One of the concerns of the day expressed several times by several people and businesses was the Tory EU referendum. The Tories may well be leading the Country into economic and social disaster with its EU referndum merely as a salve to its extreme Eurosceptic wing. Building up myths and fears rather than woprking from within to improve it as an organisation that works for citizens across Europe.

In the conference hall listened to good speeches from Willie Rennie and Nick Clegg and the main debate of the morning on Climate Change . In Scotland the Independence dabate continues apace and certainly if the Tory plan for a EU referndum delivers an exit vote then surely the UK will disintegrate with Scotland for sure and possibly Wales clamouring to remain in the EU and leaving the UK thus leaving Cameron with his Little England mentality and a completely fractured country.

Lunch time Fringe  – went to the Country Side Alliance and the importance of the rural vote. Mark Williams MP for Ceredigion made several good points on the different needs of rural communities from housing to the desire for hill farmers to have small wind turbines to help with energy costs as well as using renewable energy.

In the afternoon we had the Trident debate (see separate posting) and One Member One Vote. At this conference we had a record number of attendees including a record number of first timers and new members. Up to now we have had voting delegates and non-voting delegates – with numbers assigned to constituency by membership numbers. However from now on anyone who comes to conference will be a voting delegate. I think this is a great step forward in opening up conference. Now we have to look to see how we can develop on-line participation so that members can vote from home if they cannot get the time or money to attend the conference in person.

For the evening Fringe started with Land Value Taxation and Vince Cable . Land Value Taxation was unfortuneately one of the few items in the LLoyd George budget that did not get enacted. A shame. We need something that controls the value of land and make sure it contributes to society and not just a lucky few owners. From there went to an International Fringe event – again subject of a separate posting.