In the time of Nick

Colin Ross Liberal Democrat Wolverhampton

The Liberal Democrats begin their Autumn conference in Bournemouth this weekend. It will be Nick Clegg's first as the party leader. Wolverhampton Lib Dem actvist and blogger, Colin Ross, looks ahead.

Nick Clegg's first conference as leader

This year's conference has shifted by a day; we are staring on Saturday and finishing on Wednesday. There are some obvious highlights - and not all in the main hall.

For those that haven't been, it is probably worth explaining there are effectively three different conferences going on.

Only one of which is reported by the media and even then it is difficult to sometimes recognise the media reports if you have actually been there! Policy makers

The first conference is the only one that is reported and is the main conference, with policy discussion and set speeches. Unlike the other parties, Liberal Democrat Conference actually makes policy, so the debates are very important.

This year's conference sees debates on topics as diverse as security, pensions, crime, standing at football matches, deportation, eco-towns, the credit crunch, Europe and health.

Leadership challenge

'Guns, gangs and grants' - Lib Dem Conference preview

The biggest challenge to the leadership will be an amendment on the transport motion which effectively seeks to re-nationalise the train operating franchises.

Vince Cable will take no prisoners

There are also keynote speeches from most of the party's front bench, one of the highlights being Vince Cable, our Shadow Chancellor.

Nick Clegg's speech on Wednesday (17 September 2008) will be another highlight.

Two audiences

Nick needs to work to two audiences, the membership and send them home with a boost and encourage them to knock on doors and deliver those bits of paper and to the general public he needs to set out the Liberal Democrats stall.

Expect Nick to lay into Labour, there is so much material at the moment and I know the Labour vote is crumbling, much of it to the Liberal Democrats, but don't expect him to be soft on the Conservatives.

Cameron may have detoxified the brand, but much of it is superficial and they have yet to come out with a firm policy platform - Nick will highlight their failings too.

On the fringe

David Cameron's policies will be in the spotlight

The second conference is made up of lots of training for Liberal Democrats. This is where we hone our skills in campaigning, but also on a whole raft of things from presentation skills for our candidates to also the latest legal advice on accepting donations or spending on election campaigns.

The third conference is "the fringe" every lunchtime and every evening, there is a whole host of events put on by outside bodies who offer us food and drink to listen to why their organisation is right on x or opposes y - basically they are trying to lobby us as decision-makers.

Beyond the outside organisations, lots of internal Liberal Democrat groups (and there are lots!) have their AGMs and elect their officers for the next year and there is also an opportunity to network and catch up with Liberal Democrats from across the Country.

I will be updating my website (See the link on the right side of this page) during conference with news from Bournemouth. If you are interested have a look.

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