Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

Of course the big debate was the Royal Mail/Post Office debate. It passed. It had been radically altered since the last conference when it was defeated and sent back to the drawing board. I had voted against it then. But this time it was better. 51% remaining in state ownership, worker participation and shares and for me the real clincher. It safeguarded the universal postal service and allows us to reopen lots of the post offices that Labour have closed.

And I have to say - having carried out a postal service survey a little while ago which I am currently analysing the responses - we got 6,000 responses and still rising. Many of these were complaints. To be fair to Royal Mail, it has offered and is currently addressing the casework I have given them. However, it is very clear - that this service is malfunctioning and now that competition in the market place has arrived from the continent it will be do or die. This is a radical Liberal Democrat solution to save the universal postage system and reopen post offices. And yes - selling off some of it (but not the majority shares) will pay for this. (You can read the full details of the policy on the Lib Dem website).

Labour's closure of Post Offices has been absolutely disastrous for our local high streets and shopping parades - and particularly for elderly people whose visit to the PO to get their pensions is often the only outing of the week.

So the motion passes. It was never in any doubt really - as the new leader had also put his weight solidly behind this and it was much, much improved since I last saw it.

We then had our first Parliamentary Party meeting (PPM) with Ming. And he was really great.

I stop to do a Party Political Broadcast bit of filming and then after a quick sandwich am off to Betty's famous tea house to do a podcast for the Guardian. Podcasts are clearly in - as this is my second one in as many weeks (last one was with Guido Fawkes and Recess Monkey).

The queue for Betty's is very long - and after about half an hour (and Willie Rennie was meant to be here too but is running late) we get a table but have actually done the pod cast recording in the queue as I have to dash off to do a fringe meeting where I am speaking on police force mergers.

Labels: ming campbell, post offices, royal mail