Policy Training

10.23.13am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Aug 2004

Last night we held a second session of Policy Training in Birmingham. Paul Griffiths, the Regional Chair of Policy, and I gave training about the way Liberal Democrat policy is formed. We also looked at some Liberal Democrat policy areas and discussed what the policies were.

The Liberal Democrats differ from both Labour and the Conservative parties in formation of their policy. The Liberal Democrats use a much more bottom-up approach with individual members being able to change or create policy in a much easier way.

Whilst Conference is the key decision making body, any member of the Liberal Democrats can feed into the process by taking part in a consultative session or sitting on a working group. If they are a Conference representative for their local party they can write, debate and vote on policy at conference.

In terms of my involvement in policy making I have sat on two working groups - one on Education and one on Reform of the House of Commons. I have also written and spoken on policy at a regional and LDYS (Liberal Democrat Youth and Student) level, some of which has gone on to become party policy - such as the repeal of the Act of Settlement.

Earlier in the year I organised a policy training session on the fundamental philosophy underpinning Liberalism. This was led by Alex Wilcock, who is on the Liberal Democrat Federal Policy Committee. Last night's session was the follow up to Alex's session.

Following on from these sessions, I am now planning a third session to look in some detail at Liberal Democrat policy on a range of major issues. This will enable people to gain a more in-depth knowledge. There was also a suggestion that we set up some policy debates in Birmingham, which Liberal Democrats can participate in and help shape party policy.