Liberal Democrats head for Liverpool - radical health plans on the agenda

4.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 7th Mar 2008

Liberal Democrats are heading to Liverpool today for the party's spring conference. The highlight of conference will be Nick Clegg's first conference leader's speech, at the end of the conference on Sunday morning. On Saturday morning, Vince Cable's speech as Shadow Chancellor will also be closely watched, especially coming as it does at the start of Budget week. In the conference chamber there will be debates and speeches on health, education, the economy, local government, defence and the justice system among other issues. Particularly important is the new health paper setting out proposals to radically transform the NHS into a 'people's health service' by empowering individuals and decentralising control to local communities.

The conference will be a showcase for the May elections - the London Mayor and Authority elections, and local government elections in England and Wales. These will be particularly highlighted during the conference rally on Friday evening, during keynote speeches by Party President Simon Hughes and Shadow Local Government Secretary Julia Goldsworthy, and in presentations by London Mayoral Candidate Brian Paddick and London Liberal Democrats, and by the party's ruling group from Eastleigh Borough Council. The achievements of the Liberal Democrats in turning round Liverpool City Council after Labour left it a municipal basket case, and making it European Capital of Culture, will also be in the spotlight, with the regeneration of the city centre highly visible to all conference goers.