Ahead of this year’s Liberal Democrat Conference, Dods Content Manager Nathaneal Amos-Sansam spoke with Lord Mark Pack to gauge the party’s mood and hear about what those attending the conference should look out for.
Lord Pack is the Liberal Democrat Lords spokesperson for the Cabinet Office and served as party president between 2020 and 2026. He was also previously the editor of its membership blog Liberal Democrat Voice.
How would you sum up the past year for the Liberal Democrats?
MP: “We’ve shown consistent leadership on the big issues – whether that’s standing up to Donald Trump’s bombast and bullying or making the case for a closer relationship with Europe to get our economy growing properly.
It’s also been another year of steady progress, the kind the media often miss because we’re the tortoise rather than the hare. The hare grabs attention with its self-destructive hyper-activity, but our record speaks for itself: further council gains in May, continuing our record winning streak, spectacular gains in the Scottish Parliament elections, and holding our ground in the Welsh Senedd despite boundary changes stacked against us. And the pattern has continued since, with more gains in council by-elections.”
What would you say is the mood among party activists going into this year’s conference?
MP: “The steady drumbeat of by-election wins has kept spirits high. Activists are rightly ambitious to accelerate and broaden that growth, so that in even more parts of the country we’re genuinely in contention to win. Expect exactly that question – how best to do it – to run through many of the debates and discussions at conference.”
What would be your general advice for any public affairs professionals and stakeholders attending the Liberal Democrat Conference for the first time?
MP: “Get to know how our policy making process works. It’s different from the other main parties. The debates and votes at conference genuinely decide things, rather than being stage-managed for the cameras. That means the people worth building relationships with are often neither MPs nor staffers. There’s also a multi-year timetable for our major policy debates, so it’s worth getting your head around that too so you know when best to time your engagement on different topics.”
Aside from the leader’s speech, are there any other speeches are you looking forward to?
MP: “As this is my first autumn conference since my term as Party President came to an end, I am looking forward to my successor, Josh Babarinde, giving all the speeches I used to have to do!”
If you had to pick out a ‘name to watch’ at the Liberal Democrat Conference, who would that be and why?
MP: “Tim Leunig: he has just been appointed a Liberal Democrat peer and is one half of the duo setting up the new think tank, The Britain Project. If you’ll let me stretch to two names, I’d add his colleague on that project, the UK’s former Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe and newly selected parliamentary candidate, Jo Hawley.”
Are there any specific fringe events that you are planning to speak at or attend?
MP: “I’m particularly looking forward to doing a Q+A with Lisa Smart MP in our roles as spokespeople for the Cabinet Office. Given how sprawling its remit is, the questions may be very varied – and Lib Dems love talking about political and constitutional reform.”
What would you say are the best reception events for public affairs professionals to attend to meet party figures and activists?
GT: “Honestly, it’s the quiet coffee during the day that’s usually the better bet. That’s where you get the proper conversation, the kind that helps you understand what’s familiar about the Liberal Democrats [compared with] other parties and what needs a different approach. The big evening receptions are fun, but they’re not where the real listening happens.”
The Liberal Democrat Conference takes place in Brights between Saturday 19 and Tuesday 22 September. Look out for Dods Group coverage of the conference, including of policy announcements, plenary speeches and fringe events, over the coming days. Lord Pack’s 2025 interview with us can be read here.