sewage discharges by introducing a sewage tax to clean up our rivers. 8. Supporting British farmers, food production and food quality though keeping payments in full to family farming businesses until the better Environmental Land Management Scheme is rolled out, and guaranteeing that all future trade deals will maintain high health, environmental and animal welfare standards for food production, at least as good as EU standards. 9. Empowering local communities in England and allowing them to take the action they need to improve their areas, through allowing communities to limit the number of second homes and holiday lets and ending top-down reorganisation of councils and the imposition of elected mayors on communities who do not want them. 10. Tackling climate change through an emergency programme of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and power generation to near-zero over ten years, including reaching 80% renewable power by 2030, extending Britain's rail network, strengthening the powers and resources of local authorities to cut carbon emissions in their area, and investing in more charging points for electric vehicles, especially in rural areas, and reduce VAT on electric vehicles to 5% to encourage uptake. 11. Prepare children and young people for a changing world through investing for our children to catch up on the vital learning they missed during the pandemic, reinstating maintenance grants for disadvantaged students immediately to make sure that living costs are not a barrier to studying at university, and creating new Skills Wallets for every adult, giving them £10,000 to spend on education and training throughout their lives. 12. Restoring the UK's reputation as a country which acts for good in the world through reinstating the 0.7% of GNI aid target, re-establishing a Department for International Development, maintaining the UK's support for NATO, providing safe and legal routes to sanctuary for refugees, and putting a stop to oligarchs from corrupt regimes channelling their money through the UK. 13. Taking a pragmatic approach to building the UK's new relations with Europe by following our four-step roadmap (as set out in Spring Conference 2022), including agreeing partnerships or associations with EU agencies and programmes such as the European Aviation Safety Agency; once those trading relations are deepened and the ties of trust and friendship are renewed, we aim to place the UK-EU relationship on a more formal and stable footing by seeking to join the Single Market. 14. Protecting the BBC and Channel 4 as independent, publicly-owned, public service broadcasters, and supporting growth in the creative industries. 15. Restoring proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and focused on preventing and solving crimes, and investing in the criminal justice system to clear the backlog of court cases and ensure swift justice for victims and offenders. Applicability: Federal; except 3. (lines 50-56), 6. (lines 67-70), 9. (lines 82-86), and 15. (lines 119-122), which are England only. Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Monday 5 September; see page 12. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Monday 19 September; see page 8-9. 11.05 Emergency motions or topical issue discussions F42 Emergency motions or topical issue discussions Chair: Bex Scott. Aide: Cllr Joe Otten. Hall Aide: Cllr Jon Ball (Vice Chair, FCC). This slot has been reserved for the debate of emergency motions and / or discussions of topical issues. The deadline for emergency motions and for suggestions for topical issues is 13.00 on Monday 5 September. The motions or topics selected for debate or proposed for the ballot will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily. See pages 10-11 and 12. 12.35 Speech Chair: Amna Ahmad (Vice President of the Liberal Democrats). Aide: Baroness Featherstone. Hall Aide: Cllr Joe Otten. F43 Cllr Josh Babarinde OBE @JoshBabarinde, #LDConf 12.50 Lunch break and fringe Please see the Conference Directory for our fringe and exhibition programme. 14.10 Party business Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). F44 Party Awards The Belinda Eyre-Brook Award: Given to recognise and celebrate the efforts of people working for our elected representatives in their local areas. The Dadabhai Naoroji Award: Presented annually to the local Party that has done most to promote ethnic minority participants to elected office. The Harriet Smith Liberal Democrat Distinguished Service Award: Open to any Party Member never elected to public office recognised for outstanding commitment and service to the Party. The Patsy Calton Award: An award for exceptional women ranging from Councillors, to members, to Parliamentarians. The Penhaligon Award: Presented to the local party anywhere in the world which demonstrates the most impressive increase in membership and exemplary activities to deliver and involve members and supporters. The President's Award: Open to any Party Member elected to public office and who has demonstrated excellence and commitment. 14.30 Speech Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC). Aide: Cara Jenkinson (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Chris Adams (Vice Chair, FCC). F45 Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats @EdwardJDavey, #LDConf 15.30 approx. Close of conference Standing Orders Glossary of terms Business motion A proposal to conduct the affairs of the Party in a particular way or to express an opinion on the way affairs have been conducted. Business amendment A proposal to change a business motion. Any such proposal should be significant, should be within the scope of the original motion and must not be a direct negative. Committee Throughout these standing orders, Committee means the Federal Conference Committee unless otherwise qualified. Constitutional amendment A proposal to change the constitution of the Party. Secondary constitutional amendment An amendment to a constitutional amendment. This must not introduce new material. Consultative session A meeting where selected areas of policy or strategy are considered in greater depth than is possible in full debates. Day visitor Someone who has paid the appropriate day visitor fee. Day visitors are not entitled to speak or vote in full sessions of conference. Emergency motion A proposal which relates to a specific recent development which occurred after the deadline for submission of motions. Emergency motions must be brief. Emergency amendment An amendment to a motion which relates to a specific event which occurred after the deadline for the submission of amendments. It must be brief and uncontentious. Full session Any part of the conference agenda during which debates, topical issue discussions or discussion of business, including formal reports, takes place. This specifically excludes formal speeches such as those by the Leader or Party Officers. Point of order A suggestion to the chair of a debate that the conduct of the debate, as laid down in the standing orders, has not been followed correctly. Policy motion A proposal to adopt a new policy or reaffirm an existing one. This includes motions accompanying policy papers. Policy amendment A proposal to change a policy motion. Any proposal should be of significant importance, should be within the scope of the original motion and must not be a direct negative. Policy paper A paper prepared by the Federal Policy Committee and submitted to conference for debate under the terms of Article 7.4 of the Federal Party constitution. Procedural motion A proposal that the conduct of a debate should be changed in a specific way. Procedural motions are: Move to next business A proposal that the conference should cease to consider an item of business and immediately move to the next item on the agenda. Reference back A proposal to refer a motion or amendment to a named body of the Party for further consideration. Request for a count A request to the chair that a specific vote be counted and recorded rather than decided on the chair's assessment of a show of voting cards. Separate vote A request to the chair of a debate that a part or parts of a motion or amendment should be voted on separately. Suspension of standing orders A proposal to relax specific standing orders for a stated purpose. Special conference An additional meeting of the conference requisitioned by the Federal Board, Federal Policy Committee, conference itself or 2% of party members, in not fewer than 10% of local parties under the provisions of Article 6.3 of the Federal constitution. Standing order amendment A proposal to change these standing orders. Secondary standing order amendment An amendment to a standing order amendment. This must not introduce new material. Topical issue discussion A discussion on a policy issue of significant and topical relevance, conducted without a vote. Voting member A member attending conference who has satisfied the requirements for attendance and has paid the registration fee presently in force for party members as agreed by FCC, and who is not a day visitor [or observer]. Standing Orders for a conference held remotely A. In the event that the Federal Board determines it is impossible to hold a conference under the normal rules, and instead summons a special meeting of the conference to be held remotely, or the Committee otherwise directs that a conference shall be conducted remotely, these Standing Orders shall apply. B. A remote conference shall be conducted in accordance with the Standing Orders that apply to a conference not conducted remotely ('the original Standing Orders'), save that: i) All references in the original Standing Orders to votes, whether by ballot, show of hands or show of voting cards, shall instead be conducted via an online poll or alternative secure method of online voting, designated by the Committee; similarly all references to speakers cards shall be taken to mean electronic speakers' cards. ii) Any communications with the chair must be made via an online channel designated by the Committee for that purpose and advertised to voting members prior to the commencement of a debate. iii) In original Standing Order 6.2, the reference to the Chief Steward shall also include lead moderators designated by the Chief Steward. iv) Original Standing Order 8.7 shall apply save that the Committee may set a deadline in respect of any given full session for the receipt of electronic speakers' cards; the chair shall have discretion to accept electronic speakers' cards after the deadline. v) Original Standing Orders 9.1, 9.2, 11.5 and Procedural motion 3 (Request for a Count) in the Glossary of Terms, shall not apply; instead, voting members shall, when appropriate, be directed by the chair to vote using the online voting tool made available to them. Standing Order 2.3 shall not apply. vi) In original Standing Order 10.1, any voting member may signal to the chair via the designated online channel that they are moving a point of order, in lieu of rising in their place. vii) As, by necessity, all votes shall be counted votes, Standing Order 11.5 shall not apply; instead the chair shall ensure the result of the counted vote is publicised to members, via the appropriate online channel. Standing Orders for the Federal Conference 1. The Conference Agenda 1.1 What is on the agenda The agenda for each meeting of conference, other than a special conference, shall include time for: a) One or more consultative sessions; save that the Committee may decide not to hold any consultative sessions at a spring conference; b) A business session or sessions for the consideration of reports from the Parliamentary Parties as listed in Article 6.5 of the Federal Party's Constitution, the Federal Board, the Federal Policy Committee, Federal Communications and Elections Committee, Federal International Relations Committee, Federal Council, and the Federal Conference Committee together with, when appropriate, reports from any other body the Committee considers appropriate, accounts, the annual report, a motion accompanying the proposed strategy of the party, business motions, constitutional amendments and standing order amendments; c) Policy motions (including motions accompanying policy papers); d) Emergency motions; e) Topical issue discussions; f) Any other business which the Committee thinks appropriate. The time to be allocated to each type of business and the order of that business shall be decided by the Committee provided that conference may decide not to take any particular item on the agenda. 1.2 Conference or council of state parties In addition, time before or after any meeting may be agreed with the relevant state party for a meeting of the conference or council of that party. 1.3 Right to submit agenda items a) Reports to conference may be submitted only by the bodies listed in paragraph 1.1(b). b) Business motions (including amendments and emergency business motions and amendments), constitutional amendments and secondary constitutional amendments, standing order amendments and secondary standing order amendments may be submitted by the Federal Board, Federal Policy Committee, Federal Council, state parties, regional parties in England, local parties, Affiliated Organisations and 10 party members. Business motions, standing order amendments and secondary standing order amendments may also be submitted by the Federal Conference Committee. c) Motions accompanying policy papers may only be submitted by the Federal Policy Committee. d) Policy motions (including amendments, emergency policy motions and amendments) may be submitted by the Federal Policy Committee, state parties, regional parties in England, local parties, Affiliated Organisations and 10 party members. e) The Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons may submit a motion relating to supporting a government containing members of the other parties, in accordance with Article 24 of the constitution. f) Proposals for topical issue discussions may be submitted by any party member. 1.4 How motions and amendments are submitted All motions and amendments must be submitted to the Committee. They must identify a person authorised to agree to their being composited or redrafted. The detail of methods of submission will be notified for each conference via the party website. 1.5 The deadlines by which motions, amendments, reports and questions to reports must be submitted The Committee shall specify: a) The closing date for the receipt of policy motions (including motions accompanying policy papers), business motions, constitutional amendments and amendments to standing orders, which shall be at least eight weeks before the start of conference. b) The closing date for the receipt of amendments to motions published in the Agenda and emergency motions, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference. c) The closing date for the submission of written reports from the bodies listed in paragraph 1.1(b), which will be set so as to enable their distribution with the Agenda. Any supplementary report submitted later than this deadline may only be tabled at conference with the permission of the Committee. d) The closing date for the submission of questions to any of the reports listed in the Agenda, which shall be the same as the deadline for emergency motions. Questions submitted by this deadline are guaranteed to be asked. e) Notwithstanding 1.5 (d), questions may always be submitted to any of the reports listed in the Agenda, by the end of the preceding morning (for report sessions taking place in the afternoon) or afternoon (for report sessions taking place in the morning). Any questions submitted by this deadline will only be taken at the discretion of the chair. f) The closing date for proposals for topical issue discussions, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference. 1.6 Notification of deadlines All dates specified under Standing Order 1.5 shall be publicised to party members and bodies entitled to submit motions. Publication in the party newspaper/magazine and website may be treated as notice for this purpose. 1.7 Later deadlines in special circumstances In special circumstances the Committee may specify later dates than those indicated above. In particular, where developments which, in the opinion of the Committee, are of great importance have taken place after the closing date for emergency motions and questions to reports, the Committee may make time available for an additional emergency motion or for a statement to be made on behalf of the Party or for additional questions to be submitted to reports. 2. Consultative Sessions 2.1 The subjects for consultative sessions The subjects for debate at consultative sessions shall be chosen by the Committee on the advice of the Federal Policy Committee and, where appropriate, the Federal Board, and published in the Agenda. Two or more such sessions may be held simultaneously. 2.2 Speaking at consultative sessions Any member of the Party may be called to speak at a consultative session and, with the approval of the chair, non-members with relevant expertise may also be called. 2.3 Voting at consultative sessions At the discretion of the chair a vote by show of hands may be taken to indicate the weight of opinion among members present on any issue that has been debated. 3. The Agenda 3.1 The shortlisting of motions The Committee shall draw up the Agenda and shall decide which of the motions duly submitted shall be included in it. The Committee may allocate time for one or more policy or business motions to be selected by ballot. Copies of motions not selected shall be available for inspection and will be supplied to any party member on payment of a copying charge and postage. 3.2 Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders Save as detailed below in Standing Order 4.3, all proposed amendments to the constitution or standing orders must be selected for debate. 3.3 Balance between State and Federal policy debates The Committee shall, in drawing up the Agenda, have due regard to the balance of State and Federal policy debates and in particular shall as far as possible organise the agenda so that all matters which relate solely to one or more state parties but not all State Parties or the Federal Party shall be considered at either the beginning or the end of the conference. 4. Selection of Motions and Amendments 4.1 Compositing or otherwise altering motions In drawing up the Agenda the Committee shall seek to reflect the range of views in the Party as indicated by the motions and amendments submitted. The Committee may: a) Treat any severable part of a motion or amendment as a separate motion or amendment. b) Redraft a motion or amendment so as to improve expression, remove inaccuracy or superfluity or take account of new developments. c) Composite similar motions or amendments. 4.2 Selection of amendments The Committee shall decide which of the amendments duly submitted to each motion shall be selected. No amendment shall be selected if, in the opinion of the Committee it is insubstantial, outside the scope of the motion, or tantamount to a direct negative of the motion. 4.3 Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders The Committee may refuse to select a motion for amendment of the constitution or standing orders if, in their opinion, it is: a) Similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate or ballot at the same meeting of conference. b) Similar in effect to a motion that has been rejected at either of the last two meetings of conference. c) In the case of amendments to the constitution, incomplete in that it leaves unamended some other part of the constitution which contradicts the meaning of the amendment. d) In the case of amendments to standing orders, incomplete in that it leaves unamended some other part of standing orders which contradicts the meaning of the amendment. e) Ambiguous. 4.4 Emergency motions The Committee may reject an emergency motion if: a) It is similar in effect to another motion that has been selected for debate or ballot. b) It is similar in effect to a subject chosen for a topical issue discussion. c) It is unclear as to its meaning or intent or is, in the opinion of the Committee, too poorly drafted to provide a sensible basis for debate. d) It falls outside the definition of emergency motions. No amendment shall be taken to any motion selected under this Standing Order. 4.5 Ballots for emergency motions All emergency motions, except those rejected under Standing Order 4.4, must be placed either on the agenda for debate or in a ballot for selection by Conference. The Committee may hold separate ballots to select which of a range of emergency policy motions and which of a range of emergency business motions to debate. If one or more ballots is held the Committee shall circulate the text of all balloted motions to the voting members as soon as practicable and shall specify a closing time for the ballot. Following the counting of any ballots the Committee shall decide how many motions shall be debated in the time available. 4.6 Emergency amendments The Committee shall have complete discretion whether to select emergency amendments for debate. 4.7 Topical issue discussions The choice of subjects for topical issue discussions shall be made by the Officers of the Committee in consultation with the Officers of the Federal Policy Committee. In choosing the subjects, the Officers shall have regard to the significance and topicality of the subjects proposed and whether they are likely to provoke a lively discussion. 5. Special Meetings 5.1 Timetabling of special meetings The Committee shall, as soon as practicable after the requisitioning of a special meeting of the conference, fix a date for the meeting, draw up the Agenda and, if appropriate, specify a date for the submission of amendments. The meeting shall deal only with the business stated in the notice of requisition save that the Committee may allow time for emergency motions and for business which is formal or, in its opinion, uncontentious. 5.2 Preferred timescales for special meetings In setting dates for the submission of motions and amendments and giving notice thereof and of the conference itself the Committee shall endeavour to follow the timescales laid down elsewhere in these standing orders but, where this is not practicable, the Committee shall set such dates as it sees fit. 6. Appeals 6.1 Appeals against rejection of motions The Committee shall provide written reasoning to the nominee of the proposers for the rejection of any motion or amendment. The proposers may appeal, in writing, to the next meeting of the Committee. Any such appeal shall provide reasons why, in the opinion of the proposers, the expressed reasons for rejection are not valid. If the appeal is allowed, the motion or amendment shall be treated as an emergency motion or amendment according to the stage of the agenda-setting process at which the appeal has been allowed. 6.2 Appeals against exclusion from conference Any person excluded from conference by a decision of the Chief Steward shall have the right of appeal to the Committee at the next of its regular meetings. The exclusion shall remain in force pending the appeal. 7. The Chair 7.1 Who chairs conference The President, if present, shall normally take the chair at the formal opening and closing of conference and when the Party Leader is making a formal speech from the platform. At all other sessions the chair shall be appointed by the Committee. Normally no person shall chair more than one session at any meeting. 7.2 The chair's aide The Committee may appoint an aide or aides to assist the chair of each session. 8. Conduct of Debate 8.1 Variation in the order of business The Committee may propose to the conference a variation in the order of business as set out in the Agenda. Such variation shall be put to the vote and shall take effect if approved by a majority of those voting. 8.2 Withdrawal of motions and amendments Once the Committee has included a motion or amendment, or part of a motion or amendment, in the Agenda, may not be withdrawn except by leave of conference. 8.3 The order of debate The Committee shall direct the order of debate. Generally, however, a motion will be moved and immediately thereafter the amendments and options will be moved in the order directed by the Committee. There will then be a general debate. The movers of amendments and options (or their nominees) shall have the right of reply in the same order (except that where an amendment or option has not been opposed during the debate, the chair of the session shall have the right to direct that its movers shall not exercise their right of reply), after which the mover of the motion (or the mover's nominee) shall have the right of reply. Votes shall then be taken on the amendments and options in the order in which they have been moved and, finally, on the substantive motion. The Committee may direct that part of any motion or amendment or groups or amendments may be the subject of a separate debate. 8.4 Topical issue discussions The Committee shall direct the order of the discussion. Normally the proposer of the subject shall speak first, and a representative of the Federal Policy Committee shall speak last. 8.5 Who may speak All voting members may speak at a full session of conference. Additionally, the Committee may invite any person to address the conference as a guest. Neither such provision shall prejudice the right of the chair of a session to select speakers. 8.6 The special rights of the Federal Committees Provided that the Federal Policy Committee is not proposing the motion or any of the amendments to be taken in a debate on a policy motion or on motions relating to the policy-making processes of the Party it shall have the right to nominate a person to report its views on the subject before the conference. The Federal Board shall have similar rights on business motions or motions to amend the constitution, as shall the Federal Conference Committee on motions relating to the proceeding and procedures of the conference and to amend standing orders. Such a person shall be called to speak for the same length of time as the person replying on behalf of the mover of the motion. 8.7 The selection of speakers Voting members wishing to speak in any debate shall submit a speaker's card, prior to the commencement of the debate in which they wish to speak, stating whether they wish to speak for or against an amendment, the motion or part of the motion. The chair shall be responsible for the choice of the speakers and shall attempt to provide a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the conference, but may announce a departure from this rule if there is an overwhelming preponderance of members wishing to speak on the same side. The chair shall have the discretion to accept speakers' cards after the start of the debate. Save as provided for in these standing orders, no person may speak more than once in any debate. 8.8 The length of speeches The Committee shall set out in the Agenda time limits for speeches. 9. Voting at Conference 9.1 The method of voting Voting cards shall be issued at each meeting to voting members. (The Committee may direct that voting on any issue be by ballot.) Subject thereto all votes at full sessions shall be taken by show of voting cards. 9.2 Counting of votes A vote by show of voting cards shall be counted: a) If the Committee has so directed. b) If the chair so directs. c) As the result of a procedural motion under Standing Order 11.5 below. A recount will only be held if the chair is not satisfied that the first count was accurate. 9.3 Separate votes A separate vote may be taken on a part of a motion or amendment: a) On the direction of the Committee. b) At the discretion of the chair. c) As a result of a procedural motion under Standing Order 11.4 below. 10. Points of Order 10.1 Making a point of order Any voting member may rise on a point of order which shall be taken immediately except that, during a vote, no point of order shall be taken that does not refer to the conduct of the vote. The chair's decision on all points of order shall be final. 11. Procedural Motions 11.1 Next business a) A voting member may, during any full conference session, submit, in writing, a request that conference move to next business, giving the reasons to do so. The submission shall not exceed 75 words. b) The chair may either take the request immediately upon receipt, or at the end of any speech currently being made. If more than one request is received the chair shall decide which to take. No more than one request may be taken in respect to any motion or report. c) When the request is to be taken, the chair shall read the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to consider the request to move to next business. If conference decides, by a simple majority of those voting, to do so, the person who made the request may speak. The chair may allow other speakers. All speeches under this standing order shall be limited to two minutes. If conference decides not to debate the proposal, it falls. d) The proposal shall require a two-thirds majority of those voting being to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. 11.2 Reference back (moved by a voting member) a) A voting member, who has not already spoken in the debate, may, at any time before the chair has asked the first speaker in reply to stand by, submit, in writing, a request to refer back the motion under debate. The submission shall state to whom the motion is to be referred and shall include a statement of the reasons, including reasons why voting against the motion would not achieve a similar result, not exceeding 75 words. b) The chair may take the request to refer back at whatever stage of the debate they consider appropriate. If more than one request is received, the chair shall decide which to take. No more than one request may be taken with respect to any motion. c) When the request is to be taken, the chair shall read the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to consider the request to refer. If conference decides, by a simple majority of those voting, to do so, the person who made the request may speak and the mover of the substantive motion, or their nominee, may reply. The chair may allow other speakers. All speeches under this standing order shall be limited to two minutes. If conference decides not to debate the reference back, it falls. d) The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. e) If the substantive motion is referred to the Federal Board, the Federal Policy Committee or the Federal Conference Committee that body shall, in its report to the next meeting of the conference, state what action it has taken on the reference. 11.3 Reference back (moved by the Federal Policy Committee) a) The Federal Policy Committee may, at any time before the beginning of the debate on a motion, submit, in writing, a request to refer that motion to the next meeting of the conference. The chair shall announce the existence of such a request at the start of the debate. b) The chair may take the request to refer back at whatever stage of the debate they consider appropriate. A nominee of the Federal Policy Committee will speak and the mover of the substantive motion, or their nominee, may reply. The chair shall have discretion whether to allow other speakers on the request. c) The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. d) If passed, the Federal Policy Committee shall, before the next meeting of the conference, circulate its reasons for acting under this section and its comments on the motion and any amendments thereto accepted for debate. 11.4 Separate vote A voting member of conference may request that the chair take a separate vote on a part of a motion or amendment provided that such a request is in writing and received by the commencement of the first conference session on the day before the debate is scheduled. If the debate is scheduled for the first day of conference, the request must be received in writing by the same deadline as that for emergency motions. The Committee shall have complete discretion whether to take a separate vote. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair of the debate shall have discretion to accept a request for a separate vote if it is received in writing after this deadline. 11.5 Counted vote Any voting member may ask for a counted vote, which shall be taken if the request is supported by 50 members rising in their places and showing their voting cards. 11.6 Suspension of standing orders a) A voting conference member may, during any full conference session, move a motion for the suspension of standing orders. The mover shall submit the motion together with a written statement of its purpose, not exceeding 75 words, to the chair, who shall read them to the meeting. The chair may either take the request immediately upon receipt, or at the end of the speech currently being made. b) No motion to suspend standing orders may suspend any requirement of the constitution, nor any part of these standing orders which govern: i) The rights of, or timetable for, submission of motions and amendments. ii) Consultative sessions. iii) Procedural motions for next business or suspension of standing orders. c) No motion to suspend standing orders to introduce a motion or amendment on to the agenda can be taken unless the motion or amendment has been submitted to the Committee in accordance with the published timetable and, where a right of appeal against non-selection exists, the right has been exercised. d) The chair shall read the statement of purpose and, if the suspension is allowable in the terms of this standing order, ask the conference whether it wishes to debate the request for suspension. If the conference decides not to debate the request, it falls. If the conference decides, by a majority of those present and voting, to hear the request the mover may speak and a representative of the Committee may reply. The chair shall have the discretion to allow other speakers. All speeches on the motion to suspend standing orders will be limited to two minutes. e) A motion to suspend standing orders shall only be carried if supported by at least two-thirds of the conference members voting. If the procedural motion is carried all standing orders shall remain in force except only for the purposes set out in the motion. 11.7 No procedural motions during votes No procedural motion can be moved during a vote. 12. Reports 12.1 Which reports are tabled The business session or sessions of the conference must include consideration of reports from the bodies listed in Standing Order 1.1(b). 12.2 Submission and selection of questions A voting member may submit questions to any report tabled for consideration, by the deadlines set under Standing Orders 1.5 (d) and (e). The Committee shall publish in advance of the report session all the questions submitted under Standing Order 1.5 (d) which are in order, compositing similar questions where appropriate. Questions to the Federal Board report may include questions about the work of the Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee and the work of the Federal People Development Committee 12.3 Whether questions are in order or not A question shall be ruled out of order if it asks the body submitting the report about issues which are outside its duties and responsibilities. If the question could be answered by another body reporting to the same conference, the Committee may transfer the question to that body. 12.4 How questions and supplementary questions are put and answered After the report is moved, the mover, or their nominee, shall answer the questions in turn. After each question has been answered, the voting member who submitted the question will be given the opportunity to put a supplementary question, speaking for a maximum of two minutes, and the mover, or their nominee, will be given an opportunity to respond. The chair shall determine the time given to the mover in moving the report and replying to questions. The chair shall also determine how many of the published questions, and how many of the questions submitted under Standing Order 1.5 (e), can be taken. After the conference the Committee shall publish the answers to all questions submitted under Standing Orders 1.5 (d) and (e) which are in order, and to all supplementary questions asked. 12.5 Approval or rejection of reports from Federal Party committees or sub-committees Any report tabled by a Federal Party committee or sub-committee must be submitted for approval by the conference and must be voted upon accordingly. A voting member may move the rejection of any part of the report or of the report as a whole. A voting member wishing to move a rejection shall submit a speaker's card prior to the commencement of the consideration of the report, stating the section(s) which they wish to have rejected. All moves to reject a report must be debated (except that the chair shall have discretion to choose between moves to reject the same part of the report), at the conclusion of the question session. The person who made the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. 12.6 Receipt of reports from other bodies Any report tabled by a body other than a Federal Party committee or sub-committee must be submitted for receipt by the conference and must be voted upon accordingly. A voting member may move not to receive the report, by submitting a speaker's card prior to the commencement of the consideration of the report. A move not to receive a report must be debated (except that the chair shall have discretion to choose between more than one move not to receive the same report), at the conclusion of the question session. The person who made the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. 13. Amendment of Standing Orders 13.1 Amendment of standing orders These standing orders may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members of conference voting on a motion duly submitted and selected in accordance with standing orders. Subject to any amendment they shall remain in force from meeting to meeting. 14. The Chair and Vice Chairs of the Committee 14.1 Chair and Vice Chairs At its first meeting after a new election the Committee shall elect a Chair, who must be a member of the Committee directly elected by party members, and at least one Vice Chair, who must be members of the Committee either directly elected by party members or elected by one of the State Parties. The Federal Party The Federal Party is responsible for the Party's overall strategy, overall preparations for Parliamentary Elections; the overall presentation, image and media relations of the Party; and our international relationships. It has the following committee structure: Federal Conference Federal Policy Committee (FPC) Federal Board Federal Conference Committee (FCC) Finance & Resources Committee (FFRC) Communications & Elections Committee (FCEC) People & Development Committee (FPDC) International Relations Committee (FIRC) Audit & Scrutiny Committee (FASC) The roles of each Committee are outlined in Articles 9 through 16 of the Federal Constitution. The Committees have the following Chairs: l Federal Board: Dr Mark Pack, Party President l Federal Conference Committee: Cllr Nick da Costa l Federal Policy Committee: Sir Ed Davey MP l Federal Finance and Resources Committee: Mike Cox, Registered Treasurer l Federal Communications and Elections Committee: Cllr Lisa Smart l Federal People and Development Committee: Mary Regnier-Wilson l Federal International Relations Committee: Phil Bennion l Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee: Helena Cole Details of all the Committees, their functions and members can be found on the Party website at: www.libdems.org.uk/committees_organisations The Conference training session 'How the Party works' will provide further detail.