Global InformationLiberal Democrat Conference information
 September 2015 Lib Dem Conference, at BIC Bournemouth | |
| Formation | 2 March 1988 (on creation of the Liberal Democrats) |
|---|---|
| Location |
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Board of directors | Federal Conference Committee |
Key people | Nick da Costa (Chair) Cara Jenkinson & Jon Ball (Vice Chairs) |
Parent organization | Liberal Democrats |
| Website | Liberal Democrat Conference |
The Liberal Democrat Conference, also known inside the party as the Liberal Democrat Federal Conference, is a twice-per-year political conference of the British Liberal Democrats, the third-largest political party in the UK by the number of votes cast. The Conference is typically held over three days in Spring and four in Autumn, during the party conference season, at a variety of venues (due to COVID-19, between Spring 2020 — Spring 2022 inclusive, as a primarily Online event). It culminates in a speech by the party's Leader.
It is organised by the Federal Conference Committee, an internal body of the Liberal Democrats. Conference is the ultimate decision-making body of the Liberal Democrats, one of the few British political parties to use its annual gathering for voting and policy resolution.
In contrast to the Labour Party Conference, where 50% of votes are allocated to affiliated organisations (such as trade unions), and in which all voting is restricted to nominated representatives (known as delegates),[1] and the Conservative Party Conference, where votes are traditionally not held,[2] every member of the Liberal Democrats who attends its Conference, either in-person or online,[3] has the right to vote in policy debates, under a one member, one vote system. There are no 'weighted' votes reserved for the party's Elected Representatives, MPs, trade unions or for senior members of the party. A proposal can only become policy if Conference votes for it.[4][5]
Conference also features speeches from prominent party members and guests and an exhibition.
There are also several fringe events, some of which are run by internal political groups, such as Liberal Reform, Social Liberal Forum and Young Liberals, and a well-established late-evening entertainment review known as the Glee Club.
- ^ "Labour Party Rule Book 2020 (Chapter 3 - Party Conference — Clause III - Procedural rules for Party Conference)" (PDF). The Labour Party. April 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Party Conferences". Institute for Government. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Liberal Democrats - Spring Conference Online". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "How is policy decided?". Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ "Standing orders for Federal Conference - Glossary of terms" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 16 January 2023.