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Lib Dem conference diary: What do delegates know that the rest of us don't? Lib Dem conference diary: What do delegates know that the rest of us don't?
(34 minutes later)
Even before the rapturous applause that greeted Tim Farron’s big speech in Bournemouth on Wednesday, the big puzzle at the Liberal Democrats conference this week has been why the record turnout of delegates are looking so cheerful. What do they know about their post-election plight that the rest of us don’t? Put another way, what are they on?Even before the rapturous applause that greeted Tim Farron’s big speech in Bournemouth on Wednesday, the big puzzle at the Liberal Democrats conference this week has been why the record turnout of delegates are looking so cheerful. What do they know about their post-election plight that the rest of us don’t? Put another way, what are they on?
The answer, of course, is rooted in the eternal Lib Dem answer: fervent self-belief in their own decency and indispensability to the health of the ailing British body politic. The Daily Mail prefers to call it smugness.The answer, of course, is rooted in the eternal Lib Dem answer: fervent self-belief in their own decency and indispensability to the health of the ailing British body politic. The Daily Mail prefers to call it smugness.
It has always been an article of faith among older delegates, who have been coming here since before the party’s recovery from its late-80s implosion and merger between Liberals and the breakaway SDP under Paddy Ashdown.It has always been an article of faith among older delegates, who have been coming here since before the party’s recovery from its late-80s implosion and merger between Liberals and the breakaway SDP under Paddy Ashdown.
But, as Farron and senior colleagues keep pointing out, they have acquired 20,000 new members since their parliamentary contingent was slashed from 57 MPs (if you count renegade Mike Hancock) on polling day to just eight the next day.But, as Farron and senior colleagues keep pointing out, they have acquired 20,000 new members since their parliamentary contingent was slashed from 57 MPs (if you count renegade Mike Hancock) on polling day to just eight the next day.
Many of them are young and energetic, eager to make rousing “first-time speaker” debuts at the rostrum in the cavernous Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) above the town pier. Among the 2,000-plus attendees have been 500 such “political virgins”.Many of them are young and energetic, eager to make rousing “first-time speaker” debuts at the rostrum in the cavernous Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) above the town pier. Among the 2,000-plus attendees have been 500 such “political virgins”.
Jack Davies,19, is one such, attending his first conference. An international studies student from Lymington in the nearby New Forest, he spoke twice this week, on refugees and youth services. He stood unsuccessfully for his local council on 7 May and already has an eye on Hampshire county council.Jack Davies,19, is one such, attending his first conference. An international studies student from Lymington in the nearby New Forest, he spoke twice this week, on refugees and youth services. He stood unsuccessfully for his local council on 7 May and already has an eye on Hampshire county council.
“We were dealt a terrible blow on 7 May, but local campaigns and activities is the party’s strength, its grassroots. It’s what we believe in and makes us different from Labour and the Conservatives,” he explains.“We were dealt a terrible blow on 7 May, but local campaigns and activities is the party’s strength, its grassroots. It’s what we believe in and makes us different from Labour and the Conservatives,” he explains.
Fifty years older and walking through the conference centre holding hands with Pat, his wife of 45 years, retired councillor Andy Walker, from further along the coast in Eastbourne, echoes the localist perspective. A Tory councillor in Wealden, Sussex, has just resigned over government pressure to build more houses, and the Lib Dems have a good chance of regaining the seat, says Andy. He is fired up at the prospect.Fifty years older and walking through the conference centre holding hands with Pat, his wife of 45 years, retired councillor Andy Walker, from further along the coast in Eastbourne, echoes the localist perspective. A Tory councillor in Wealden, Sussex, has just resigned over government pressure to build more houses, and the Lib Dems have a good chance of regaining the seat, says Andy. He is fired up at the prospect.
Many speakers ascribe their “fightback” state of mind ( it is a hashtag slogan here) and surge of new members to Nick Clegg’s dignified “dark day” speech on the day he resigned as party leader after the 7 May massacre. “Why couldn’t he have got our message across as well as that before the election?” Lib Dems say on the conference fringe. Many speakers ascribe their “fightback” state of mind (it is a hashtag slogan here) and surge of new members to Nick Clegg’s dignified “dark day” speech on the day he resigned as party leader after the 7 May massacre. “Why couldn’t he have got our message across as well as that before the election?” Lib Dems say on the conference fringe.
At one such event, someone likened the surge of people joining their ranks in the wake of such a defeat to his own instinct to write a cheque to the British Red Cross. “It’s my reaction to a disaster.”At one such event, someone likened the surge of people joining their ranks in the wake of such a defeat to his own instinct to write a cheque to the British Red Cross. “It’s my reaction to a disaster.”
Rachel Gilmour, businesswoman and three times a party candidate in the West Country, was moved to come to the annual conference for the first time in 14 years, bringing along her 24-year-old son, as a first-time delegate.Rachel Gilmour, businesswoman and three times a party candidate in the West Country, was moved to come to the annual conference for the first time in 14 years, bringing along her 24-year-old son, as a first-time delegate.
“In five years’ time, people will look back and say: ‘We found what the Lib Dems did in 2010 very difficult. But after five years of seeing what the Conservatives have done on their own, we realise we were glad to have them in government.’ We were the conscience of the Conservatives, now they are left to their own devices.”“In five years’ time, people will look back and say: ‘We found what the Lib Dems did in 2010 very difficult. But after five years of seeing what the Conservatives have done on their own, we realise we were glad to have them in government.’ We were the conscience of the Conservatives, now they are left to their own devices.”
The idea that moderate Tories and Lib Dem defectors, all alarmed by talk of a Miliband/SDP coalition, are already experiencing buyers’ remorse is enhanced by the election of Jeremy Corbyn to lead Labour from well to the left of their own new leader, Tim Farron.The idea that moderate Tories and Lib Dem defectors, all alarmed by talk of a Miliband/SDP coalition, are already experiencing buyers’ remorse is enhanced by the election of Jeremy Corbyn to lead Labour from well to the left of their own new leader, Tim Farron.
“We’ve got lots of new members, young and enthusiastic,” says, Rodney Jackson, a retired health and safety inspector, still busily absorbing the VW diesel scandal in the morning papers. “This Tory government is busy digging its own grave and so is the Labour party with Corbyn,’’ he insists. The Lib Dems have recovered from setbacks before. “We’ve got lots of new members, young and enthusiastic,” says Rodney Jackson, a retired health and safety inspector, still busily absorbing the VW diesel scandal in the morning papers. “This Tory government is busy digging its own grave and so is the Labour party with Corbyn,’’ he says. The Lib Dems have recovered from setbacks before.
Related: Lib Dem conference diary: mugs for mementosRelated: Lib Dem conference diary: mugs for mementos
Among the young hopefuls sharing that optimism is Cosmo Lupton, 15, from Surrey, who has dragged his mum, Rosamund, to the conference. Both of them first-timers. “I’m finding it amazing,” he says, before offering a sophisticated analysis of the Lib Dem election disaster that rests on the devastating impact of the Tory campaign message about a possible Miliband/SNP deal.Among the young hopefuls sharing that optimism is Cosmo Lupton, 15, from Surrey, who has dragged his mum, Rosamund, to the conference. Both of them first-timers. “I’m finding it amazing,” he says, before offering a sophisticated analysis of the Lib Dem election disaster that rests on the devastating impact of the Tory campaign message about a possible Miliband/SNP deal.
“Tim Farron’s idea of getting 100,000 new members among liberal people is a clever one,” says Cosmo. “There is a huge gap in British pubic life for liberal ideas.” Cosmo wants to become a teacher, then go into politics. What better time to join another Liberal revival than when the party is on its uppers? As Rodney Jackson puts it with a beam: “The only way is up.” What are they on? Hope.“Tim Farron’s idea of getting 100,000 new members among liberal people is a clever one,” says Cosmo. “There is a huge gap in British pubic life for liberal ideas.” Cosmo wants to become a teacher, then go into politics. What better time to join another Liberal revival than when the party is on its uppers? As Rodney Jackson puts it with a beam: “The only way is up.” What are they on? Hope.
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