Norwich Lib Dems heading for Brighton Conference

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Sep 2007

Simon Wright

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, and a delegation of Norwich Liberal Democrats will be attending their Party's national conference in Brighton next week (Saturday 15th - Thursday 20th September).

Mr Wright is a sponsor of two policy motions which will be debated - 'Dentistry' (which calls for reform of the recent NHS Dentist contracts, which have failed to address the decline in NHS dentistry, and the scrapping of charges for check-ups) and 'The Surveillance Society' (which calls for the repeal of the Identity Cards Act, and to give power to individuals to review and correct information held about them by private and public bodies).

"This promises to be an exciting conference, with a broad range of policy proposals set to be debated and agreed on," says Simon Wright. "There is a strong environmental thread running throughout the week, and we also have important new health and taxation proposals which will deliver real benefits to local people."

"What makes our conference unique when compared to the other two main parties, is that Liberal Democrat members themselves put forward, debate and agree new Party policy."

Other new Lib Dem policy proposals up for discussion during the week:

• 'Zero Carbon Britain - taking a Global Lead' -Liberal Democrats are the first party to aim for a carbon neutral Britain where we absorb as much carbon as we emit by 2050, doubling investment in our rail system.

• 'Reducing the Burden (tax reform)' - cut basic rate of income tax by 4p, abolish council tax, increase environmental taxes

• 'Immigration in the 21st Century' - establish a National Border Force, and a managed amnesty granting legal status for those who've earned it

• 'Excess packaging' - proposals to reduce waste

Simon will also be celebrating his birthday on the first day of the conference - one day before Lib Dem Norfolk MP Norman Lamb (who has a VERY special birthday on Sunday 16th!)

Norwich Liberal Democrat City Council group leader Hereward Cooke:

"We wish all the very best to Simon and the local team representing us in Brighton. They are going to support a wide range of policies which will help people in Norwich."