Local boost as Lib Dem Party Conference returns to Brighton and Hove

1.26.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 9th Sep 2003

For the second year running thousands of Liberal Democrats will attend this year's Party Conference in Brighton, at the end of the month. The conference will be a major boost to the city's tourist business providing a large influx of visitors at the end of the season, worth well over a million pounds to the city.

Lib Dem City Council Leader Paul Elgood said:

"We always get a warm welcome when the conference is in the city. Of all the political parties we return the most often giving a major boost to the city's tourist industry. We have been loyal to Brighton and Hove because Brighton and Hove is loyal to us"

"The local hoteliers, the Brighton Centre and all those involve in the city's tourist industry cannot give us a better welcome each year that we return. The council have played their part too ensuring that the our city is the most visited party conference venue for us. The city is a top class backdrop for our conference."

"We have an exciting agenda with debates on many of the key issues facing the country. We are set for a tremendous week highlighting the difference the Liberal Democrats are making on the national stage."

The political agenda over the summer has been dominated by Iraq and the Hutton Inquiry, issues that can be expected to be covered in keynote speeches by both Charles Kennedy (Thursday) and his Shadow Foreign Secretary Menzies Campbell (Wednesday) as well as potentially in emergency motions.

However the main focus of the conference will be on the public services agenda, with important speeches from party spokespeople such as Shadow Chancellor Matthew Taylor (Tuesday) and Shadow Health Secretary Evan Harris (Wednesday) among others likely to add further detail to the radical plans set out by Charles Kennedy in July, resulting from the party's recent spending review. Most notably these include proposals to slim down central government to free up extra money for doctors, police and other frontline services. On Monday the focus will be on non-Westminster politics, with speeches from Scottish Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace and leading MEPs Diana Wallis and Graham Watson, among others. On Monday morning the party will debate their pre-manifesto for next year's European Parliament elections, 'Common Problems, Shared Solutions'.

Conference representatives will also be debating and voting on five new policy papers during the conference, covering commerce, social care, animal welfare, energy and the economy. Additionally there are policy motions on the agenda covering issues as varied as road safety, council tax and prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. On Tuesday afternoon Simon Hughes MP will make a keynote speech as Lib Dem candidate for London Mayor.

Conference Highlights

Monday 22nd September 09.30: Speech by Diana Wallis MEP, Leader of UK Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament 11.00: Speech by Graham Watson MEP, Leader of ELDR Group in the European Parliament 11.45: Question and Answer Session with Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP 12.30: Speech by David Ford MLA, Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 14.45: Speech by Rt Hon Jim Wallace QC MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Deputy First Minister of Scotland 15.00: Debate on Energy Policy Paper, to be opened by Andrew Stunell MP, Liberal Democrat energy spokesperson

Tuesday 23rd September 10.45: Speech by Matthew Taylor MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor 12.15: Presentation of Awards, followed by speech by Lord Dholakia, Party President 14.15: Speech by Phil Willis MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary 15.15: Speech by Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat candidate for London Mayor 15.30: Debate on Commerce Policy Paper, opened by Dr Vincent Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

Wednesday 24th September 09.30: Debate on a motion on "Prisoners in Guantanamo Bay", opened by Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary 10.15: Speech by Rt Hon Menzies Campbell QC MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary 14.15: Debate on a motion on "Taxing More Fairly, Spending More Wisely in Healthcare", opened by Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary 15.15: Speech by Steve Webb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Thursday 25th September 09.30: Debate on Social Care Policy Paper, opened by Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Social Care 11.45: Keynote speech by the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP.