F29 Fair Votes Now, Caroline Voaden MP Summation

2024 LIB DEM AUTUMN CONFERENCE

F29 Fair Votes Now – Monday 16th September 09.00–09.45

Caroline Voaden MP - Summation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Conference

I am grateful for the careful attention you have been paying to the main motion, and to our proposed amendments.

I want to stress to you that the proposers of these amendments consider them to be completely compatible within the context of the main motion, which we also support wholeheartedly.

In summating for these amendments, I could try and focus on every little detail of them, answer any queries which you might have in your heads, but with your permission I am going to spend my short time addressing the broad brushstroke fundamentals of what we are trying to achieve.

It is a fundamental part of what makes our party unique, that we are passionate about equality of opportunity.

We believe in opportunity of equality in healthcare, in social care, in housing, in obtaining valuable work and in the pay all workers receive – especially women … indeed, in every area of civil society you can think of, equality of opportunity is what Liberal Democrats campaign for immediately, instinctively, and comprehensively.

These amendments go some way to ensuring equality of opportunity to participate in our democracy. We want equality of opportunity extended to ALL British citizens, wherever they live.

Can anyone really say that the opinions of almost a MILLION British people resident in the EU have nothing that is worthy of consideration on Brexit and it’s disastrous fallout? They are now second class citizens of Britain AND the EU.

We need them to be consulted if this great wrong is ever to be reversed.

Can anyone really say that the opinions of more than 53,000 British people living in Hong Kong and mainland China have nothing to say with how Hong Kong is now ruled, with the gradual eking away of their freedoms and the rule of law? Or for the potential for violence in the Taiwan Strait?

Can anyone really say that the opinions of million after million of British residents in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, the African continent – these millions of people have nothing to contribute to our civil society, they have nothing to tell us about education or health or defence, both with their enduring, close ties to the UK AND with their in-depth knowledge of the local country in which they are currently resident?

Can anyone really say that British pensioners living abroad have nothing to tell us about their pension rights, how much pension they receive, and that their pensions should be unfrozen?

Fellow Liberal Democrats, these amendments right an historic wrong.

They simply ensure all British people are treated equally, no matter where they currently live.

I humbly ask you, therefore, for your complete and enthusiastic support. 
 

Back these amendments, and pass the motion, as amended, overwhelmingly.