Saying farewell to a lovely, clever, Liberal Democrat - RIP Dave Herbert

By the time you read this, I'll be in Dunfermline at the funeral of one of the first people I ever met in the local Liberal Democrats. Dave Herbert, Councillor for Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, passed away last Friday.

Dave was a really clever man. He could explain difficult concepts in a way people could understand, but was never patronising about it. He was gentle and kind and worked so hard. Even when his health was getting worse he'd push himself to make sure he did his best for the people he represented. He was wise and calm and was such a good person to have around. We will miss him so much. The tributes paid to him in this week's Courier show how well he was regarded across the political spectrum.

In 2005, not long after I first met him, he had the good sense to marry Gladys and they have been fabulous together these last almost seven years. Gladys was one of only two people who were name checked in Willie Rennie's speech when he won the Dunfermline by-election. She'd never been involved in politics before, but she just got stuck in and was a very popular member of the front of house team at the by-election and subsequently organised all manner of dinners and fundraising events. She's an amazing woman and my thoughts and love are with her today.

Indian Dance to Speed Mentoring to Barnstorming Speeches - Caron's top ten highlights of Scottish Conference.

Scottish Liberal Democrats met in Inverness last weekend for a lively 3 day Conference. Here are my top ten highlights.

1. Leader Willie Rennie's first ever Spring Conference speech, delivered with sincerity and passion. He implored the First Minister to make as much time for the dispossessed,  as he does for billionaires such as Murdoch and Donald Trump. He spoke of the Liberal Democrats' long record of fighting for home rule for Scotland which made us the true guarantors of change. He told of his desire to work constructively with others wherever possible, but how we would stand firm on liberal values and be awkward when necessary. He slammed those nationalists who used abusive language against those who don't agree with them. I was pleased to see him praise Jo Swinson's "remarkable" efforts on body confidence. You don't often get blokes talking about such things. He also showcased our Councillors' record across Scotland ahead of the elections in May.
2. Policy Debates: The leadership adopted a very intelligent approach to a motion on the Coalition. Rather than complain about it, they embraced it as an opportunity to sell what the party had achieved in Government which may not quite have been what the movers intended. On the independence referendum, a move to secure party support for a second question in favour of an option for more powers on the ballot paper was defeated after lively debate. Also up for discussion were motions on prison reform, housing, youth unemployment, and home credit.
3. Liberal Youth Scotland were in fine form, holding their most successful fundraising event ever. Illustrating the difference between Devo Max and Devo Plus at their quiz, after several beers, was quite a challenge.
4. Speed Mentoring. We'd been talking about setting up a mentoring programme for ages. We did it - in the style of an exuberant speed dating session with lots of new members.
5. Policy Pitch Charities and other organisations came along to pitch policy ideas to Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander. Each had two minutes. Lexi from SCIAF was particularly robust in putting forwad the Robin Hood Tax.We also heard a proposal from Community Pharmacy to allow pharmacists to give routine contraceptive care, along with ideas on sport, children and better governance.
6. Ed Davey wasn't well known in Scotland, but apart from a mispronounciation of Longannet, went down very well with an incisive speech during the day and a hilarious after dinner effort.
7. Indian Interpretive Dance: the unforgettable moment when Liberal Youth's Kavya Kaushik helped Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael illustrate the Coalition's achievements through dance ahead of the financial appeal. I have the whole thing on video...
8. SWLD Reception. Our new transformed SWLD, under the leadership of Katy Gordon, held an exclusive reception with Nick Clegg and Willie Rennie. Nick said quite seriously that with his wife Miriam and Jo Swinson constantly on his case, there was no way he'd forget about the importance of improving the party's lamentable gender balance.
9. Malcolm Bruce. The Scottish President's speeches are always a highlight for their depth of understanding of history, of international development, of human rights, of  relationships between countries. He's upset the SNP by showing  examples from around the world where independence isn't quite what it's cracked up to be.
10. And finally, in a stroke of pure narcissism, my first ever live tv interview, for Sunday Politics Scotland.

Willie Rennie and Nick Clegg kick off Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference

In just over three hours, Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference gets underway in Inverness. It looks like we've brought the sunshine with us.

I'm really thrilled to be welcoming members of my family to see parts of the Conference. The only other time my family and political worlds have mingled was at my 40th birthday party. I decided that I knew so many fabulous people who had never met each other that I didn't want the first time they got together to be at my funeral. That night was a hoot, it has to be said.

Before I go any further, I should also thank my niece Laura. She never lends her MacBook to anybody, yet I am being allowed to type this from it.

But on to the serious business. Willie Rennie has set out what he thinks this Conference is about, showcasing Liberal Democrat achievements at Holyrood that belie the size of our group, the fantastic things our Councillors have done - slashing crime and homelessness in Edinburgh, for example, and how our ministers in the UK Government are putting the lowest paid and vulnerable at the top of our priorities.

Willie said:

“Liberal Democrats at all levels of government are delivering for Scotland.

“In the Scottish Parliament, our hard working team is punching above our weight. On college funding we have shown that strong liberal voices can make a real difference to government policy when it is heading in the wrong direction.

“Liberal Democrats in the coalition government are doing the right thing during tough times. Delivering tax cuts for low and middle earners while stopping the Tories from forcing through tax breaks for the wealthy is the right approach to get our economy back on track.

“And hard working Liberal Democrats councillors are delivering for local communities across Scotland. With the council elections fast approaching I want to highlight the great work that these unsung heroes do on a daily basis.

“Our conference will hear from these strong liberal voices and set out how Liberal Democrats will continue to focus on what really matters to people as we face present and future challenges together.”

Nick Clegg will be going in to more detail about what the team of Liberal Democrat ministers he leads have been doing to boost the economy. He will say:

 Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government don’t believe in simply throwing a few headline measures at Scotland and hoping that is enough.

“We have a real vision for Scotland’s future.

“I want nothing short of a green economic renaissance for Scotland.

“A Scotland where green jobs fuel a thriving economic future.

“Dockyards reopened as wind farm factories.

“Wind and wave power providing the green energy of the future.

“Scottish universities developing new green technologies for Scottish companies to export around the world.

“With Scotland’s young people trained in the skills they need to be at the heart of our green economy.

“It is early days, but we are seeing the start of this green energy revolution already.

“As we build a new economy from the rubble of the old, Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are giving you real, practical help in tough times.

“That’s why we have cut your taxes, even as we’ve had to take difficult decisions to raise money elsewhere

“Thanks to Liberal Democrats, by raising the point at which you start paying income tax, we put £200 a year back in your pockets last year and another £130 from next month.

“And we want to go further and faster, lifting millions of the poorest workers out of tax altogether by raising to £10,000 the amount you can earn tax-free, putting £60 a month back in your pockets.

“Already 2m Scottish workers have received a tax cut.

“Liberal Democrat tax cuts for the many – not the few.”

It all sounds good. I still think there are better ways of expressing what the tax cut means because nobody feels like they have extra money. I feel that we need to show that we've effectively paid someone's Council Tax for a couple of months, or filled their car a few times.

I'm about to head from the tranquility of my sister's dining room table to the bustle of Eden Court Theatre. 

If you are at Conference, you would be well advised to head to Hootenanny on Church Street for the Liberal Youth debate tonight at 7:30. It does clash with the Home Rule Commission, sadly, but it is usually a fabulous night.

I hope he doesn't dwell on that there referendum for more than a couple of sentences. We're here to play our game, not Alex Salmond's and the focus needs to be on what we are doing and the sort of Scotland we want to see.