Jess Craig
Policy Officer
Having secured a record 72 seats in this summer’s general election, it’s no surprise the Liberal Democrats descended on Brighton in a positive mood. With new MPs with backgrounds in social enterprise, mutual aid and the charity sector, there are a number of potential champions for community business within the parliamentary party. As Power to Change, we headed to Brighton to meet with new MPs and take the temperature of the party.
The Liberal Democrats have now climbed back to the third party in Westminster – though it’s clear leader Ed Davey has already got his sights set on growing the party into the Official Opposition. For now, much of the conversation at the conference centred around how the Liberal Democrats can provide a constructive opposition to Labour in government, where they will oppose Labour’s policies (and whether from the left or right) and where to lend their support to the Government’s agenda.
An emerging party agenda
It’s clear the Liberal Democrats are still settling into this role. There are already signs that they may back the government to tackle some of the thorniest issues facing our country. Some veteran and new MPs were pragmatic in their willingness to support Labour’s plans on building more homes and expanding our energy infrastructure. But these issues are also likely to expose tensions within the party – particularly as it seeks to grow support in marginal rural seats.
Through the keynote conference speeches, we heard the party’s policy agenda for the Parliament beginning to crystalise. Health and social care, a cornerstone issue of their general election campaign, has emerged as the party’s number one priority for this Parliament, in passionate and personal speeches from Ed Davey and deputy leader Daisy Cooper.
Beyond the party’s leadership, the conference also provided an opportunity to hear from new MPs. There’s an emerging consensus on the need for rapid and equitable action on the climate and transition to net zero. A sizeable caucus within the parliamentary party have already pledged to be Green Liberal Democrats and champion these issues in Parliament.
Opportunities for community business
Among those Green Liberal Democrats, it was really positive to hear vocal support for the role of community energy businesses in reaching net zero, in a way which puts power and wealth back into the hands of communities. For a party that’s taken up the cause of failing public services – from the NHS to the water companies – supporting the democratisation of energy infrastructure through community ownership feels like a natural policy position. Pippa Heylings, new MP for South Cambridgeshire and incoming party spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, confirmed that the Liberal Democrats plan to hold Labour’s feet to the fire to ensure support and financing of community energy remains a key feature of the Government’s plans for GB Energy.
Another area where the Liberal Democrats plan to act as a critical friend to the government is on housing. It’s clear that the party understands the importance of tackling the housing crisis – with policies targeted at building more affordable and social homes. But this also illustrates a tension that the Liberal Democrats will have to address – between a general election manifesto target of 380,000 new homes a year, and local opposition to housebuilding from members.
It was positive to hear new MPs, like Lee Dillon (Newbury)and Luke Taylor (Sutton and Cheame), speak about the importance of ensuring adequate social infrastructure alongside building homes, providing the space for communities to come together and ensuring the vibrancy of high streets and town centres. Community businesses have an important part to play in creating and stewarding these spaces.
On the whole, it appears that the Liberal Democrats have emerged from the general election buoyed by their performance and energetic about tackling their top priorities. There are numerous opportunities for them to champion community business as part of this – from community care co-operatives and community-led housing to securing the role of community energy businesses in the transition to net zero. In the coming months, we’ll be engaging with MPs from across the benches to ensure there’s a strong voice for community business in Parliament.
Look out for our dispatches from Labour Party Conference and Conservative Party Conference in the weeks to come.
