Sir Vince Cable headlines the Lib Dem West Midlands Autumn Regional Conference

by Bryan Manley-Green

Well over 200 people attended a well-organised day of Lib Dem politics at Birmingham University on Saturday 18 November.  Delegates came from all over the region, and it was especially nice to see a few members from Sandwell in attendance.  

The morning included a very interesting talk, concluding with a question and answer session with Sir Graham Watson, a former Lib Dem MEP, who now sits on the European Economic and Social Committee.  He described the committee as “sort of like a House of Lords for the EU”.  His inside knowledge on what was actually going on was exceptionally interesting.  

Along with a policy motion on constitutional reform and training sessions on a variety of subjects, delegates enjoyed two other panel discussions. These focussed on keeping female talent and combatting terrorism.

Lib Dem candidate for Warley, Bryan Manley-Green (pictured below), today expressed his delight at Michael Gove's decision to bring in to law the Lib Dem position on the most serious animal cruelty offences.

Bryan commented "Our party manifesto contained a policy of raising the maximum penalty for animal cruelty from six months imprisonment to five years. We tabled questions in parliament as long ago as January, and now, finally, the government has changed its tone and implemented our demands"

The Liberal Democrats said a report showing Brexit will create 80,000 jobs in Frankfurt is a "further humiliation" for Boris Johnson, coming on the same day he was forced to admit the UK will have to pay a divorce payment to the EU.

Commenting on the open letter from the president of the Prison Governors Association following recent violence in prisons in Hertfordshire and Wiltshire, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Ed Davey said: 

A fully electric version of the Mini will be built in Cowley, Oxford, BMW has confirmed.

Local Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran welcomed the news and said she hoped it is a sign the government has listened to the car industry on the importance of staying in the single market and customs union.

Commenting on the latest government proposals for home energy generation, former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey said:

"The UK could have been a world leader in home energy generation by now but the last two years have seen renewable investment nose-dive after the Conservatives decided to "cut the green crap’. 

I want to lead the Liberal Democrats because I am ambitious about our future.

I believe we are the only party that can represent the millions of liberal-minded people alarmed by the direction this country is taking: people, whether they voted remain or leave, who hate the intolerance, xenophobia and division that the Brexit vote unleashed.

UK government arms sales to Saudi Arabia are lawful, the High Court has ruled, after seeing secret evidence. Commenting on the news, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said:

Theresa May will this week mark her anniversary of becoming Prime Minister by making a speech which seems to suggest that she needs the help of Jeremy Corbyn and Labour to deliver Brexit.  Commenting on the speech, Liberal Democrat Shadow Brexit secretary Tom Brake said: 

Former equalities minister Jo Swinson MP has called on the Conservative government to accept Stella Creasy's amendment to the Queen's speech.

Jo said:

“I am glad that the Speaker has granted a vote on this crucial issue of women’s rights. It is appalling that UK citizens are charged for NHS care if they have an abortion in England, just because they happen to live in Northern Ireland.  Tonight is an opportunity to make the government think again.
 
"The Health Secretary has the power to stop these charges.  I hope Conservative MPs will examine their consciences closely and vote to help these women at what is a distressing time.”