Herald Express: Discover everything I got up to at the Liberal Democrat party conference

Last week, the Liberal Democrats wrapped up our autumn party conference in Bournemouth. Over four days, we held speeches, debated motions, and announced new policies all tied to answering a single question: what kind of country do we want Britain to be?  

That seems to be the question facing us right now. Reform is riding high in the polls, promoting a vision for Britain founded upon division and intolerance that is completely detached from the national identity most of us cherish.  

Nowhere is this mindset clearer than in their recent pledge to abolish indefinite leave to remain. This policy, underpinned by dodgy maths and even dodgier projected savings, is fearmongering, headline-chasing politics at its worst: half-baked, with no regard for its legality and no compassion for the economic and social damage it will wreak. 

It was strangely fitting for Farage to announce this policy in the middle of our conference. The public could see for themselves two opposite visions for our country.  

While Reform announced plans that would tear families and communities apart, we revealed policy after policy rooted in British values, that would boost economic growth, protect the NHS, and improve lives.  

On Saturday our deputy leader, Daisy Cooper, called for a targeted, time-limited windfall tax on the big banks. For years, taxpayers have been subsidising eye-watering banking sector profits. Right now, taxpayers are on course to hand the big banks £50bn over the course of this parliament.  

Our windfall tax begins to correct this imbalance, raising around £7bn a year on average by 2030, which would then be used for our public services and the creation of an Energy Security Bank to help cut energy bills.  

Another focus during the conference was reforming the leasehold system and strengthening homebuyer rights. Changing the status quo for leaseholders and freeholders is a must, and I was pleased to see a raft of policies announced to achieve this, including establishing rights for homebuyers to ensure access to building repairs.  

Back in April, I led a parliamentary debate on residential estate management companies, where I warned their practices could constitute the next great scandal of our time. Frankly, I have seen little progress since then to change my mind. It is clear the current system has woefully failed to protect tenant rights. We cannot wait for more scandals to happen before we finally do something.  

Acting now was a running theme of our conference. Over a year into office, Labour is currently at best offering continuity Sunak and at worst overseeing the managed decline we saw under the Tories. Without immediate action, the mistakes they made in their first year could become catastrophic.  

Sadly, in hospitality this is already happening. More than half of the UK’s job losses since the autumn budget have been in hospitality, and industry figures fear the total number could top 110,000 by the next budget.  

I was proud to speak up for the industry at our conference, where the party reaffirmed its call for the government to make hospitality SMEs exempt from the rise in employer national insurance contributions and to review business rate changes to support hospitality.  

This is just a snapshot of what was announced, with other policies tackling hospice care, access to nature, and UK/EU relations. All of which feed into a Britain rooted in community, growth, and opportunity for everyone.  

Something that is a far cry from the divisive Trumpian-style of politics Farage wishes to import here.  

Remember, if you wish to contact me about an issue you are facing, please do so at: caroline.voaden.mp@parliament.uk  

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