One of the highlights of Brighton is that it’s got a great running track. You just poodle out to the promenade – chunter westwards for (in my case) 2.5 k and then turn round and go back. Job done. The sloshing about of the sea and wind also gives quite an invigorating awakening at 7 o’clock in the morning.

After an instant porridge for breakfast, I was in the main auditorium to hear Gideon Amos MP make an excellent speech in the debate on the Mortality of Children living in temporary accommodation.

Here’s an astonishing fact to stop you in your tracks. Since 2019, 104 children have died with temporary accommodation as a contributing factor to their death. What an absolutely shameful statistic. In the fifth largest economy in the world we cannot find the wherewithal to properly house our families, with 176,000 children living in temporary accommodation in England and Wales – routinely for over two years in many cases.

Fortunately, there was encouraging news from Wokingham (Councillor Prue Bray) and Birmingham. In the latter case we heard of positive action from City Council Leader Roger Harmer. (What?! A LibDem leader of Birmingham City Council!!! How the heck did that happen?)

Caroline Voaden MP opened the motion about securing the future of rural and coastal education, which was also very salutary. Often primary schools in villages are hanging on by their fingernails, while providing the fragile key to local community life.

I had a quiet sit down, where I coincidentally found myself staring at a large poster extolling the benefits of relaxed performances. Amen to that.

I dipped my toe in the waters of the exhibition hall. At the Friends of Hong Kong stand I was taken through a series of large printed info boards with the aim of choosing option A, B or C. It is a very good way to engage people.

What a joy it was to visit the Liberator stall! – Replete with a stream of anecdotes from the old days, I bought the brand new 35th edition of the Liberator Song Book – with three new songs! Buy your copy now while stocks last! The booklet has a smattering of excellent photos including several colour ones. I like that they have placed a lovely photo of dear Charles Kennedy (above) under the words of “Ode to Charles Kennedy”.

At the HQ stand I filled out a form to be on the list for the campaign hub. This entitled me to a spin their wheel of fortune, for which I was rewarded with a go at unlocking the prize box of a host of Libby goodies. Sadly my guess failed.

Al Pinkerton, MP for Surrey Heath, made a really superb speech on Europe. Optimistic. Informed. Positive.

Accompanied by some sandwiches to die for, I attended the fringe meeting about Suicide prevention amongst young people. With speakers from the University of Birmingham and its panel members, the event was chaired, very well, by Anna Sabine MP. Again, there were some heart-rending real life examples. I have to commend the info pack given to all attendees which included some excellent advice.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Councillor Ying Tong-Perrett from Surrey Heath. She was staffing the Chinese, East & South East Asian Liberal Democrats stand. She was very excited about the election of Yi-pei Chou Turvey to the Scottish Parliament. They are keen to hear from, and help, those from the CESEA diaspora who are interested in being councillors, parliamentarians or assembly members.

At the Young Lives Vs Cancer stall I played an interesting game. I had to stand at a wall of lights as they flashed on in turn, and hit them with my hand to extinguish them. Each light represented a problem faced by families with youngsters who have cancer. I thought I did very well. But I was placed bottom of the leader board. It appears that our MPs, as well as being very bright, have very quick reactions! They all extinguished the lights far more quickly than I did.

I stopped at the stall for the Liberal Democrat friends of Armed Forces. They are displaying wonderful photos of Lib Dem MPs when they were in uniform back in the day, such as Helen Maguire and Angus MacDonald. Ian Roome looked as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth!

I then attended a party briefing. I could tell you what it was about but I would have to eat you afterwards.

* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.