Bournemouth Lib Dem Conference - Monday Sept 21st

9.09.52am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Sep 2009

Sarah Teather MP

Newark Representatives had a busy day. Conference has been very angry indeed at the state of the UK. Here are some examples:-

Anger at MP's Expenses

Only Lib Dem MPs have been united in voting for much tighter rules and an independent audit of MPs expenses. They have led the fight against the many Labour and Conservative MPs who had wanted to exempt MPs expenses from being made public. Not a single Lib Dem MP had flipped second mortgages or avoided capital gains tax. Conference called for MPs who broke the expenses rule to be subject to prosecution where justified.

Anger at Rural Poverty

Lib Dem MP, Tim Farron, Shadow Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in a brilliant speech, drew attention to the appalling poverty in many farming areas and villages from low prices paid for their milk and removal of village facilities particularly low cost housing.

Anger at Social Housing Shortage

Sarah Teather MP, Lib Dem Shadow Housing Minister, gave a passionate speech condemning both Labour and Conservative policies over the years which had sold off Council Housing leaving so many homeless who could not afford mortgages or high rents.