Lib Dems unite to support coalition with the Conservatives (Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats)

Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats <info@hflibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems unite to support coalition with the Conservatives

May 16, 2010 11:08 PM

Nathalie Bristow from H&F Lib Dems was among several thousand Lib Dems who attended the Special Conference in Birmingham to vote on the agreement for the Coalition Government and she has sent us this report.

Because it was a closed conference, people were free to say what they liked, but with rousing speeches by Simon Hughes (the speech of his life as Clegg called it), and Chris Huhne, it was, as new Justice Minister Tom McNally said, the biggest show of unity of the party ever.

The wonderful thing about the conference is that any member was able to ask to speak (intervene) and support or oppose an amendment. There was input from every type of member from all over the country. I especially liked the loud applause in support for Local Elections to be STV immediately to put an end to the 2 party Councils all over the country (like Hammersmith & Fulham!)

Hammersmith's Dinti Batstone made a marvellous speech about Gender Balance in politics and directed a appeal to Nick Clegg for him to address the lack of women in the cabinet - at 17% it is far less than Spain, Sweden, Germany and Afghanistan!

There was debate on both sides of the argument about the agreement with the Conservatives but the consensus was that, as Vince Cable said to a standing ovation, after a lifetime in opposition we should welcome the chance to leave our 'comfort zone' and implement Lib Dem policies while reining in the Tories from inside government. That is why, even though there were to be some 'bloody awful' days ahead with the economy, he had agreed to take the job as Business Secretary. The negotiations for a Lib-Lab Alliance was discussed by Danny Alexander and other speakers agreeing that in general Labour were a party who were ready for opposition and resigned to it and not willing to offer anything in negotiations.

At the end there was an overwhelming vote to pass all agreement and all amendments added by party members. There was a real sense of unity and excitement and although Charles Kennedy's comments in The Observer today were referred to many times, the Lib Dems are behind the Coalition.

It was all great. Great to see the national party coming together, to see party democracy in action, great to see the new MPS (Tessa Munt from Wells was excellent) as well as Julia Goldsworthy, Evan Harris and Lembit Opik.

The conference ended with a rallying speech from Nick Clegg, just the mention of his new title won applause throughout the day, who thanked all the grass roots for their hard work in the election campaign and pledged to keep true to Lib Dem values in government.

I'm heading home and bringing a bit of Birmingham to Hammersmith Lib Dems to start the next challenge of expanding our support at the grass roots level. Even though we still have to get Lib Dem representation in Hammersmith & Fulham Council, we have new members joining and can be spurred on by the Conference's enthusiasm for the future of the Lib Dems.

Nathalie Bristow