Launch Pad Conference

This autumn conference could be the last before the next General Election. If Tony Blair finally goes, voluntarily or otherwise, then his successor is likely to 'cut and run' in an attempt to cash in on any honeymoon factor before political reality reasserts itself. Especially if that successor is Gordon Brown.

More than one battered, defeated and disillusioned Labour activist in Chesterfield has told me that "…it will all be alright when Gordon is Leader." In fact of course their hopes are founded on sand. Gordon himself has had made several speeches asserting that he will continue Blair's New Labour project, as with his nuclear policies. Not surprising really as the Chancellor is the financial architect of much of it. PFI scams - sorry schemes- that in the long term cost 20% more than traditional public funding methods are the Chancellors pet project. Rigged finances that try to force Council Tenants to 'choose' privatisation or face crumbling housing stock? Competition in the NHS with private sector providers paid 15-20% more than the NHS, even for operations they don't carry out? One of the worst state pensions in Western Europe? The tax credit shambles and massive means testing? The Treasury pull all those strings and many more too. Meanwhile Gordon failed to oppose the illegal and disastrous invasion of Iraq or to speak out against the Bush/Blair support for Israel's disproportionate onslaught against Lebanon. An onslaught that targeted bridges, power stations, water treatment works and forbade humanitarian relief convoys while killing high ratios of civilians.

As it becomes ever clearer that "..if you vote Brown you get Blair" then a snap General Election would be more and more likely next year. As a key part of preparing for that election two major projects that were launched immediately after the last General Election come to fruition at this Conference. One, under the name Meeting the Challenge, has involved the entire membership in debating and defining the philosophy and aims of the Party for the Twenty First Century. The other of course is the work of the Tax Commission which represents proposals for the most comprehensive, green and redistributive restructuring of the tax system that any political party has undertaken in modern British politics.

Unlike the other two major parties the Liberal Democrats have not only involved our members in this debate at every stage, but it is our members at Conference who exercise the final say. No New Labour control freakery, no 'Cameron Light' froth and spin for the press while party members are kept away from the cameras and decision taking alike.

As Chairman of the Parliamentary Party I have chaired frequent debate on these issues at our weekly meetings in the House of Commons. I have participated too in that debate at the regular Federal Policy Committee meetings that I attend on behalf of our MP's. As Chairman I also attend other regular behind the scenes meetings on behalf of the Parliamentary Party - Campaigns and Communications Committee, weekly Shadow Cabinet meetings, POLD meetings. In the course of those I have witnessed and participated in the process of making the largest and most successful Liberal Democrat Party ever, fit for purpose in attaining even more future electoral success and entering Government in this new century.

We already for example "get more bangs for our buck," or votes and seats per pound spent, than the other two major parties, despite the massive discrimination in their favour inherent in the FPTP electoral system. We also of course already have the most feared by election team in the UK as our stunning results in Dunfermline and Bromley confirmed once again this year. Developments in our use of modern campaigning techniques are however being put in place to ensure that we do not rest on our laurels but continue to compete successfully against the massive spending power of the Conservative and Labour machines.

Last year in this Conference edition of the House Magazine I wrote that "My recent election as chairman of the parliamentary party comes at an exciting juncture in Liberal Democrat development. With the largest parliamentary party for over 80 years, methods of working that suited six MP's in 1970, or 22 Members in early 1997, need modernising to keep pace with an ever-growing party." Much of that has now been achieved in the internal communications and organisation of the Parliamentary Party.

Similarly the last year has seen a major and radical overhaul of the organisation, functioning and professional management of the support team (Advisers, Researchers, Press Office and Whips staff) employed by the Parliamentary Party through POLD (Parliamentary Office of the Liberal Democrats). Most of this is essential behind the scenes work that most party members are unaware of, but press coverage is one example that many members across the country do discuss and contact us about. Although still much smaller than both the better funded Tories and the Government spin machine our recent restructuring has, as of this summer, now created the largest press team we have ever had. As one long serving MP pointed out at one of our weekly meetings "..we have come a long way from the days, not many years ago, when our MP's argued bitterly about whether we could afford to employ even a single press officer." In short the Party is now larger, more electorally successful at every level across the UK and better organised internally than ever in modern times. I first began campaigning in 1983 and after every election since then our opponents and the press have told us variously that we were either 'finished' or that we 'had reached our high water mark and would now be pushed back.' Instead we have continued to go from strength to strength. Even given the difficult events of December - February we have won Dunfermline, narrowly missed Bromley, polled second in the May elections and are averaging 20% in the opinion polls instead of falling back up to 10 points as we normally do in the year after a General Election.

The last year has seen crucial internal preparatory work. This conference is now the launch pad for the next round of elections. As a party we are better placed than ever to put Liberal Democrat policies and beliefs into practice- in Westminster, in Scotland, in Wales, in Europe and in Town Halls across the UK.