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Tim Farron jumps the shark in the brave new Lib Dem world A fake arrival, stilted smiles, absent MPs: welcome to the world of #libdemfightback
(about 2 hours later)
If the Liberal Democrat conference Twitter feed was to be believed, this was it. This was where the great revival was going to happen. This was a new dawn in the promised land of orange.If the Liberal Democrat conference Twitter feed was to be believed, this was it. This was where the great revival was going to happen. This was a new dawn in the promised land of orange.
The #libdemfightback was starting in the seaside town of Bournemouth at the party’s autumn conference. Stand back and watch the fireworks.The #libdemfightback was starting in the seaside town of Bournemouth at the party’s autumn conference. Stand back and watch the fireworks.
“I am SO EXCITED for the #ldconf omgomg,” tweeted Jezebel. “Starting to get kinda excited for #lidconf,” said another. “Just been ordering my conference stationary :),” tweeted a third.“I am SO EXCITED for the #ldconf omgomg,” tweeted Jezebel. “Starting to get kinda excited for #lidconf,” said another. “Just been ordering my conference stationary :),” tweeted a third.
Related: #LibDemFightback: what became of MPs who lost their seats?Related: #LibDemFightback: what became of MPs who lost their seats?
This wasn’t just wacky web talk either. As conference started on Saturday in the Bournemouth International Centre (a red-brick carbuncle blighting the resort’s seafront), party officials sought to pour a bucketful of petrol on the tiny flickering, hopeful, Lib Dem flame.This wasn’t just wacky web talk either. As conference started on Saturday in the Bournemouth International Centre (a red-brick carbuncle blighting the resort’s seafront), party officials sought to pour a bucketful of petrol on the tiny flickering, hopeful, Lib Dem flame.
At 11am 2,388 members had registered in Bournemouth, with hundreds more expected to turn up over the next five days, said a press briefing. About 50% more members would take part in debates and fringes than at the party’s last autumn conference in Glasgow, it was claimed. Organisers said first-time attendees to conference had more than trebled, as the party’s membership hit 60,844, the briefing added.At 11am 2,388 members had registered in Bournemouth, with hundreds more expected to turn up over the next five days, said a press briefing. About 50% more members would take part in debates and fringes than at the party’s last autumn conference in Glasgow, it was claimed. Organisers said first-time attendees to conference had more than trebled, as the party’s membership hit 60,844, the briefing added.
Then Tim Farron, the folksy, cheeky-chappy replacement for Nick Clegg, “jumped the shark”, as television execs would put it. Just as the hit 1970s show Happy Days took things too far when they allowed a water-skiing Fonz to leap a shark to impress the ladies, so Farron let things get to his head.Then Tim Farron, the folksy, cheeky-chappy replacement for Nick Clegg, “jumped the shark”, as television execs would put it. Just as the hit 1970s show Happy Days took things too far when they allowed a water-skiing Fonz to leap a shark to impress the ladies, so Farron let things get to his head.
Taking part in a fake arrival at conference for the benefit of the broadcasters (we know it was fake because he arrived by exiting the conference building rather than entering it), Farron told the two reporters and one BBC cameraman poised for him: “Britain desperately needs a party that is liberal, progressive and economically responsible. We will fill that space.Taking part in a fake arrival at conference for the benefit of the broadcasters (we know it was fake because he arrived by exiting the conference building rather than entering it), Farron told the two reporters and one BBC cameraman poised for him: “Britain desperately needs a party that is liberal, progressive and economically responsible. We will fill that space.
“I’ll be calling upon the Liberal Democrats here to steel themselves. Having had the result in May, against all the odds we matter more than we have done for perhaps a generation.”“I’ll be calling upon the Liberal Democrats here to steel themselves. Having had the result in May, against all the odds we matter more than we have done for perhaps a generation.”
More than a generation? More than when the party’s leader was deputy prime minister? Or when Charles Kennedy’s party, with a record 63 MPs, was at the vanguard of fighting the Blair government’s plans to start a war with Iraq?More than a generation? More than when the party’s leader was deputy prime minister? Or when Charles Kennedy’s party, with a record 63 MPs, was at the vanguard of fighting the Blair government’s plans to start a war with Iraq?
Even Farron’s wife, Rosie, standing by him with a rictus grin, appeared to flinch. “Top smiling, good work,” Farron said in a jokey aside to her as they walked away from the cameras. One aide admitted later of Farron’s hyperbole: “He does sometimes get carried away.”Even Farron’s wife, Rosie, standing by him with a rictus grin, appeared to flinch. “Top smiling, good work,” Farron said in a jokey aside to her as they walked away from the cameras. One aide admitted later of Farron’s hyperbole: “He does sometimes get carried away.”
The truth, it was clear at conference, is that this is a party which could indeed benefit from Jeremy Corbyn’s rise, but has its own problems to deal with first. It had just eight MPs elected in May (all of them white men). But they were certainly not in forceon Saturday . None were spotted among the faithful who had turned out to launch the great comeback. And if this is the start of a record attendance, then someone needs to have a look at the accounting departments doing the number-crunching.The truth, it was clear at conference, is that this is a party which could indeed benefit from Jeremy Corbyn’s rise, but has its own problems to deal with first. It had just eight MPs elected in May (all of them white men). But they were certainly not in forceon Saturday . None were spotted among the faithful who had turned out to launch the great comeback. And if this is the start of a record attendance, then someone needs to have a look at the accounting departments doing the number-crunching.
There was no traditional bevy of clapping activists to welcome Farron’s “arrival”. The only Liberal Democrat loitering around the same part of the conference centre (near the loos, by the terrace) at the time of Farron’s appearance was Lord Rennard, he of the sexual-harassment scandal that led to his suspension, after being accused of bringing the party’s name into disrepute. He ducked into the gents at just the right time. Quite a one-man welcoming party that would have been.There was no traditional bevy of clapping activists to welcome Farron’s “arrival”. The only Liberal Democrat loitering around the same part of the conference centre (near the loos, by the terrace) at the time of Farron’s appearance was Lord Rennard, he of the sexual-harassment scandal that led to his suspension, after being accused of bringing the party’s name into disrepute. He ducked into the gents at just the right time. Quite a one-man welcoming party that would have been.
The vast expanse of the sprawling conference hall swallowed the sparse crowd of orange lanyard-wearing delegates. And no sooner had Farron arrived, than he left to meet some refugees doing some painting and drawing in an arts centre in Poole, the next town along the coast.The vast expanse of the sprawling conference hall swallowed the sparse crowd of orange lanyard-wearing delegates. And no sooner had Farron arrived, than he left to meet some refugees doing some painting and drawing in an arts centre in Poole, the next town along the coast.
Arts for refugees. Very Liberal Democrat. Farron listened to moving stories of desperate people escaping violence and being saved by Britain. He then spoke well to the cameras about the country’s great history in helping others, and then the country reaping the rewards from the labours of those who come to these shores. He repeatedly mentioned his own recent trip to Calais when talking to organisers. But #libdemfightback? That appears to be some way off.Arts for refugees. Very Liberal Democrat. Farron listened to moving stories of desperate people escaping violence and being saved by Britain. He then spoke well to the cameras about the country’s great history in helping others, and then the country reaping the rewards from the labours of those who come to these shores. He repeatedly mentioned his own recent trip to Calais when talking to organisers. But #libdemfightback? That appears to be some way off.