A Great Conference for LDDA

The Liberal Democrats' Brighton Federal Conference has just finished and it was an excellent weekend for LDDA.

It was great to meet many of our members and sign up new ones at our stall - if you didn't get around to it you can join us now online.

In the main hall, our amendments to several policy motions won wide support and passed, making new party policy more disability aware and inclusive. Those were:

- Feeding Britain: A Food Security Emergency

- A Fair Shot: Reforming Recruitment

- Securing the Future of Rural and Coastal Education

Thanks to so many party members for backing our amendments and the amended policy motions.

The amendments we proposed read: 

Amendment to - Feeding Britain: A Food Security Emergency

After line 102 insert new 11.:
11. Local Food Plans to liaise with local NHS services to ensure those
with allergies or food related disabilities or illnesses such as diabetes
are supported to receive the food they require.

Amendment to - A Fair Shot: Reforming Recruitment

After line 16 insert new E.:
E. There is a disability employment gap of roughly 29.4 percentage
points, meaning approximately 5 million working-age disabled
people are not currently employed.
After line 57, insert new 6. and 7.:
6. Introduce 'Adjustment Passports' to record the adjustments,
modifications and equipment a disabled person has received, and
ensure that Access to Work support and equipment stays with the
person if they change jobs.
7. Implement a targeted strategy to support disabled people into work,
with a Jobs Guarantee for unemployed disabled people and specialist
disability employment support.

Amendment to - Securing the Future of Rural and Coastal Education

This was accepted by the movers of the motion without being put to the vote, and said:

At the end of line 55 delete full stop and insert: ‘ – this must include SEND
provisions to ensure that the funding for SEND provision takes account
of the higher cost of delivery from rurality.’
At the end of line 84 delete full stop and insert: ‘ – this must also take SEND
transport needs into account.’