Lib Dems from across the UK came to Birmingham this week for our autumn conference. There’s always a buzz at party conferences and it was great to catch up with old friends and meet up with new. As well as all the fun, there was work to be done and delegates took turns to debate with enthusiasm passion. The Lib Dems are different from other parties because our members, not just the party hierarchy, decide party policy. Over 5,000 delegates filled the ICC to decide party policy on issues from Employment and Support Allowance and Protecting Individuals form Drug Harm to the Digital Economy and House of Lords reform.

Security was conspicuous around the ICC with part of Broad Street being closed to traffic. Temporary taxi ranks were set up to cater for Broad Street’s late night revellers but any disruption was more than made up by the extra custom from the thousands of delegates making use of the surrounding restaurants and bars.  An estimated £12 million was pumped into Birmingham’s local economy.

Local Lib Dems Colin Green and Stuart Richie among invited guests on stage for Nick Clegg’s closing speech. Photo courtesy of the FT.

As a local party member I was invited to be part of the audience at the front of the auditorium during the closing rally. Not only did I get a front row view of Nick Clegg’s closing speech but I got my picture on page 2 of today’s Financial Times!