National Conference on Hinckley Point and Grammar schools
Patrick Keating from Weston Lib Dems attended the recent National Conference and kindly wrote a small report for us:
"Autumn Conference calls for Hinckley Point to be scrapped and rejects reintroduction of Grammar Schools
I recently attended the Liberal Democrat Autumn conference in Brighton. As a first time participant, this was an excellent opportunity to meet fellow Lib Dems from across the country, exchange ideas, and contribute to shaping the party's policies on key issues.
Amongst the huge range of issues debated and voted on across the week-long conference, two items stood out as having particular relevance for Weston - motions calling on the government to scrap the Hinckley Point project and rejecting plans to reintroduce Grammar Schools.
Conference approved a motion calling for the development of a new reactor at Hinckley Point to be scrapped. A number of members - including the former Energy Secretary Ed Davy - spoke in favour of the role that low carbon nuclear power can play in tackling climate change. In the end, though, conference was not convinced that the Hinckley project, which would require £2 billion in government subsidies, provides value for money.
Agreeing with Kirsty William's statement that "Grammar schools are a policy based on myth, not evidence," members also voted in favour of an emergency motion opposing the government's plans to reintroduce Grammar Schools. The motion also calls on the government to respect the spirit of existing legislation and not to seek out loopholes to allow the introduction of Grammars into areas such as Weston through the expansion of nearby existing schools."
Are you going to the upcoming SW Regional Conference? If you are visit our Facebook group and let us know so we can chat about meeting up and sharing lifts etc.
Conference takes place from Friday 11th to Saturday 12th November.
Venue: Woodlands Castle, Ruishton, Taunton, TA3 5LU (Just off M5 at Junction 25, Taunton also has a train station).