Lib Dems cancel London conference tomorrow due to planned protests

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Update: Despite an earlier confirmation that their conference would still take place tomorrow at a different venue (rumoured to be the Royal Horticultural Halls in Vincent Square, Greycoat Street), the Liberal Democrats are now believed to have called off their London conference due to “security fears”.

London Liberal Democrats have cancelled their conference venue tomorrow after Haverstock School withdrew the booking.

Students and other campaigners were planning to protest outside the school (the former secondary school of both Ed and David Miliband) with over 1200 people signed up via Facebook to attend the protest.

According to the police, as a result of the protest the venue has now said it does not want to be associated with the Liberal Democrats Conference at this time. Protest organisers are planning to continue with their protest plans if an alternative venue is found for the conference.

Fiona Edwards, spokesperson for the Free Education Campaign, which was organising the protest said:

“The cancellation of the venue for the conference is yet another sign of the deep unpopularity of the Liberal Democrats policy on fees and is hugely embarrassing for the party. It is not too late for them to keep the promise they made to students that they would reject higher fees.”