Conference overwhelmingly backs Coalition agreement

Cllr David Foster, Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Blackburn with Darwen Council attended the special conference in Birmingham called to discuss the recently negotiated coalition agreement which brings Liberal Democrats into a coalition government for the first time in over 60 years. He said, "The conference showed how much we have matured as a Party. There was very little opposition. Many people said they had doubts and there were dangers, but they were prepared to accept the risks in the national interest. Most people agreed with Vince Cable who said the Party has to move out of its comfort zone and its biggest comfort zone is opposition.

In a barnstorming speech Simon Hughes, seen as being on the left of the Party, gave the agreement his support.

Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg spoke of the agreement being a radical programme for fairness and reform with Liberal Democrat values being at its heart.

When it came to the vote in Conference of approximately 2,00 delegates only a handful of hands were raised in opposition.

Speaking after the vote, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said:

"It is five days since I accepted the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

"Just five days, and we now know there will be no ID cards, no third runway at Heathrow, no more fingerprinting in schools without parents' consent, no more child detention.

"Changes Liberal Democrats have spent months, years, campaigning for, are happening.

"Promises we were making to people on their doorsteps just a few weeks ago are becoming realities.