Peter Facey (Lib-Dem Conf, Brighton, UnlockDemocracy): Well this morning the Lib Dem's adopted policy for a complete overhaul of our constitution (For the People, By the People) and all the media is interested in is who is leading in the surrogate leadership election between Chris Huhne and Nick Clegg. This should not surprise those of us who care about future governance of the UK, where even major government decisions get knocked off the media agenda by the latest gossip and tittle-tattle.So what have the Lib Dem's proposed? Fixed term parliaments, STV for the commons and a fully elected senate. The have also proposed a Constitutional Convention to produce a written constitution. Interestingly the Convention will only be established after a positive vote in a referendum and the outcome of the Convention will go directly to the people in a second referendum. Other parts of the policy paper simply echo what is already Government policy on the royal prerogatives and establishing a formal petition system for the House of Commons.
What's as interesting as what they adopted was the debate on where the paper was weak. A number of speakers including, Diana Wallis MEP, called for the party to be braver in sharing power with the people and move from simply supporting petitions to support for initiatives and referendums. Others such as Anthony Hook called for a radical devolution of power to the regions. David Heath MP said the English question would be an issue that the Convention would have to look at when concluding the debate.
Combined with their policy adopted on Sunday on empowering local communities, the Lib-Dems will go into the next election with a comprehensive package of constitutional and democratic reforms. The question that remains is how much emphasis they will place on these reforms in any campaign - and whether the media will pay any attention.
