It could be interpreted as a sign the Libdem-left are starting to flex their muscles more openly.

Later this week the Social Liberal Forum is hosting its first ever national conference, with senior Libdem figures such as Chris Huhne, Evan Harris, Mark Pack, Vince Cable and Simon Hughes all attending (though the jury is still out on whether the last two could be described as left-wing).

Other speakers at the SLF conference include the columnist Will Hutton, Compass’ Neal Lawson, Lee Chalmers, Naomi Smith and Claire Tyler.

The SLF successfully presented a motion to the Liberal Democrat spring conference challenging the government’s planned NHS reforms, forcing the Conservatives to review their plans.

Dr Evan Harris says:

The Liberal Democrat Spring Conference support for the SLF’s health reform motion clearly flagged up a significant and growing disconnect between Liberal Democrat ministers and the grassroots.

The conference will provide a timely platform for debating the nature and scale of this relationship.

Founded in 2009, the Social Liberal Forum brought together various Libdems who were formerly involved in the Beveridge Group and the Reinventing the State Group. They say they want to develop social liberal solutions and approaches to challenges such as rising inequality, declining social mobility, global financial chaos and climate change.

The aim of the conference will be to encourage greater debate within the Liberal Democrats to determine how far the party can push the equality agenda within the coalition.

There is growing concern the party is serving only as a “heat shield for the Tories”.

The conference will take place on Saturday 18th June, at City University.
See http://socialliberal.net

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
- How we got here
- Deficit Reduction: Ideology or Necessity?
- Inequality, Social Mobility, Pay: What does Fairness Look Like?
- Are the Big Society and Community Politics compatible? Accountability or marketisation?
- Health Reforms: Good for Us?
- The Triple Crunch: Credit, Fuel, Food – Will Resource Scarcity increase Poverty?
- Political Alignments: Delivering the Social Liberal Agenda

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

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2. Elrik Merlin

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4. Alex Marsh

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5. Sam Morecorft

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6. Simon Hughes

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7. Social Liberal Forum

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8. James Graham

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9. Alan Marshall

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10. Tom Holvey

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11. sunny hundal

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