Comments on: Does anyone love the London Lib Dems?

By: Dave Page

Dave Page — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:53:47 +0000

In my region, it seems to be that the local parties aren’t interested in supporting regional conferences. I see regional conferences as a great way to get training out to members who can’t afford the time or money to make Federal Conference, and if local parties were more proactive about identifying training needs then this would help.

By: Antony Hook

Antony Hook — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:12:52 +0000

Partly I expect it is to do with the different functions of the conferences.

A lot of people want to be representatives to Federal Conference to get a vote in policy making. Regional conferences tend to have a much smaller role in important policy making.

Although, given the London devolved government, it is odd that London suffers from that as badly as other English Regions.

By: James Graham

James Graham — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:46:58 +0000

I’m not claiming it is a problem unique to London. I’m claiming it is a problem that London is in a unique position to do something about.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:32:33 +0000

Yes, but that’s because everyone in Leeds thinks that Leeds is better than Bradford and people from Bradford should go THERE.

I was just pointing out that this isn’t just a London problem. I wouldn’t want you to be accused of being Londoncentric, after all…

By: James Graham

James Graham — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:17:43 +0000

Well indeed, and that’s what I wrote in the last para. Unlike Yorkshire, London is much more easy for people to navigate around, so they have everything to gain from lowering the cost of participation, whereas in Yorkshire it will probably be a struggle to get people to engage however low the registration cost is (in my day in Leeds, travelling to Bradford was considered extravagant by most of our council group).

By: Jennie

Jennie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:09:14 +0000

TBH, I think this is just a case of nobody wanting to go to regional conference because it’s not worth the time or money. This happens in Yorkshire too. I mean, why would you pay thirty quid for a half-day conference when you can go to both spring and autumn federal (a total of 8 days) for a combined fee of £87, with all the enhanced networking and training opportunities that federal conference provides? It makes no fiscal sense.

Make regional conferences a tenner a day too (or £5 a half day), and people might be more willing to go.