This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7001935.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
At-a-glance: Lib Dems Day Three At-a-glance: Lib Dems Day Three
(about 8 hours later)
All you need to know about the Liberal Democrat conference 2007: WednesdayAll you need to know about the Liberal Democrat conference 2007: Wednesday
CONFERENCE CATCH-UP TODAY'S AGENDA CONFERENCE DIARY FRINGE ROUND-UP QUOTES OF THE DAY PHOTO OF THE DAYCONFERENCE CATCH-UP TODAY'S AGENDA CONFERENCE DIARY FRINGE ROUND-UP QUOTES OF THE DAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
CONFERENCE CATCH-UPCONFERENCE CATCH-UP
Home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg has said he would probably stand for the party leadership in the future. Clegg 'would stand for leader'Home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg has said he would probably stand for the party leadership in the future. Clegg 'would stand for leader'
Lembit Opik is no stranger to celebrity photo shoots - but he seemed as surprised as anyone to see Hello! magazine's latest double page spread. Hello, that's me, says LembitLembit Opik is no stranger to celebrity photo shoots - but he seemed as surprised as anyone to see Hello! magazine's latest double page spread. Hello, that's me, says Lembit
Charles Kennedy gets a warm reception as he tells delegates to confront the cynics who criticise plans to tax the rich. Kennedy's rallying cry on povertyCharles Kennedy gets a warm reception as he tells delegates to confront the cynics who criticise plans to tax the rich. Kennedy's rallying cry on poverty
Lembit Opik clashes with Sarah Teather on the merits of personality politics. Politics 'needs characters'Lembit Opik clashes with Sarah Teather on the merits of personality politics. Politics 'needs characters'
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg's call for a "selective" amnesty for illegal immigrants is backed by the conference. Immigrant 'amnesty' urgedLib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg's call for a "selective" amnesty for illegal immigrants is backed by the conference. Immigrant 'amnesty' urged
The conference backs plans to cut income tax, scrap council tax and increase green taxes. Tax shake-up plansThe conference backs plans to cut income tax, scrap council tax and increase green taxes. Tax shake-up plans
Return to the topReturn to the top
TODAY'S AGENDA TODAY'S AGENDA
Wednesday 19th SeptemberWednesday 19th September
09.00 Taking Action to Tackle Excess Packaging09.00 Taking Action to Tackle Excess Packaging
09.30 Presentation: Alliance Party ofNorthern Ireland09.30 Presentation: Alliance Party ofNorthern Ireland
09.50 For the People, By the People (Better 39Governance Policy Paper)09.50 For the People, By the People (Better 39Governance Policy Paper)
11.10 Speech: David Laws MP11.10 Speech: David Laws MP
11.30 Emergency Motion - guns and gangs11.30 Emergency Motion - guns and gangs
12.00 Party Awards12.00 Party Awards
Speech: Simon Hughes MPSpeech: Simon Hughes MP
14.20 Accounting for the Environment14.20 Accounting for the Environment
14.50 Speech by Lynne Featherstone MP14.50 Speech by Lynne Featherstone MP
15.10 Q&A Session on Climate Change15.10 Q&A Session on Climate Change
16.10 Speech: Susan Kramer MP16.10 Speech: Susan Kramer MP
16.30 Israel and the Palestinian Territories16.30 Israel and the Palestinian Territories
17.30 Urgent Issue - government provision for armed forces17.30 Urgent Issue - government provision for armed forces
Return to the topReturn to the top
CONFERENCE DIARYCONFERENCE DIARY
  • The battle of the Lib Dem badges is hotting up, with a new leader in the popularity stakes. According to staff at the conference gift shop, 30 badges bearing the face of former health spokesman Evan Harris have been sold. Those showing home affairs spokesman Tim Farron are the second most popular, selling 29. Which might peeve his boss - Nick Clegg - who was leading the race on Monday and is now in third place. Our man at the stall said: "There's no obvious rhyme or reason for Evan Harris' success. But a lot of ladies of a certain age have been buying Tim Farron badges - they say he's quite cute."
  • Lib Dem Youth and Students are causing no end of confusion with their latest lapel badge, which proudly bears the slogan "homophobia is gay". Gay is now a general term of dissaproval among Britain's yoof, explains a young Lib Dem - but that has not stopped older party members seeing red at the slogan. "That is exactly the sort of thing we are supposed to be fighting against," said one.
  • The Lib Dem heavyweights are on top in the gift shop popularity contest. With a day of conference left to go, 34 badges featuring home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg have been sold. He is closely followed by party leader Sir Menzies Campbell and environment spokesman Chris Huhne - both on 32. But our man at the stall reports a bizarre demand by some delegates. "Seven or eight people have come in asking for badges of [former Labour home secretary] John Reid," he said.
  • Delegates walking past the Brighton Centre were surprised to be handed the gift of a sapling silver birch tree in a bag. When asked how big they grow, the man distributing them on behalf of the Freight Transport Association replied: "As big as your heart." But the Brighton Centre security guards were more circumspect, warning not to plant the saplings - which grow to about 30 metres in height - too near a house.
  • Delegates walking past the Brighton Centre were surprised to be handed the gift of a sapling silver birch tree in a bag. When asked how big they grow, the man distributing them on behalf of the Freight Transport Association replied: "As big as your heart." But the Brighton Centre security guards were more circumspect, warning not to plant the saplings - which grow to about 30 metres in height - too near a house.
  • Could Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell be attempting to send shivers down the spines of his frontbench team? At an event for local councillors, who made short work of the free wine and sandwiches, Sir Menzies was handed a knife to cut the celebratory cake. Braveheart-like, he held it aloft, declaring: "I was fascinated by this extraordinary knife - it made me think immediately about having a reshuffle."
    • Return to the topReturn to the top
    FRINGE ROUND-UPFRINGE ROUND-UP
    LAWS 'BULLIED AT SCHOOL': Lib Dem education spokesman David Laws revealed he had been bullied at primary school. He told a fringe meeting organised by the NSPCC: "I was about age five or so. There was a guy in the year above who was a bit of a big guy and he started picking on me." The bully threatened to "duff up" the future MP for Yeovil, but the intimidation "didn't last very long". Mr Laws, who lists rugby among his hobbies, said he had fought back, adding: "My final memory, from when I was a year older, was that he tried to bully a friend of mine and I just went up to the bully and I thumped him hard."Justin Parkinson
    FAMILIES 'NEED BETTER UNDERSTANDING': A lack of understanding between parents and children could contribute to the radicalisation of young Muslims, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg argued. He and Mohammed Abdul-Bari of the Muslim Council of Britain talked about ways of reaching out to communities in Britain. Mr Clegg said he did not see the same cohesion between generations that he saw when he visited his wife's family in Spain. Dr Bari argued that modern life was leading to individualism, which was contributing to problems. He said parents who had to go out to work were not able to nurture their children in the same way.Joanna ShinnFAMILIES 'NEED BETTER UNDERSTANDING': A lack of understanding between parents and children could contribute to the radicalisation of young Muslims, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg argued. He and Mohammed Abdul-Bari of the Muslim Council of Britain talked about ways of reaching out to communities in Britain. Mr Clegg said he did not see the same cohesion between generations that he saw when he visited his wife's family in Spain. Dr Bari argued that modern life was leading to individualism, which was contributing to problems. He said parents who had to go out to work were not able to nurture their children in the same way.Joanna Shinn
    PARTY 'TOO OLD AND WHITE': A panel of young people has told the Liberal Democrats they are too old, too white - and that they need to do more to capture voters' imagination. At a fringe meeting, six youths gave their first impressions of the party conference. One said the amount of grey hair in the audience was "a surprise", adding he was "stunned" by what he saw as pre-prepared questions and answers.Joanna ShinnPARTY 'TOO OLD AND WHITE': A panel of young people has told the Liberal Democrats they are too old, too white - and that they need to do more to capture voters' imagination. At a fringe meeting, six youths gave their first impressions of the party conference. One said the amount of grey hair in the audience was "a surprise", adding he was "stunned" by what he saw as pre-prepared questions and answers.Joanna Shinn
    COALITION CALLS DISMISSED: Two Liberal Democrats identified as possible successors to Sir Menzies Campbell have dismissed Gordon Brown's "big tent" politics and played down the possibility of entering into coalition with any other party after the next election.Environment spokesman Chris Huhne and home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg were speaking at a fringe meeting organised by the Independent. Mr Clegg said the prime minister "projected an image of pluralism" but kept a "firm, sweaty grasp on power". Both men defended the leadership's call for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European union but not for one on the new EU treaty. Mark Sanders
    Return to the topReturn to the top
    PHOTO OF THE DAYPHOTO OF THE DAY
    Charles Kennedy receives a rapturous reception from delegatesCharles Kennedy receives a rapturous reception from delegates
    Return to the topReturn to the top
    QUOTES OF THE DAYQUOTES OF THE DAY
    "If there was a vacancy in the future then I probably would," home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg on the party leadership."If there was a vacancy in the future then I probably would," home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg on the party leadership.
    "I am not appalled by photographs of this kind. What is appalling about two young people who are obviously very affectionate towards each other?," Sir Menzies Campbell on "cheeky boy" Lembit Opik's Hello! spread."I am not appalled by photographs of this kind. What is appalling about two young people who are obviously very affectionate towards each other?," Sir Menzies Campbell on "cheeky boy" Lembit Opik's Hello! spread.
    Have we missed anything? Send your comments and suggestions using the form below.Have we missed anything? Send your comments and suggestions using the form below.
    Name
    		 Name