Dr Vince Cable MP, Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor and professional economist, was at the BRSLI yesterday to talk on financial policy and his time as acting Liberal Democrat leader.

Treating his audience as educated adults, Vince’s speech was occasionally technical, but well delivered and thoroughly explained the reasons for the current ‘credit crisis’ and the dangers of personal debt in Britain, which he first raised in parliament five years ago. His expertise was well received and he answered a number of questions about the global and British economy, plus the handling of the 10% tax rate rise and Northern Rock (on which his recommendations were eventually followed, six months later).

It was very good to meet other members of the public audience in the reception afterwards, including senior finance managers and economists from BathNES council and Bath university. Bath Liberal Democrats intend to hold more public lectures at the BRSLI in the future.

I am recenly back from a weekend at Liberal Democrat Federal conference in Liverpool.

The Lib Dems are unique among the major parties to decide policy democratically at conference twice a year. This Spring revised Health and Education policies were passed. Outside of the conference hall the exhibition and fringe meetings with training sessions are available to all party members.

 I travelled up by train with three other party members from the University Liberal Democrat Society for my first visit to Liverpool. I am very impressed with the obvious regeneration work which the Lib Dem council have been able to achieve since winning power ten years ago. The city is alive with confidence, cranes and a brand new conference centre. It well deserves it title as European Capital of Culture 2008.

In the fringe sessions I learnt a little about the new government acronyms, LAAs and MAAs, set to transform partnership working in local government, whether the partners want to or not. The Liberal Democrat view is that these unelected boards control vast amounts of power and money, so regardless of their acountability issues we should work with and exploit these bodies as best we are able to get the right outcome for the communities we represent as councillors. I also attended a session on the leadership which Liberal Democrat councils are taking on reducing climate change in local government. It is vital that every level of governance, including the EU, take this issue seriously and all have a responsibility to act within their sphere. A session hosted by the LD peers on the House of Lords was a little lighter but just as worthwhile. Although our upper chamber is a half reformed anachronism, our peers do a very good job at holding the government to account, especially in defence of civil liberties.

Finally, the speeches; Dr Vince Cable, now back to Treasury spokesman from his successful stint as acting leader, drew a large crowd for his half hour on economic policy. It is truly shameful that the richest in British society pay proportionally far less tax than the poorest, a division which has got wider under Labour. Gordon Brown’s most unforgivable decision was to raise taxes at the lower end of the scale in order to reduce inheritance tax, which only affects the 6% richest in the country.  It is shocking the lengths which Labour and the Conservatives are prepared to go to to relieve the tax burden of dead millionaires at the expense of the most deprived.

Nicvk Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has confirmed all of the reasons why I voted for him as Leader. His is articulate, intellectual, radical and Liberal. He spoke for almost an hour without a lecturn about social mobility, equality if opportunity and reform to our democratic system. I have full confidence in his abilities as an inspirational leader to draw new people into politics.