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  • Speak Up!

Speak Up!

Any party member can speak in debates: you just need to register for the duration of conference, as either a voting or a non-voting representative (that includes anyone registering only for the weekend at autumn conference). (Day visitors can’t speak in debates.)

In order to be called to speak, you need to fill in a speaker’s card. The chair and aide for the debate select which cards to call, trying to make sure conference hears as many points of view as possible from people from as diverse a range of backgrounds as possible.

You can obtain a speaker’s card at conference; you fill it in with details about you and your background, and a rough idea of what you’re going to say (whether you’re going to speak for or against the motion, focus on one particular area, etc.). Click here to see what a speaker’s card looks like.

Speaker’s cards are not difficult to fill in, but some people still make mistakes. Click here for a very short guide on how to fill out your card.

Speeches are usually either three or four minutes in length, and you’ll be given a little warning if you’re called (the chair will call the next speaker to ‘stand by’ when the previous speaker is called to speak). A traffic light system will tell you how much time you have left – the amber light comes on when you have sixty seconds left, and the red light when your time is up.

In addition to speeches from the podium, we use ‘intervention’ microphones during the longer debates. Representatives (voting or non-voting) can speak for one minute from mikes situated in the middle of the hall. It’s a first-come, first-served system – just go and sit in the seats reserved for interveners, and follow the steward’s instructions. Although an intervention speech is very brief, it’s a good way to make a really punchy point – and it’s less intimidating than giving a longer speech from the podium.

For an idea of how debates are run, you can download this brief guide.