ALN Delegation attend Liberal Democrat Party Conference

September 2009

The Liberal Democrats Party conference has welcomed a visiting delegation from the Africa Liberal Network, led by Dr Mamadou Lamine Bâ, the ALN President. Delegates have attended an opening rally entitled The Liberal Democrats: Ready to Win at what will be the last conference before the next general election in the UK. While in Bournemouth they met with Nick Clegg MP, the party leader, and Dr Vince Cable MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.

While in Bournemouth, delegates gained invaluable exposure as to how the Liberal Democrats form policy by attending open discussions, where any party member can debate policy motions, and decision is made by a democratic vote. The participants also attended fringe meetings on issues such as multiparty democracy, development, internationalism, and climate change.

The delegation was invited to attend private briefings by Ed Davey MP; Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Michael Moore MP; Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, and Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, former party leader and High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (above). Participants also met with Emil Kirjas, Liberal International Secretary-General; Robert Woodthorpe Browne, Chair of the Liberal Democrats International Relations Committee, and Jo Swinson MP, Governor of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.

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