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At-a-glance: Lib Dems Day Four At-a-glance: Lib Dems Day Four
(about 3 hours later)
All you need to know about the Liberal Democrat conference 2007: ThursdayAll you need to know about the Liberal Democrat conference 2007: Thursday
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
Sir Menzies Campbell hopes to rally his party in his end of conference speech, attacking the "cosy consensus" between Labour and the Tories. Campbell seeks to rally faithful
Sir Menzies Campbell dismisses stories about a possible successor. Campbell 'relaxed' over rivalsSir Menzies Campbell dismisses stories about a possible successor. Campbell 'relaxed' over rivals
Home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg admits a "blemish" in his youth. Clegg 'not proud' of convictionHome affairs spokesman Nick Clegg admits a "blemish" in his youth. Clegg 'not proud' of conviction
The party calls for a "comprehensive" new constitutional settlement Lib Dems demand new constitutionThe party calls for a "comprehensive" new constitutional settlement Lib Dems demand new constitution
Nick Clegg says he would probably stand for the party leadership in the future. Clegg 'would stand for leader'Nick Clegg says he would probably stand for the party leadership in the future. Clegg 'would stand for leader'
The party calls for a "comprehensive" new constitutional settlement Lib Dems demand new constitutionThe party calls for a "comprehensive" new constitutional settlement Lib Dems demand new constitution
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'
Lady Elspeth steps in to defend her husband Sir Menzies amid the fresh bout of leadership speculation. Elspeth stands by her manLady Elspeth steps in to defend her husband Sir Menzies amid the fresh bout of leadership speculation. Elspeth stands by her man
London mayoral hopeful Brian Paddick says he was an "undercover" Liberal Democrat during his time with the Metropolitan Police. Paddick was undercover Lib DemLondon mayoral hopeful Brian Paddick says he was an "undercover" Liberal Democrat during his time with the Metropolitan Police. Paddick was undercover Lib Dem
The government should pay for children from poor backgrounds to go to top public schools, Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable has said. Send poor pupils to Eton - CableThe government should pay for children from poor backgrounds to go to top public schools, Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable has said. Send poor pupils to Eton - Cable
Lib Dem activists have called on the leadership to consider introducing a "plastic bag tax" despite warnings that it could drive up carbon emissions. Send poor pupils to Eton - CableLib Dem activists have called on the leadership to consider introducing a "plastic bag tax" despite warnings that it could drive up carbon emissions. Send poor pupils to Eton - Cable
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TODAY'S AGENDA TODAY'S AGENDA
Thursday 20 SeptemberThursday 20 September
09.00 Emergency Motion: Save Darfur and Asylum for Iraqis Working for British Forces09.00 Emergency Motion: Save Darfur and Asylum for Iraqis Working for British Forces
09.35 Managing the Impact and Risk of Flooding09.35 Managing the Impact and Risk of Flooding
10.00 Presentation: Stockport Lib Dems10.00 Presentation: Stockport Lib Dems
10.45 The Surveillance Society10.45 The Surveillance Society
11.45 Speech: Sir Menzies Campbell MP11.45 Speech: Sir Menzies Campbell MP
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CONFERENCE DIARYCONFERENCE DIARY
  • Exhibitors appear to have taken the Lib Dems' message about the evils of plastic bags to heart. Party conferences are normally knee deep in carriers but they are distinctly thin on the ground in Brighton. "We are not offering them to people. If people ask for them, we will give them out," says Stuart Herdson, of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. It was a similar story on most of the fringe stalls, with some handing out environmentally-friendly paper bags. Now, if only they could do something about all those leaflets and flyers....
  • Sarah Teather is not happy. The higher education spokeswoman reportedly lost her temper after learning that a commitment to scrapping tuition fees had been included in a document highlighting the party's key radical proposals - despite just having insisted on television that the measure was under review. During an interview on BBC2's Daily Politics, Ms Teather said that a commission was being launched to rethink the policy. But once they were off air the presenter, Andrew Neil, showed her a briefing paper given to journalists ahead of Sir Menzies Campbell's speech tomorrow, which featured the policy prominently. According to Mr Neil, Ms Teather responded: "I'm just the higher education spokeswoman, no-one ever tells me anything." She is then said to have made a beeline for Sir Menzies' chief of staff, Ed Davey, and started remonstrating with him.
  • 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 disapproval 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.
  • 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 disapproval 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.
  • Another of the Lib Dem students' wheezes - Lib Dem Top Trumps featuring key facts about each of their MPs - are proving more of a hit. The playing cards list things such as majority and parliamentary voting record. Plans to feature a "scandal rating" were apparently shelved at the last moment.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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    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 ParkinsonLAWS '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
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    PHOTO OF THE DAYPHOTO OF THE DAY
    Sir Menzies Campbell enjoys a joke as he visits a sixth-form college in BrightonSir Menzies Campbell enjoys a joke as he visits a sixth-form college in Brighton
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    QUOTES OF THE DAYQUOTES OF THE DAY
    "I like ambition. I am totally relaxed." Sir Menzies Campbell on the possible leadership ambitions of other senior Lib Dems"I like ambition. I am totally relaxed." Sir Menzies Campbell on the possible leadership ambitions of other senior Lib Dems
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