Liz Lynne MEP opens Lib Dem conference at ICC in Birmingham

3.26.46pm GMT Sun 14th Mar 2010

Liz Lynne and deputy city leader Paul Tilsley at the first LibDem party conference in Birmingham.

West Midlands Euro MP Liz Lynne has formally opened the Liberal Democrats' first national conference to be held in Birmingham.

More than 2,000 Liberal Democrat members and 3,000 media and exhibitors have converged on the International Convention Centre for the Spring Conference of the party, the first time the Liberal Democrats have held their federal conference in Birmingham.

In her inaugural speech at 9am this morning, Liz Lynne formally opened the event with a rallying call for the party to win new seats in Birmingham and across the region in the General Election due within weeks.

She paid tribute to the leadership shown by John Hemming as the city's first LibDem MP and Paul Tilsley, now deputy leader of the city council and said that the Liberal Democrats had helped to transform the city in recent years to become one of the most dynamic in Europe.

Liz Lynne said: "Labour has offered only false dawn and disappointment, both in their 20 years of power on the Council and 13 years in government.

"But the Conservatives do not offer a tempting alternative. The last Conservative Government presided over two devastating recessions which hit the West Midlands hard. Now, under Labour, we have the worst recession for 80 years.

"Birmingham and the West Midlands has been let down time and time again. The factory at Washwood Heath that made the Pendolino trains - and most London tube trains too - closed. Austin Rover at Longbridge - closed. LDV vans - closed.

"And Cadburys, we had billions of pounds from taxpayer-owned banks being used to fund the takeover nobody wanted."

"We still have a world class manufacturing capability here, with Jaguar Land Rover now embracing a green future with worldbeating new designs - though they too are having to consolidate with one plant at either Castle Bromwich or Solihull likely to close.

"This recession has hit us hard, make no mistake. In December, it was announced that youth unemployment in Birmingham was now 25% - one in four - the highest of any city in Britain.

"But despite that, Birmingham is changing and still growing. Over the last 50 years it has become one of the most culturally diverse and economically dynamic cities in Europe. We welcome that diversity.

"The last time many of you came to Birmingham might have been the Hodge Hill by election six years ago - where many people commented on the dirty streets, blocked waste chutes in council high rise flats, and money drained from schools.

"That was the reality of life under Labour. Is it any wonder that the voters of Birmingham turned away? Look around now - this city is changing, politics is changing and it is the Liberal Democrats shaping that change. In the Partnership administration, the city is cleaner and greener, crime is falling and services are more efficient."

"Following the hard work of John Hemming and the hard work of Lorely Burt MP just next door in Solihull, the Liberal Democrats have a superb team of candidates challenging to win right across Birmingham, from Jerry Evans in Hall Green, Tariq Khan in Hodge Hill to Karen Hamilton in Perry Barr, to name but a few.

"Across the city, we are the only choice for change, for fairness and reform. There are just two months to go before the General Election and we are putting our final touches to our policies. I know you will support the programme for fairness that Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have made the centre of our campaign. On behalf of Birmingham Liberal Democrats, welcome, enjoy, and get ready for the General Election."

ENDS.