West Midlands Liberal Democrats Regional Conference & Leadership Hustings


Yesterday I was busy at the West Midlands Liberal Democrats Regional Conference & Leadership Hustings. The morning was just like any usual regional conference this year we had Sarah Bond from the Federal Conference Committee come to address conference about access to events at Federal Conferences after the difficulties that people especially those with disabilities had at Blackpool in Autumn 2005. We also had a session on the new PPC Selection rules which were agreed by English Council in November 2005 and our guest speaker in the morning was Vincent Cable MP the Liberal Democrats Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. My main tasks during the morning were setting up the LDYS stall and helping Colin Ross with the training.


We ran some training for Moving Forward Seats on development plan and campaign plans. Colin led the morning session on campaign plans and I was lucky enough to lead the afternoon session on development plans. This was the first time I did some training after being accredited by the party and I really enjoyed it and hope to do some more soon. Although I will have to get some feedback from Colin on how I can improve before my next session. During the morning I spent very little time in main hall due to my late arrival and time spent catching up with Richard Burt former Liberal Democrat PPC for Shrewsbury & Atcham and Stuart Ritchie former Press Officer for Liz Lynne MEP.


My lunch break was spent working with West Midlands Liberal Democrats Chair Tracey O'Brien and Heather Kidd West Midlands Liberal Democrats Executive Officer going through the plan for the hustings and putting the many questions submitted into the order in which we planned to ask them.


This was a very unusual West Midlands Liberal Democrats Regional Conference but was one which I really enjoyed as usual it was great to meet up with fellow Liberal Democrats from across the West Midlands but I also had the opportunity to meet the Leadership contenders and due to my involvement in hustings I also had the opportunity to speak to all of them for a short time. I look forward to hearing our new leader speak at the Liberal Democrats Spring UK Conference in Harrogate on Friday 3rd March.


I know that some people have already voted and others will be voting on the basis of what they saw and heard yesterday in yesterday in Coventry, however if you are still undecided or want to read a little more before deciding you may wish to visit the links below before deciding


http://www.muslim.libdems.org/leadership/index.shtml
http://www.green.libdems.org.uk/pages/leadership-campbell.html
http://www.green.libdems.org.uk/pages/leadership-hughes.html
http://www.green.libdems.org.uk/pages/leadership-huhne.html
http://www.ldeg.org/leadership.html
http://www.reflectingbritain.org.uk/leaders-challenge/chris-huhne/
http://www.reflectingbritain.org.uk/leaders-challenge/ming-campbell/
http://www.reflectingbritain.org.uk/leaders-challenge/simon-hughes/
http://www.womenlibdems.org.uk/resources/sites/217.160.173.25-3f1e5c7f9221e8.76404033/Candidates%20response%20to%20WLD/Chris+Huhne+MP.doc
http://www.womenlibdems.org.uk/resources/sites/217.160.173.25-3f1e5c7f9221e8.76404033/Candidates%20response%20to%20WLD/Simon+Hughes+MP.doc
http://www.womenlibdems.org.uk/resources/sites/217.160.173.25-3f1e5c7f9221e8.76404033/Candidates%20response%20to%20WLD/Sir+Menzies+Campbell+MP.doc
http://www.delga.org.uk/news/32.html?PHPSESSID=160842a43b9726fef76ee37d5ae28d8a


I also have a pdf copy of "Why should young Liberal Democrats vote for you as party leader?" if anyone (young or old) would like a copy please to do not hesitate to call or email me to ask for it.