Jacquie Bell was an attendee at the recent Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference in Hamilton in May 2024. Here is a report from her of that conference.

Jacquie spoke in a number of Health related debates. She noted concerns about the much delayed National Care Service proposals where the millions being spent on a long delayed centralised service could be spent on frontline services NOW. Conference voted to scrap the NCS. She also spoke in the emergency debate calling for an end to the hollowing out of rural NHS services.

Jacquie, as a member of Scottish Policy Committee, had helped draft a motion on the need to support Child Bereavement counselling services. She spoke in the debate with illustration of the local community group efforts to fund services in East Lothian and Berwickshire from Richmond’s Hope after East Lothian Council pulled the funding. It is hoped a community funded initiative will be based in Dunbar from Autumn 2024.

Jacquie also spoke in mini motion debates on the importance of music for the wellbeing of all ages and on the need for funding of ASN teachers, particularly for those with hearing or visual impairments. The mini motions will be developed as full motions by Policy Committee in due course.

Aside from the Conference hall Jacquie chaired a Scottish Liberal Democrat Women fringe with Christine Jardine MP, Wendy Chamberlain MP and Betrice Wishart MSP on legislation regarding the safety of women and girls.

The Conference saw key speeches from Ed Davey , Alex Cole-Hamilton and Lord Wallace who spoke on the achievements of the Scottish Parliament since it was reinstated in 1999, particularly the achievements during the Lib Dem Coalition years. Special Guest speaker was Kellie Armstrong MLA from the Stormont Assembly.