Party Conference

The party conference season starts next week.

For 3 weeks, the TV and papers give the outside world an image of what we politicians do at these gatherings.

Let me give you my account, as I prepare for my 14th Conference.

First, conferences are completely different from the media’s reports – what a surprise!

Next week, Liberal Democrats will debate 6 policy papers, prepared by experts over 2 years. On subjects including Macroeconomics, Energy, Commerce, Europe, Social Care and Animal Welfare.

We will debate another 12 motions on issues as diverse as disabled people’s rights, action against terrorism, Iraq and higher education.

I myself will move motions on scrapping council tax and how we could provide more affordable housing.

I wonder if your newspaper will report any of those debates?!

On the conference fringe – ie., in meetings outside the main Conference – there will be several hundred other meetings, from the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum to training sessions on “how to be a better local councillor”.

I’m speaking at 9 meetings on issues such as more environmentally friendly buildings to tackling homelessness.

None of these will get reported. What’s my point?

That party conferences – for all parties - are serious events, when people who care about important issues debate them seriously.

But that’s not a story the media will report.