Local Lib Dems at Regional Conference

3.44.26pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 27th Feb 2006

This year's Regional Spring Conference was certainly an exciting affair. The party felt rejuvenated and was clearly focused on the forthcoming local elections. We had an interesting "hustings by proxy" where various speakers represented the three challengers in the party's leadership contest. Support seemed to be divided equally between all three within the regional party, many of whom had heard the candidates speak at a packed hustings in Leeds the previous week. The feeling was that Thursday's results could be close.

There were some excellent debates in the afternoon session: a somewhat predictable one on electoral reform, but a very relevant one on the re-regulation of buses, proposed by Leeds North West MP Greg Mullholland. Conference supported the motion unanimously after hearing of the discrepancies in cost and usage between the regulated buses in London and the unregulated buses elsewhere. Lib Dems accept that there has to be a degree of government intervention if we are to reduce the number of cars on the road. Buses simply aren't an attractive alternative to the family car in a region like ours where they are felt to be expensive and unreliable.

Rumours were abounding the ante-chambers of County Hall about a possible early general election. It was thought by the great and the good that this summer might see Gordon Brown taking over the reigns of government and that he is likely to opt for an early election to "capitalise on the bounce". That's assuming there is a bounce of course!

Northallerton certainly saw a promising start to conference season, though it is likely to be topped on Saturday at the Federal Spring Conference when the region has the honour of hosting our new leader's first conference in Harrogate.