91Èȱ¬

The Lib Dem leader, , called on members to "hold our nerve" in his main conference speech here in Liverpool.

I have been surprised to the extent that people do seem to be holding their nerve, both publicly and privately.

There is, of course, much to be worried about. The Lib Dems are helping push through a programme of tough spending cuts, they are closely linked to the Tories and there are local elections next year.

Readers of this blog may remember the case of the four councillors from Runcorn who left the Liberal Democrats to sit as independents.

They were here on Monday taking part in a 91Èȱ¬ debate. They had been invited to meet Andrew Stunell, the communities minister and Greater Manchester MP. But that was withdrawn, I suspect when they realised I wanted to bring a camera along.

They argue that their principles have not changed, it is the Liberal Democrat leadership which has adopted a Tory agenda.

Anyway I managed to get them a fifteen minute chat with another , who is running for the party Presidency.

Mr Farron is on the left of the party and has bad memories of Thatcherism. Nevertheless he was absolutely clear that coalition is the only game in town.

Had the Lib Dems refused to join the Tories in government then the media and others would have mocked them for ducking power and refusing to take tough decisions.

As Tim Farron put it to me: "The worst time to jump ship is when the waters are choppy."

Cllr , the leader of the Liverpool group, who has previously warned the party could be "wiped out" by coalition has also criticised those who are leaving the party.

In reality not many councillors have left and, I'm told, party membership is actually increasing.

I came here expecting to find people privately hostile to the coalition and the leadership's strategy. In reality everyone I have spoken to accepts there is currently no alternative.

That might change as the spending cuts bite. But not yet.

It's been a vibrant conference in Liverpool. Power has breathed vigour into the party but with a nervy edge.

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