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Nick Harvey MPStanding up for North Devon since 1992 |
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NICK'S CONFERENCE BLOG
September 22, 2009 11:13 AM
Well the opening weekend of the Lib Dem Conference in Bournemouth was busy with keynote speeches. Most notable and those that attracted most media coverage, were our economic and housing policies, delegates also resoundingly backed the call for Parliament to clean up its act following the expenses scandal.
Conference is always a good opportunity to catch up with colleagues and assess grass roots feelings. There was an air of palpable optimism as the party is on a roll after its best five months in the polls.
For my part in my role as defence spokesman the weekend was also dominated by our Peace & Security Group examining future options for the Trident nuclear deterrent. The key issue is whether this is an expensive luxury we can ill-afford or whether it remains vital to the defence of the realm.
On Monday I found myself in meetings with the British Legion (who I have worked closely with over the Broken Covenant campaign) followed by representatives from the defence companies BAE and Finmeccanica/Westland.
It was then off to an interview for Total Politics on defence issues followed by conference's Defence Policy Motion (which I tabled reaffirming the Military Covenant and another interview with 5 Live.
Tuesday likewise saw a further raft of meetings on a wide range of topics, most notably 'Britain in an Uncertain Age: Defence & Security Choices' followed by meetings with representatives from the Japanese Embassy and the Azerbaijan Society and a rural reception to mark 100 years of rural representation by my party at the heart of Government. Tomorrow yet more interviews …
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