Ready to go! A great York conference

Spring Conference (York, March 15-17) was a massive success for the party and for reformers  - and a launch pad for the upcoming General Election.

Keynote of any Conference is the Leader’s closing speech and once again, Ed did our cause proud. Here’s what he said about fair, equal votes - with no apologies for quoting at length!

“But friends, our country needs change. Real change. Across the board – from our economy to our NHS to our environment. On issue after issue, problem after problem, the Liberal Democrat approach is so different.
“Because we don’t just want to change things on the surface – paper over the cracks, but leave the foundations to crumble underneath. We want real change. That makes a real difference to people’s lives.
"But that change will only happen if we change our political system too. If we’re going to stop the chaos and corruption…If we’re going to end the scandals and sleaze… If we’re going to have a politics that puts the country first, not parties – the people’s interests, not politicians’… we have to change the whole system.
“First-Past-the-Post. It distorts democracy. It leaves millions of people feeling powerless and excluded. Unable to hold those in power properly to account.
"Conference, we know proportional representation would be so much fairer…So much better for our politics and our country. And a majority of the British people now back electoral reform. So why hasn’t it changed? Why are we still the only party fighting for political change?"

Ed went on:

"Because for the Conservative and Labour parties, the current system suits them. It lets the Conservatives in most of the time, despite the majority of people voting against them. But Labour knows – if they wait long enough, their turn will come.
“And so it swings – from blue to red and back again. So nothing else really changes either. The problems in our country mount up. Governments get ever more out of touch. And people are left feeling ever more disillusioned.
“It can’t go on like this, Conference. We urgently need to mend our broken politics.
“And yes, that means changing the Government – but that alone won’t be nearly enough.
“We must win the fight for fair votes.
“And by the way, if this week’s news has shown anything, it’s that we must also cap donations to political parties. So that even the wealthiest racists cannot buy power and influence over the Conservative Party.
“That’s why our role at this election is so critical. Because only we are putting forward the transformational political change this moment demands, if we are to tackle the other crises that are hurting so many people across our country right now.”

What a call to action for us all!

ALSO AT YORK
A massively well-attended (standing room only!) LDER fringe meeting on ‘Why Don’t People Vote?’ - hosted by Tom Brake (Unlock Democracy) with great contributions from LDER President Wendy Chamberlain MP, our Eastbourne PPC Josh Babarinde, and guest speakers from Make Votes Matter (Sally Yalden) and - last but definitely not least! - Lee Jasper from Operation Black Vote. Thanks go to speakers and audiences alike.

AND...
A busy, busy stall in the exhibition - lots of questions and comments - and lots of new sign ups for membership and to hear from us going forward. A special thank you to everyone who helped to staff stand 34!