Sunday started with two training sessions on websites which proved very useful and learnt lots of new techniques. The challenge is now to see if I can implement them. Back at the Confernece listened to a great speech from Sohie in t’Veld about the importance of the UK staying in Europe. She is from D66 – a Dutch Liberal party that had a traumatic election experience a few years ago and is now bouncing back.

Lunchtime Fringe event was at Trussel Trust fringe on food poverty in the UK. There is real concern that the new Conservative Govenments ruthless attacking on the working poor since its election victory in May is going to have major impacts on many families. The cutting of free school meals and DWP working tax credit penalties etc are just two examples.    John Pugh MP  also raised issues about poor diet, lack of fresh food in some communities and obesity as a sign not of overeating but poor eating.

Evening Fringe – I selected one on Gibraltar with Fabian Picardo MP and Joseph Garcia MP – the two leaders of the coalition government there one from Labour and one from the Liberals. Interesting to hear their issues with Spain and how the current economic woes in Spain had casued a raise in tension as a distraction policy by the Spanish Government. Followed this with an excellent beer and curry fringe with the RSPCA fringe on issues around pet and animal welfare with Baroness Kate Parminter and finally on to the LGA LD group AGM.