Over at The Independent, Daisy Cross gives a first-hand account of the Lib Dem special conference in Birmingham, and captures some of the sense of the unreality felt by many who were there:
The ambience was similar to that of a very successful village fete; many had brought their own sandwiches, some had brought their babies, but everyone was focused centre-stage, the odd gleeful glance sideways or incredulous nudge asking: “Are we really here?” Apart from one councillor, who declared the party had “made a pact with the devil” to awkward applause, there was hardly a word uttered against the new coalition, although Theresa May’s appointment as Home Secretary welcomed a few snorts of derision.
She concludes:
This was a party that seemed very pleased with itself, determined to stay true to it’s progressive liberal ideals and confident that it would make the most of its new position. If any dissenters had bothered to show up, they kept very quiet.
You can read the article in full here.
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One Comment
If any dissenters had bothered to show up, they kept very quiet
Odd, that, because I’m sure I heard at least six dissenting speakers (including interveners), and I counted around 25 “no” votes at the end (some of whom I understand don’t appear in the official figures because the level seating combined with the lighting made them difficult to see from the front.)