Julie Smith

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has closed the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Brighton by calling on members to spread the message of the Party's commitment in Government to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society.

In his keynote Leader's speech, Nick paid tribute to the work of the Party in winning the Eastleigh by-election, beating the Conservatives into third place and squeezing Labour while campaigning on the Lib Dem record of delivering in Government.

The last twelve months have been lit up by moments that will stay with us forever. When Mo Farah approached the final stretch of the 10,000m final, who wasn't up on their feet, screaming at the TV?

When Nicola Adams beamed at the crowd after winning the first ever women's Olympic boxing, who didn't smile back? I was lucky enough to be there, and that's one I'll never forget.

As recent chair of the regional party, it was fantastic to see so many Liberal Democrats from around the East of England, including my successor Sal Jarvis, at today's Regional Action Day in Cambridge. This event was just one of many led by local activist George Kendall and really highlighted the enthusiasm among our campaigners in the Region. Having attended the previous event in Colchester it was great to see their local MP Sir Bob Russell over here, along with our newest minister, Normal Lamb, the MP for North Norfolk, plus local MEP, Andrew Duff. I look forward to joining others with the next phase of regional activity up in North Norfolk.

I have sought reassurance that the government's controversial replacement for the Educational Maintenance Allowance would help city youngsters from the poorest backgrounds.

On Saturday, I had the chance to ask the government Advocate for Access to Education, Simon Hughes, about the new Learning Support Fund. I strongly believes it is vital to get this right if young people are to be helped to attend colleges such as Cambridge Regional College and Long Road.

Lib Dems from across the East of England converged on Huntingdon on 30th October for the Annual Regional Conference. A packed day included lively debates on Governance in the East of England, Aviation and Tuition fees and contributions from all four of the Region's MPs as well as Ros Scott, Tom McNally and guest speaker, Lorely Burt, MP for Solihull and Chair of the Lib Dem Parliamentary Party. Apart from moving her Chair's Report, fortunately approved unanimously, Julie spoke alongside Norman Lamb on Facing the Future, the Party's Working Group looking at policy-making during this parliament and beyond. At the end of the conference, delegates had the benefit of hearing Tim Farron and Susan Kramer in hustings for the Party Presidency.

Speaking to a packed Parliamentary Candidates' Associate fringe meeting, PCA Deputy Chair, Julie Smith argued that entering the Coalition was indeed the right thing to do given the hand the electorate had played. Initially anxious about working with the Tories, Julie, like the vast majority of Lib Dems, realised that the Lib-Con coalition was the right course of action in the circumstances. It offers huge opportunities to promote Liberal Democrat policies but clearly entails risks. Thus Julie stressed the importance of maintaining a distinctive Liberal Democrat voice; failure to do so could indeed lead to our demise.

Taking a break from Federal Conference, Julie recently joined many of the Crosby team who'd been involved in the historic 1981 by-election to celebrate Shirley Williams's 80th birthday. Dru Haydon, Val Conway and Carol Tonkiss did a fantastic job getting people together for a very convivial evening. Flanked by Anthony Hill who stood as the Liberal candidate in the 1970s and Scott Donovan who succeeded her as the Alliance candidate in 1987, Shirley talked fondly of her time campaigning in Crosby. Having cut her political teeth at the by-election in her native town, Julie, like Shirley, was delighted to catch up with old friends.

Regional Politics

I was Chair of the East of England Region of the Party from January 2010 to December 2011. I was previously a member then Chair of the Regional Policy Committee, and was responsible for drafting regional policy papers on Climate Change (2007), the economic situation in the region (2008) and a regional manifesto in 2009,. She was a member of the Regional Development Committee in 2009 and served ex officio on the Regional Conference Committee and Regional Executive and Management Committees in 2008 and 2009.

Arts and Recreation

Julie was Executive Councillor for Arts and Recreation on Cambridge City Council from 2006 to 2010, having previously chaired the Community Development and Leisure and then Community Services Committee, which also covered issues of arts, sport and leisure. A keen theatre- and ballet-goer, she became a Trustee of the Cambridge Arts Theatre in June 2011.

Why I am a Liberal Democrat

I have supported the cause of Liberalism/Liberal Democracy since the 1979 when the Liberal Party seemed the voice of reason between the damaging left-right swings of two party politics. The advent of the SDP gave me my first insight into practical politics - and the euphoria of electoral victory - when I campaigned at the historic Crosby by-election.