Lib Dem party conference

It had the potential to undermine Sir Menzies Campbell and send the Lib Dem’s back 16 years but in the end it was just a party conference.

First of all there was the vote on the Lib Dem’s tax proposal, the “Green Tax Switch”. Dropping the 50p top rate of tax in favour of abolishing the 10p lower rate of tax, taking 2p off the basic rate, increasing the amount the top rate is paid to £50’000 and instead raising revenue through ‘green taxes’ and cutting reliefs on capital gains tax and pension contributions. (That was the shortest I could outline it in, so good luck to Lib Dem campaigners!) At conference an amendment was proposed to introduce a 50p rate on incomes over £150’000. It was believed there was a good chance it could pass. However it didn’t, it was defeated by a comfortable majority and the motion pass by a clear majority.

The tax debate though has done the Lib Dem’s no harm whatsoever. In fact they should come out of it as a more mature and stronger party. Even those who were behind the amendment are sure to believe that.

Second came Charles Kennedy’s speech. Would he use it to signal out his intention to once again become leader of the Lib Dem’s? Or worst still, to attack Ming? The answer was neither, it was a typical ex-leader speech. Enough said.

Thirdly came Sir Campbell’s speech. His first one as leader at an autumn conference. This turned out to be the worst of the three and this was the only one Ming could control! He started off well enough, the entrance was good and he began his speech well. But it was all downhill from there. Clearly too reliant on the auto-cue you could see times when he attempted to switch cues but had to quickly go back due to losing his place. Towards the middle the speech began to lose its momentum and never recovered. Ming didn’t even attempt to make the step out from behind the speakers box looked smooth, clearly the auto-cue read “step out from behind speakers box” and so he did! I was expecting a big powerful finish to really get the delegates going but it never came. But the one thing that really got me was his arms. What was he doing! After finishing his speech he kept raising them up above his head as if he had just won the 100m. Sorry Ming you’re not doing that anymore! For someone who says he isn’t concerned about appearing youthful, he certainly is trying hard to do just that.

Overall though the conference I feel was a good one for the Lib Dem’s. The tax debate went well, Kennedy didn’t bring them all down and despite my negativity towards Ming’s speech it was by no means dreadful. What’s important is that they build from this and don’t let it all slip away.

Conference score 6/10