Conference Blog - Day 3 Monday

1.15.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 16th Sep 2008

I must say that today has probably been the best day I have had at any conference I have been to.

The day started with a training day, 'Now you're a PPC'. I felt in a very different position in this session, for the first time offering sage advice to new PPCs on what they could expect. I really felt like a bit of a veteran! It was very nice, however, to get confirmation from the session leader, Jo Swinson MP, that all the things I am trying to do are what I should be doing, and that continuing in the direction I have started may well pay dividends in the future.

After a coffee, next was the main conference hall. Unfortunately I missed a fair amount of the speech by Norman Lamb, but the following debate about eco-towns was interesting. There is some contention in this issue, as the concept seems sound, but the delivery by the current government is truly awful, where small developments now have tighter building regulations than supposed 'eco-towns', and government policy is clearly designed to dump housing on areas to achieve housing targets rather than create ecologically and environmentally sound places to live. A twisted concept that delivers nothing good for our society. What a sad indictment of this government.

Then came Vince Cable's speech. Vince was simply superb. His understated style and friendly manner really captured the audience and reaffirmed his place in our leadership. He talks with such authority, passion and conviction, the audience simply hung on every word. A really great speech.

Lunchtime brought one of the more interesting meetings of the day. Organised by the University and Colleges Union, it brought together politicians, union leaders and students to discuss the crisis in university and student funding. I met Tom again, one of the Lib Dem members of the National Union of Students executive, and also the General Secretary of the UCU, Sally Hunt. As a member of the UCU, I thought I should introduce myself and did so by asking what the panel thought should be done to widen participation in higher education and whether the panel thought that changing the repayment scheme for student loans for key workers such as teachers and paramedics, doctors and nurses, had any merit in encouraging the best students to consider a career serving society. The response was very favourable.

After the lunch break, I made my way back into the main hall for the next debate, this on whether we should allow cameras into courtrooms. After convincing presentations on both sides of this debate, the conference resolved not to allow them into court, a decision which on balance I agree with.

Then the really contentious issue, our policy paper on 'Make It Happen'. I think right from the start, everyone in the hall was convinced the motion would pass, but the key for most was whether the amendment would be accepted. As you'll all know by now, it was passed by a pretty large majority, unamended. I know this was a disappointment to some, but for others, including most of our leadership, this was key to having the flexibility needed to really deliver for the poorest in our society. What was fascinating for me was seeing real democracy in action, impassioned speeches from both camps, truly world-class debate and debaters, and the final decision being made, not by some confidential committee behind closed doors, but in public and with the world watching, by our local party members and representatives.

The next session in the main hall was a question and answer session on our Environment Policy. I learnt right at the start that the question I had tabled was chosen to be put to the panel. I was fourth of five, so my memory of the first three questions is a little hazy, but when the panel includes Steve Webb MP and Jonathan Porritt, I did start to feel a little under-qualified....and nervous! I asked about our policy direction and what we needed to do next to ensure we maintained our clear position of being the party with the best Environmental Policy on Climate Change. Jonathan's response was perhaps the most interesting, given that it was perhaps the most impartial. He said our policy was basically sound and we were doing all the right things, but that we had to ensure we got this across better so that voters were more aware of this. Not something that can be fixed overnight, certainly, but something we can all help to do within our campaigns in the future.

Next it was off to a reception sponsored by the UCU. After some catching up with colleagues from other Universities, I got talking to Sally from the UCU again. We had a very interesting conversation and after swapping contact details will be talking again soon.

On the way to my next event, I turned around and who should be right behind me but Vince Cable! We met just the previous day, when I had my photo taken with Vince. He asked me then about someone he thought was from our local party, so I had to let him know that I'd not heard of this person. We had a short chat, finally interrupted by a media agent dragging Vince off almost bodily in the direction of the pier where Vince was due to give a brief television interview.

After some confusion about where to head next, I bumped into Nigel and Louise. Nigel headed off to one meeting and Louise and I headed to another. Who should be speaking at this meeting? None other than Vince Cable! I'm not sure whether he was pleased to see me or not, he may be starting to think I'm a stalker! A discussion around personal carbon budgeting ensued, a topic which I have some serious reservations about. It was a lively discussion, but I feel a policy paper on the idea is not really imminent.

The last meeting of the day was a PPC briefing, a chance to meet with other candidates to share notes and chat about our constituencies, our campaigns and our opposition. I'll say no more on that as I suspect my most avid readership might well be those I will be competing against! I really enjoyed the chat and the brief talk by Nick Clegg was great too.

So all told a really busy but productive day. I really enjoyed it and hopefully tomorrow will be even better!