There’s no question that the Liberal Democrats’ traditional end of conference sing-a-thon is very marmite and Brussels Sprouts. I love it and am usually in my place for the start at 10 pm. This time, though, I didn’t get there till nearly 1 in the morning. It took me from 11pm when I arrived back at the Crowne Plaza after going out for dinner till then to cover the short distance from the door to the room where it was taking place because I kept meeting friends and new people and chatting away to them. I do hope that the people I was chatting to were sober enough to remember the ideas for articles that we talked about. “Confessions of a Trotskyite at Liberal Democrat Conference” is one I definitely want to read.

Anyway, I missed the traditional gathering of the Scots to sing Oh Flower of Scotland, but I did get there just in time for a very non-traditional rendition of English Country Garden. Do not ever find out the lyrics of this song if you are of a delicate disposition. I thought I was broad-minded but there were some things I didn’t know and had to ask. It is the smuttiest thing you will ever read.

The Liberator Song Book is a satirical and nostalgic meander through our party’s history. From The Land, a centuries old radical protest song calling for land value taxation to a song castigating Don Foster for ending our support for student grants (in order to maintain free tuition) in the 1990s, each song and its backstory means something to us. Rumour has it that at the Conference where this was debated, a pint found its way over Don’s head in a late night heated discussion in a Conference bar.

Because this is a uniquely liberal event, it can look odd to people who don’t understand what’s going on, or the extent to which our tongues are firmly in our cheeks. Nobody laughs at us quite like we do.

Various media have reported on the events of Tuesday night. Buzzfeed has included some video clips  in their coverage. And there’s leglesss “Nick.”

I don’t think the Daily Mail quite gets the Glee Club. The disdain is quite clear. No surprise there, but it does have some great pictures of Paddy Ashdown. I am so upset I missed Paddy doing his joke. He hasn’t been to Glee for a couple of years. He tells the same joke every time. There is an earlier rendition available on You Tube which you can watch if you’re desperate, but it’s best seen live.

And, finally, the Telegraph doesn’t get the affection and the irony in the event. Even if we’ve spent Conference arguing heatedly in the debating hall, this is the event where we all re-unite. Nobody is immune from a little gentle or not so gentle ribbing but we are, at the end of the day, a family. Admittedly, there might not be quite such affection for the other parties, Tony Blair in particular, but that’s the way it goes.

Quick update to include 3 things:

First, the link to “Dancing Bear” Cllr Annie Rawlinson’s fundraising page for her  Arctic Marathon to raise funds for the Samaritans.

On April 9th 2015 I shall be in the Arctic, literally on top of the world! I shall be braving the extreme sub-zero temperatures to tackle 26.2 miles in one of the remotest parts of the planet. I’ll be running on Arctic ice floes with only 6 to 12 feet separating me from 12,000 feet of Arctic Ocean. This marathon, the UVU North Pole Marathon, isn’t run on land but on frozen water. It’s a tremendous adventure for a tremendous charity, but it won’t be easy.

Secondly, apparently Gareth Epps’ beard made the tabloids. At least according to his Facebook status which is reproduced with his permission:

Apparently I was the S*n’s Beard Of The Day yesterday (though I know of nobody who buys the rag so haven’t seen a copy).

He goes on to add that in the context of the Lib Dems being described as “the most hirsute Party Conference” that is quite extraordinary. The Sun can’t have met Dave Page from Manchester. That’s all I’m saying.

Thirdly, Gareth’s own piece about the Glee Club Myths and Legends. I had rather arrogantly wondered if he hadn’t got the bit about the Lib Lab Lie wrong, because I distinctly remember some great profanity against Labour in the wake of the 1995 Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election where the Mirror had produced a free issue on polling day emblazoned “Vote Labour.” But then I remembered that the song sung then was more about where the Daily Mirror could be inserted, sung to the tune of “She’ll be coming round the mountains.”

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social