Conference, the pre-manifesto is always an important document for us.It’s
our opportunity to set out the themes for our General Election campaign and
the process of putting it together has been a tremendous team effort. Many,
many people have worked exceptionally hard over recent months, Parliamentary
Spokesmen and women, their staff, party researchers and members so that today,
we can set out the policy platform on which our party will fight the next
General Election. And I can honestly say in coming to Bournemouth this year
that I’ve never been more proud of our platform and I’ve never been more
proud of our team.
"Natural Territory"
These are exciting times to be a Liberal Democrat. On the back page of the
document, there’s an interview with Charles.
The Liberal Democrats, he says are now the only national opposition to Labour.
And he’s absolutely right.
When we won in Brent East and the Tories came third
Conservatives muttered that inner-city London was not their “natural territory”.
Leicester and Birmingham turned out not to be their natural territory either.
And now Hartlepool too.
But there’s more.
In a full third of mainland Britain, not only do the Conservatives no longer
have any MPs they have virtually no councillors either.There isn’t much natural
Conservative territory left!
Contrast this with Liberal Democrats for whom there are no “no-go” areas
in this country. From John O’Groats to Land’s End, whether in Edinburgh or
Bath, Cardiff or Colchester
Liverpool, Newcastle or Chesterfield, Brent East, Southwark, Islington –
and I haven’t forgotten – Leicester, we are proud to say: Liberal Democrats
are in power.
Natural territory for the Conservatives now means just a few English shires.But
for Liberal Democrats natural territory means the British people.
As we enter an era of three party politics, this pre-manifesto is not just
important for us, it’s important for Britain.
So, what of the policies?
Well, let’s take Labour’s “Child Trust Fund” as just one example. The so-called
“Baby Bonds”.The Chancellor is proposing a one-off cash payment to every
child
when they reach the age of 18. But for the price of Gordon Brown’s baby bonds
Liberal Democrats can give every family the support they really need when
they really need it, by investing in early years education instead. Cutting
early years class sizes for the price of a cheap car at 18.Quality early
years education for the price of a pre-university holiday.
Liberal Democrat priorities for the price of Labour ones.
Lottery Of Life
Conference, each and every baby is born with unique and individual promise.
But the fact is there are two different worlds. In the first, born into a
world of poverty statistically, the chances are you will be less successful.You
will be less well-educated, less healthy, and live less long. In the second,
born into a wealthier, more privileged family statistically, the chances
are you will be more successful. You will be better educated, healthier and
live longer.Despite equal levels of love, care and commitment to a child
this two-tier world means that a child is too often limited not by the talents
they possess but by the world they are born into.That cannot be right. And
on a personal level, it gives me pause for thought.
I was born to a single mum in 1963 and at that time, raising a child on your
own was all but impossible and socially, pretty unacceptable.So my mother
took a heart-rending decision.
I was adopted. By sheer good fortune, I was adopted by a wonderful family
who were able to offer me a world of opportunities. I can never know what
it would have been like
to have been brought up by my birth mother, a single mother in 1960s London.
But let’s face it, it probably would have been very different. Same child
– totally different life.
Quality For All
Labour and Conservatives now argue about choice so children with parents
who have the time, the resources and the inclination to fight for a place
at a specialist school, a faith school, an academy, whatever it might be
- those children have a head start. But other children, equally talented
– equally loved
in the Labour and Conservative world of so-called “choice”
are expected to make-do with second-best.That should not be the limit of
the ambitions of any Government to offer quality for a few – and not for
the many.
I got a wonderful start through the lottery of adoption.I want every child
to get a wonderful start as a matter of fact.And that’s what I believe the
policies in this document can deliver.
Our pre-manifesto offers a cogent alternative to the pointless debate the
other two parties are having about choice.
When you are sick, you want a good doctor.
When you have children, you want a good teacher.
When you are old, you want a good pension.
Who would choose a poor hospital?
Who would choose a bad school?
Who would choose an inadequate pension?
The truth is, Labour and the Conservatives talk about choice because they’ve
failed to deliver on quality. But that doesn’t mean we think people don’t
need a say. Local people have a much better understanding of local needs
than someone sitting at a desk in Whitehall. We will cut back central Government
not because it’s the right-wing thing to do but because it’s the right thing
to do.
I want this party to remain fully committed to investing in public services.
But we all know, from our local experience,
that money isn’t the only solution.Gordon Brown has poured money into our
public services but because he tries to control every single penny from the
centre, it’s not doing the job on the ground.It’s spent on chasing central
targets and red tape. Not on the frontline.
So we’ve looked at all the areas Labour funds, to move spending into our
priorities: Health, education, pensions, police.
And one other: the environment.
The Environment
Conference, I’ve been a campaigner all my life but I have a confession to
make. The first doors I ever knocked on, I wasn’t canvassing for the Lib
Dems. Not even the SDP, or the Liberals. Don’t panic. I’m not a Conservative
refugee or a Labour asylum seeker.(Though we welcome both to our party).
I was campaigning against a plan to build a nuclear power station in Cornwall.
My concern for the environment then has developed into a life-long commitment.I
look around my rural constituency,
and I’m always struck by the responsibility we have
to preserve our natural world for future generations.I don’t want to stop
people living life to the full but unless we find more sustainable ways of
going where we want to go and doing what we want to do there will be no freedom
for future generations.
That’s why this pre-manifesto has such a vivid green thread.
A Liberal Democrat approach, but also a deeply personal one for me.
Our Philosophy
Conference, I hope we have a good pre-manifesto debate. Today is about debating
it, refining it, perfecting it so that it works for Britain and above all,
for the local communities you represent.
But when we’re done, let’s go out to the country and give it life. Put it
through people’s letter boxes, quote it in our leaflets,
apply it to local issues.Above all, engage people in our philosophy and our
plans to make Britain better.
And when people ask you what Liberal Democrats stand for?
Let’s tell them - in every street, on every farm and in every city:
For Freedom. Fairness. Trust.
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Front page
Published by Matthew Taylor MP, 10 South Street, St Austell, Cornwall PL25
5BH
Printed and hosted by Nextra, Global House, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, Surrey,
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