Editor’s Note: The party is currently running an essay competition for members of the Liberal Democrats, to submit 1000 words on the theme “What it means to be a Liberal Democrat today.” The deadline for contributions is 2nd November. If you would like us to publish your submission, send it to [email protected].

I did the most terrible thing, which I regretted. I left the Liberal Democrats a few years ago during one of the controversies triggered by Baroness Jenny Tonge. In the coverage of the Middle Eastern situation, what was left out was the Israeli children running the gauntlet of bombs on their way to school, which at the time was not mentioned in the news reports here in the UK. Jews here in the UK were very upset. I was getting increasingly embarrassed, wondering why I was in the party.

To me, the party’s key principle is that we aim for a free and fair society. At the time of my departure from the part, I did not believe this was being fully respected.

So, leaving the Lib Dems, I needed to belong to something. Feeling lost, I was persuaded to join the Labour Party. Never feeling welcome (I didn’t like being called “comrade” and certainly didn’t like how one was spoken to), I left. – Basically told I was still a LibDem, feeling a complete failure.

My son, who was with the Lib Dems, gave me a lifeline and I rejoice in the Lib Dems again.

I went to conference this year. How fantastic it was! My reason for leaving had gone. The tension had disappeared. I was not involved in any nonsense that has previously been there. I enjoyed the company I was with. – Some really nice people, who had the same political mindset.

Although I had to leave a day early, I felt I had come home. I was feeling that I was reborn. – Into the right place.

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* Anne Diamond has been a Liberal Democrat councillor in Harrow and Chair of the Liberal Democrat Disability Association. She is active in the local party and in support of local causes such as carers' support and MS.