West Midlands Liberal Democrats

How can I contribute to party policy?

As a member of the Liberal Democrats, you can participate in policy making in the following ways:

• By commenting on a Consultation Paper.
• By talking to your Conference Representatives
• By getting your Local Party to submit a motion to conference
• By becoming a Conference Representative yourself
• By becoming a member of a Policy Working Group
• In addition, a special website has been set up where you can contribute directly. See http://consult.libdems.org.uk/ for details.

Some Local Parties also hold policy discussion groups, sometimes in conjunction with other neighbouring Local Parties. If your Local Party doesn't have such a group, perhaps you should start one!

One of my ambitions as Regional Policy Officer is the creation of an online forum, accessible via the West Midlands website, where party members can discuss regional policy.

Commenting on Consultation Papers

Consultation Papers typically appear about a year before the corresponding Policy Paper is due to be voted on at Federal Conference. They are your chance to have your say before the Policy Paper gets written. Most Consultation Papers take the form of a series of questions to which answers are invited.

A copy of every Consultation Paper is sent to the Secretary of your Local Party and to all your Local Party's Conference Representatives. They may also be available on the party website, or purchased from Liberal Democrat Image (the party's publishers). Large print and audio tape versions can usually be ordered from the Policy Unit. Please let me know if you have trouble getting hold of a particular Consultation Paper.

Some Local Parties hold policy discussion meetings at which Consultation Papers are debated. Alternatively, the papers may be discussed at a meeting of the Local Party Executive Committee (remember that every member has a right to attend committee meetings, where practicable). As a result of these discussions, the Local Party may decide to submit comments to the policy working group that is responsible for the paper.

Consultation Papers may also be discussed at Regional Conference. As our region's Policy Officer, I always try to get someone from at least one of the current Policy Working Groups to come to Regional Conference.

For the latest round of consulations, the party have set up a dedicated website where you can contribute on-line. See http://consult.libdems.org.uk/ for more information.

Talking to your Conference Representatives

Every Local Party has a quota of Conference Representatives who must be elected every year at the AGM. The more members a Local Party has, the bigger its quota of representatives. Your Secretary will be able to tell you who your Conference Representatives are.

It is important to understand that representatives vote according to their consciences; they cannot be forced to vote for or against a particular policy. However, good representatives should at least make an effort to discover the views of the membership before going to conference. Some Local Parties hold policy discussion meetings for this purpose.

In any event, Conference Representatives must report back on how they voted at the next AGM. This is a constitutional requirement. How else can members decide if their Conference Representatives are any good?

Submitting a motion to Federal Conference

This can be daunting, but the Federal Conference Committee (FCC) is trying to make it easier.

The wording of the motion must be concise and clear. It doesn't necessarily have to create new policy, but it shouldn't address an area of policy that has only very recently been debated at conference, or which is currently the subject of an ongoing Policy Working Party.

In recent years, the FCC has published a list of subjects on which motions are specifically invited. The FCC can also help you to draft your motion, provided that you get it to them in good time. It is therefore important that you find out the relevant deadlines.

Becoming a Federal Conference Representative

Any member can stand for election as a Conference Representative (or be appointed by the Local Party Executive Committee if a vacancy arises). However, you should think carefully before putting your name forward. If you are elected, you will be expected to attend at least the Autumn Federal Conference. You will have to study the agendas and Policy Papers, and perhaps do some background reading to understand the issues at stake. What's more, attendance at conference can be costly. You have to pay for conference fees and hotel accommodation. You may need to take time off work.

Because of these constraints, many Local Parties are unable to take up their full quota of representatives. Some Local Parties offer financial assistance to their representatives, for example by paying the conference fees.

Remember that any member can attend conference (as long as they pay the conference fee) but only representatives can actually vote when they get there.

Becoming a member of a Policy Working Group

The Federal Policy Committee advertises the setting up of new working groups in Liberal Democrat News. I intend to reproduce these adverts on the West Midlands' website.

You need to have some expertise or practical knowledge of the area under review. You will also have to be able to journey to London to attend meetings. Sadly, the party is still rather London-centric in its attitudes.