Conference Blog - Day 4 Tuesday
September 16, 2008 10:35 PM
A slower day today. I started out with a coffee in the Conference centre to really wake me up, then off I went into the policy motion on our response to the housing and mortgage crisis. I'm glad to say we voted the motion in, policy to allow councils to buy land and property where appropriate to offer for rent or build appropriate housing to reduce waiting lists for council houses, and requiring mortgage lenders to pursue all other avenues before repossessing houses from those unable to pay their mortgage. A real concern for an increasing number of people in Welwyn Hatfield as well as across the country.
Then Chris Huhne took to the stage. His speech was great, really hard-hitting at the appalling abandonment of young offenders to a life of crime and imprisonment by both the other main parties. A 92% re-offending rate shows our prisons only work to remove people from the street, not stop crime. Whilst we have a 1% detection rate, most criminals can be assured they get away with it almost every time. We need to change our priorities to lower re-offending rates and increase detection rates, and locking ever more people up, at vast cost to us taxpayers, is simply not a viable solution.
Off then to a 'voice training' session. This was probably the strangest training session I've ever been to, where I was taught how to hum properly. I still found it interesting, not least as the people I met in the session had some really interesting backgrounds and stories. Stephen, for example, is an agent and wants to be a Parliamentary Candidate, having learned to fly a chipmunk. I learnt that a 'chipmunk' is a type of small aeroplane and Stephen learnt to fly one whilst in the RAF.
Next some lunch, then off to another training session, this time on campaign development for the county council elections next year. Much useful info, ideas and suggestions were put forward, and a clear plan will, I'm sure, emerge from this session.
I then went to the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors for a chat with one of their permanent staff. A useful discussion ensued and more useful campaigning suggestions were forthcoming. He may even visit during the campaign to help!
Finally off to the conference hotel bar for a relaxing beer and chat with colleagues. Subsequently we also went for dinner at a local curry house, and decided after that to call it a night, with me arriving at my hotel room before 10pm!
An early night, ready for the finale of Nick's speech tomorrow. I have every confidence he will surpass his speech in Liverpool, which was simply superb. How will he manage that? I can hardly wait to find out!
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats