Policies
Because of the size of the Liberal Party we seem to have a problem in Adopting Policy. Updating Policy. It is vital for ANY party to be able to react to issues as they arise. The Liberal Democrats are VERY good at this. With only one conference a year it is impossible for the party to debate and if thought fit to adopt policies. It might be better if the National Executive Committee were given the power, debate and if thought fit , to adopt policies submitted by members, with an appeal to the Annual Conference if the member/s were disatisfied. I hasten to add that the Annual Conference and AGM would continue to receive and debate motions. I would not suggest extending the power of an N.E.C. were the party to be larger and have a policy forum. To give two topical examples of where we need to debate and adopt policy NOW are: Social Care for the Elderly This is just one area where the party needs to have a policy. It is being raised by the Government as is seen in the media yesterday and today. How can we fund this social care in the future ? Deaths of Young People from shootings and stabbings According to a representative from a Youth Charity on B.B.C. Breakfast News this is because out of 500,000 on the 'at risk ' register only 20,000 cases are looked into and intervention provided. The spokesprson also went on to say that there were many more teenagers at risk and neither the local authority nor Teenage Mental Health Services could cope! What can be done about this ? I list as seperate postings as easier to identify for members.

I do notice that on the Liberal Party website that the Agriculture & Fishing, Industry & Employment, Peace, Transport haven't been updated since 2001, hasn't anything happened in these policy areas that might warrant a bit of an update? The International policy section (dating from 2003) does mention Iraq, Palestine and Tibet but doesn't include a section on Afghanistan.

Now that so many individuals are connected to the internet, using a forum such as this - new policies could be proposed, debated and voted on more frequently than once a year. Busier members would be more able to give their views and I would suspect, would result in a higher proportion of the members voting.