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Version 6 Version 7
At-a-glance: Lib Dems Day Two At-a-glance: Lib Dems Day Two
(about 2 hours later)
All you need to know about the Liberal Democrat conference 2007: TuesdayAll you need to know about the Liberal Democrat conference 2007: Tuesday
CONFERENCE CATCH-UP TODAY'S AGENDA CONFERENCE DIARY FRINGE ROUND-UP QUOTE OF THE DAY PHOTO OF THE DAYCONFERENCE CATCH-UP TODAY'S AGENDA CONFERENCE DIARY FRINGE ROUND-UP QUOTE OF THE DAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
CONFERENCE CATCH-UPCONFERENCE CATCH-UP
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg's call for a "selective" amnesty for illegal immigrants is backed by the conference. Immigrant 'amnesty' urgedLib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg's call for a "selective" amnesty for illegal immigrants is backed by the conference. Immigrant 'amnesty' urged
The conference backs plans to cut income tax, scrap council tax and increase green taxes. Tax shake-up plansThe conference backs plans to cut income tax, scrap council tax and increase green taxes. Tax shake-up plans
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso tells the Liberal Democrat conference that the European Union "is not full of hidden plots". Barroso puts case for EU reformEuropean Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso tells the Liberal Democrat conference that the European Union "is not full of hidden plots". Barroso puts case for EU reform
Gordon Brown's attempts to recruit politicians from other parties is a "threat to democracy", Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable warns. Brown 'threatens democracy'Gordon Brown's attempts to recruit politicians from other parties is a "threat to democracy", Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable warns. Brown 'threatens democracy'
UKIP leader Nigel Farage is barracked by delegates at a fringe meeting as he backs Sir Menzies Campbell's call for an EU referendum. UKIP's Farage given rough rideUKIP leader Nigel Farage is barracked by delegates at a fringe meeting as he backs Sir Menzies Campbell's call for an EU referendum. UKIP's Farage given rough ride
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TODAY'S AGENDA TODAY'S AGENDA
Tuesday 18th SeptemberTuesday 18th September
09.00 Making Planning Local, RewardingCommunity Housing09.00 Making Planning Local, RewardingCommunity Housing
09.40 Reducing the Burden (Tax Reform PolicyPaper)09.40 Reducing the Burden (Tax Reform PolicyPaper)
11.10 Speech: Norman Lamb MP11.10 Speech: Norman Lamb MP
11.30 Immigration in the 21st Century11.30 Immigration in the 21st Century
14.20 Urgent Issue14.20 Urgent Issue
14.50 Speech: Michael Moore MP14.50 Speech: Michael Moore MP
15.10 Freedom from Poverty, Opportunity forAll (Poverty and Inequality Policy Paper)15.10 Freedom from Poverty, Opportunity forAll (Poverty and Inequality Policy Paper)
16.40 Citizenship and Identity16.40 Citizenship and Identity
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CONFERENCE DIARYCONFERENCE DIARY
  • Could Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell be attempting to send shivers down the spines of his frontbench team? At an event for local councillors, who made short work of the free wine and sandwiches, Sir Menzies was handed a knife to cut the celebratory cake. Braveheart-like, he held it aloft, declaring: "I was fascinated by this extraordinary knife - it made me think immediately about having a reshuffle."
  • For weeks Justine McGuinness was the personal spokeswoman for the parents of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann. But now the former Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate is back to one of her day jobs - chairing party conference debates. The PR expert made regular TV appearances to defend Kate and Gerry McCann when they were formally declared suspects by the Portuguese police. She also organised events to keep the public eye focused on the hunt for Madeleine. But just two weeks after the couple returned to the UK from Praia da Luz, Ms McGuinness - who came second in the race for Tory MP Oliver Letwin's West Dorset seat in the 2005 general election - is in the rather cooler climes of Brighton for the Lib Dems' annual gathering. And it was straight back to business for the suntanned 37-year-old. She kicked off the afternoon's proceedings by chairing a debate on action to prevent bullying.
  • For weeks Justine McGuinness was the personal spokeswoman for the parents of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann. But now the former Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate is back to one of her day jobs - chairing party conference debates. The PR expert made regular TV appearances to defend Kate and Gerry McCann when they were formally declared suspects by the Portuguese police. She also organised events to keep the public eye focused on the hunt for Madeleine. But just two weeks after the couple returned to the UK from Praia da Luz, Ms McGuinness - who came second in the race for Tory MP Oliver Letwin's West Dorset seat in the 2005 general election - is in the rather cooler climes of Brighton for the Lib Dems' annual gathering. And it was straight back to business for the suntanned 37-year-old. She kicked off the afternoon's proceedings by chairing a debate on action to prevent bullying.
  • Forget about the plaudits of the conference hall. The real popularity contest is taking place in the Lib Dem merchandise shop. Badges featuring home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg are said to be outselling all others. A source tells the BBC that staff have shifted 19 units featuring the fresh-faced Sheffield Hallam MP. In second place - on 10 - is environment spokesman Chris Huhne, with party leader Sir Menzies Campbell in third place on nine.
  • Forget about the plaudits of the conference hall. The real popularity contest is taking place in the Lib Dem merchandise shop. Badges featuring home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg are said to be outselling all others. A source tells the BBC that staff have shifted 19 units featuring the fresh-faced Sheffield Hallam MP. In second place - on 10 - is environment spokesman Chris Huhne, with party leader Sir Menzies Campbell in third place on nine.
  • Sir Menzies prompted some puzzled looks when he equated his political beliefs to a sweet Sussex delicacy, before meandering into some more meaty - not to say macabre - metaphors. During a Q&A session with comedian Sandi Toksvig, he said: "I suppose if you went out and bought a stick of Brighton rock and sliced it, it would say 'Brighton' all the way through. If you ever put me through one of those ham-cutting machines, you will see the top bit says Liberal and the bottom bit says Liberal Democrat."
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    FRINGE ROUND-UPFRINGE ROUND-UP
    PARTY 'TOO OLD AND WHITE': A panel of young people has told the Liberal Democrats they are too old, too white - and that they need to do more to capture voters' imagination.At a fringe event organised by MTV and the electoral commission, six people faced Lib Dem MPs Simon Hughes and Norman Baker, along with Mark Gottleson from Liberal Democrat Youth and Students.Their political experience ranged from two who admitted they didn't vote, to one who had previously attended a Labour party conference. The group - Kendall, Zeynab, Alexandra, Philip, Orlando and Lewis - gave their first impressions after watching the conference all day.Kendall said the amount of grey hair in the audience was "a surprise", adding he was "stunned" by what he saw as pre-prepared questions and answers.Zeynab said Sir Menzies Campbell was "far more down-to-earth than was let on in the media." Philip, who works with young people in Lewisham, south-east London, said he was struck by the "positive mood". Subjects discussed included how to include women in politics. Alexandra argued female voters were turned off by the "public schoolboy" attitude in Westminster.Told that his party "flip-flopped" on issues by Zeynab - Norman Baker argued their policies weren't always "the easy option" - saying that taxes on cheap flights, for example, weren't an easy message. But he conceded that if people didn't understand the Lib Dems' message, that was the party's fault. Kenzie said the Liberal Democrats were responsible for getting their own message across, and the party couldn't just blame the media for the way they reported its message. Mark Gottleson, from Lib Dem Youth and Students, admitted the party's representation of the black and minority ethnic Mps was "shocking". All Lib Dem MPs are white. Joanna Shinn FAMILIES 'NEED BETTER UNDERSTANDING': A lack of understanding between parents and children could contribute to the radicalisation of young Muslims, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg argued. He and Mohammed Abdul-Bari of the Muslim Council of Britain talked about ways of reaching out to communities in Britain. Mr Clegg said he did not see the same cohesion between generations that he saw when he visited his wife's family in Spain. Dr Bari argued that modern life was leading to individualism, which was contributing to problems. He said parents who had to go out to work were not able to nurture their children in the same way.Joanna Shinn
    PARTY 'TOO OLD AND WHITE': A panel of young people has told the Liberal Democrats they are too old, too white - and that they need to do more to capture voters' imagination. At a fringe meeting, six youths gave their first impressions of the party conference. One said the amount of grey hair in the audience was "a surprise", adding he was "stunned" by what he saw as pre-prepared questions and answers.Joanna Shinn
    COALITION CALLS DISMISSED: Two Liberal Democrats identified as possible successors to Sir Menzies Campbell have dismissed Gordon Brown's "big tent" politics and played down the possibility of entering into coalition with any other party after the next election.Environment spokesman Chris Huhne and home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg were speaking at a fringe meeting organised by the Independent. Mr Clegg said the prime minister "projected an image of pluralism" but kept a "firm, sweaty grasp on power". Both men defended the leadership's call for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European union but not for one on the new EU treaty. Mark Sanders COALITION CALLS DISMISSED: Two Liberal Democrats identified as possible successors to Sir Menzies Campbell have dismissed Gordon Brown's "big tent" politics and played down the possibility of entering into coalition with any other party after the next election.Environment spokesman Chris Huhne and home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg were speaking at a fringe meeting organised by the Independent. Mr Clegg said the prime minister "projected an image of pluralism" but kept a "firm, sweaty grasp on power". Both men defended the leadership's call for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European union but not for one on the new EU treaty. Mark Sanders
    ARMED SERVICES 'DESERVE BETTER': Defence spokesman Nick Harvey accused the government of presiding over a "breakdown in the duty of care" owed to the armed forces. A meeting heard that accommodation for servicemen and women was poorly maintained, while combat equipment was not good enough. Mr Harvey said: "It's important that we think about and support and recognise the commitment, bravery and dedication and professionalism of servicemen and women." The call comes after the British Legion launched a campaign for the Military Covenant - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - to be upheld better by ministers. Justin ParkinsonARMED SERVICES 'DESERVE BETTER': Defence spokesman Nick Harvey accused the government of presiding over a "breakdown in the duty of care" owed to the armed forces. A meeting heard that accommodation for servicemen and women was poorly maintained, while combat equipment was not good enough. Mr Harvey said: "It's important that we think about and support and recognise the commitment, bravery and dedication and professionalism of servicemen and women." The call comes after the British Legion launched a campaign for the Military Covenant - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - to be upheld better by ministers. Justin Parkinson
    GREEN TAXES 'MUST CHANGE BEHAVIOUR': Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said one of his biggest challenges was "how to sell environmental taxes to the general public". He said green taxes must not contribute to higher levels of tax, adding: "This is not to raise money but to change behaviour". Mr Cable also said the Lib Dems could offer "more challenging" policies on vehicle excise duty, and think about doing more to give people driving old cars an incentive to replace them with greener ones. Rajini VaidyanathanGREEN TAXES 'MUST CHANGE BEHAVIOUR': Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said one of his biggest challenges was "how to sell environmental taxes to the general public". He said green taxes must not contribute to higher levels of tax, adding: "This is not to raise money but to change behaviour". Mr Cable also said the Lib Dems could offer "more challenging" policies on vehicle excise duty, and think about doing more to give people driving old cars an incentive to replace them with greener ones. Rajini Vaidyanathan
    EATING DISORDERS: Relationships with friends and families are a bigger factor in creating girls' eating disorders than the influence of celebrity role models, research suggests. A Liberal Democrat conference fringe meeting organised by Girl Guiding UK heard that children as young as eight were suffering problems. Rajini VaidyanathanEATING DISORDERS: Relationships with friends and families are a bigger factor in creating girls' eating disorders than the influence of celebrity role models, research suggests. A Liberal Democrat conference fringe meeting organised by Girl Guiding UK heard that children as young as eight were suffering problems. Rajini Vaidyanathan
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    PHOTO OF THE DAYPHOTO OF THE DAY
    Sir Menzies gets some fresh air on a visit to a green housing projectSir Menzies gets some fresh air on a visit to a green housing project
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    QUOTE OF THE DAYQUOTE OF THE DAY
    "The house that Gordon Built may not be built on sand but it has certainly been built on a floodplain." Treasury spokesman Vince Cable on Gordon Brown's handling of the economy"The house that Gordon Built may not be built on sand but it has certainly been built on a floodplain." Treasury spokesman Vince Cable on Gordon Brown's handling of the economy
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