Chair's report from the Lib Dem conference

Records were set at this year's autumn conference; it was the biggest, most well-attended in Lib Dem history - and with more new members than ever before. Everywhere I went was buzzing with anticipation and hope for the future. The dreadful election results weren't ignored but there is a definite feeling of resurgence among party faithful and those recently joined.

For those of you who haven't been to a conference before, I urge you to do so. There are so many events from which to choose; big debates and speeches in the main hall, fringe events and training sessions. It's quite feasible to go from breakfast to supper covering everything from the current refugee crisis to how to be a parliamentary candidate.

Bournemouth is only two counties away yet it took four different train companies to get me there and back. When I left I was taken on First Great Western - when I came back they were called Great Western Railway. What happened? Did Brunel rise and demand the old name back? In between there was South West Trains and Southern Railway, some beautiful countryside and every train was pretty much on time. Will Jeremy's 'People's Railway' have such a record?

Among the many events I attended, from foreign affairs to penal reform, writing press releases to the big debate on Trident, one was a packed fringe environmental debate with Kate Parminter, where I was able to point out that our motion on water, wave and tidal power, passed unanimously at regional conference, had been diluted (pun intended) by David Laws's 2015 manifesto committee. I asked for a green agenda throughout our manifesto and a promise on water power. Although there is obviously a strong commitment to alternative energies I was less than impressed by the response to tidal power. Afterwards I was pleased at the number of people who came up to me and thought the idea "excellent" and a "no-brainer". We will not give up on this, and the South West is brilliantly positioned to make a significant contribution towards Britain's carbon reduction, especially with wave power.

I was fortunate to hear our new leader, Tim Farron, several times. He spoke with great affection and humour of his early days when the Communards were at No.1 in the Hit Parade and within a few years he was going on low-key demonstrations when the question was,

"What do we want?"

And the answer came, "Slightly higher grants."

"When do we want them?"

"As soon as it's fiscally responsible."

These is some of what Tim Farron had to say:

"On the morning of the most crushing blow to the Liberal Democrats since our party was founded it is easy to imagine that there is no road back, but there is - because there is no path to a fairer, greener, freer Britain without British Liberalism showing the way. This is a very dark hour for our party but we cannot and will not allow decent liberal values to be extinguished over night. Fear and grievance have won, liberalism has lost. But it is more precious than ever and we must keep fighting for it."

"So let me be crystal clear what the Liberal Democrats are for:

"We are the party that sees the best in people, not the worst.

"We are the party that believes that the role of government is to help us to be the best that we can be, no matter who we are or what our background.

"That's it. That's our mission. We trust people. That's why we stand up for the individual against the state. Why we stand up for the minority against the majority. Why we stand up for the outsider against the establishment. Because that is not just what we do, it is who we are!"

"Because despite what happened on 7th May, this is still an open, generous and tolerant country. A liberal country.

"So let's together make our liberal voice stronger.

"If you care about human rights, join us. If you think you shouldn't have your emails snooped on, join us. If you think everyone deserves a decent home, join us. If you think it's wrong to demonise immigrants, the young, the poor, foreigners, Brussels, the English, the Scots - join us.

"If you are fed up of self-satisfied politicians ambitious for themselves and unambitious for their country, then guess what? You're a liberal. Embrace that diagnosis. It is an utterly decent and British condition.

"Liberals of Britain, if you want a better Britain then you need to do something about it. Come and be part of the most joyful, inspiring and worthwhile comeback in political history. Because that comeback starts right now, right here - it starts with us."

I heard Tim speak on several occasions, in small and medium-sized rooms and in the main hall, and each time his message was uplifting, clear, resonant and unambiguous. He speaks from a strong and determined core that made me excited at the potential for the party and that the Lib Dem time will come again.