West Midlands Conference Report

12.36.23pm GMT Tue 31st Oct 2006

Paul Holmes speaking at the West Midlands Conference

Saturday saw the West Midlands Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference take place in Shrewsbury. The keynote speaker was Paul Holmes - MP for Chesterfield, we were also addressed by our three West Midlands MPs - Paul Keetch, Lorely Burt and John Hemming and our MEP Liz Lynne.

Tracey O'Brien and Stuart Ritchie

This Conference was the last conference as Chair from Tracey O'Brien who has now served three years. Tracey is followed as Chair by Stuart Ritchie, Colin Ross is the new Vice Chair. David Phillips remains as President, Geoff Ray remains Treasurer, Bryan Lewis as Secretary, Roger Gray as Candidates Officer, Jenny Pinkett as Conference Officer, Phil Bennion as Policy Officer. Adam Teladia has become Training Officer and Simon Hanson returns at Website Officer. The four ordinary members of the Executive are Mike Dixon, Dave Radcliffe, Heather Kidd and Alan Beddow.

Councillor Tariq Kahn Chairing the UK-Muslim session at the West Midlands Regional Conference

Conference had a number of discussion groups - such a UK-Muslim relations following my trip to Pakistan earlier in the year, and others on the future of politics and the Iraq War. As well as discussion groups there were training sessions on voter identification, taking better photographs and running an AGM and a session on selecting local election candidates.