I have just returned from a very sunny weekend in Bournemouth at the annual Liberal Democrat conference.
As is usually the case at the Liberal Democrats annual meeting, the mood was jubilant. With 72 MPs, and a Labour party in the throes of an internal leadership election and falling poll ratings, the Liberal Democrats took full advantage of a weekend of news coverage.
What struck me most about the party’s direction is its serious new policy offerings in the economic and energy department. In a voting system which rewards a two-party system, they are trying to position themselves as the second horse in a ‘two-horse race’ between themselves and Reform UK at the next General Election.
Regardless of this, the party remain strong in their commitments to a proportional voting system and reforms to make voting fairer.
Conferences are always a good opportunity for our teams on the ground to build better relationships with MPs and their staff teams and I enjoyed many conversations with the party’s MPs from regions across the country, including the devolved nations. These were largely about where we can help MPs make the case for democratic reforms in the House of Commons and Lords in the upcoming legislation that could bring ERS campaigns into law. My conversations also extended to the general mood of the parliamentary party, who the rising stars are and what direction the party could take before the next General Election.
The voting system
Amongst the many fringes on offer this weekend, the Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform (LDER) hosted two of their own. In keeping with the party’s serious tone over the conference, conversation at fringes relevant to voting reform focused not on which voting system is better but rather, how do we get there?
The first was a panel discussion called ‘What’s next in the fight for fair votes?’ featuring Olly Glover MP, Lisa Smart MP, Lord Mark Pack, chair of LDER Sarah Lewis and Joe Sousek, from the Secretariat for the APPG for Fair Elections.
Conversation centred around the progress of the APPG – now the largest in parliament – and their recent publication of a ‘terms of reference’ for a National Commission on Electoral Reform. There were many questions about the uptick in Labour MPs support for a change in the voting system but disappointment on why they weren’t putting their heads above the parapet to say so just yet from party members. Olly Glover said: “[On Labour MPs] many of them did speak up [during the 10-minute rule bill] but we need to give them more air cover and find more of them”.
On the prospect of a National Commission, Lord Pack said: “the state of our politics is so completely different so whether that means there is an opening is through the Elections Bill or further down the track is an open question, but it does feel like a much more realistic question”.
Opportunities with votes at 16
Later that same day LDER hosted their second panel, in collaboration with Unlock Democracy they discussed the opportunities for young people ahead of the expansion of the franchise to include 16 and 17 year olds.
With the introduction of votes at 16 recently announced by the government, a long held policy for the Lib Dems, there is a new raft of voters the party must now make a concerted effort to offer policy appealing to this new demographic. With the party’s commitment to positive messaging and headline grabbing stunts, only time will tell whether their plans come off.
A strong voice for democracy
With the party’s full support for proportional representation at local and national level – proven by their amendment to the English Devolution Bill – votes at 16, and more options for voter ID, they remain a strong voice for democracy in the House of Commons.
With 72 new MPs and a strong commitment to voter equality, we are committed to working with them to ensure our policies are front and centre in the upcoming debate on the Elections Bill.
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