Mathew Hulbert is a political commentator, co-host of the Political Frenemies podcast, and former Liberal Democrat Councillor in Hinckley and Barwell. Here, he sets out his own version of the leader’s speech for the 2025 Liberal Democrat Party Conference.

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Say what you may about us, but we Liberal Democrats certainly know how to put the party into party conference season.

At our Autumn shindig in Bournemouth this weekend, members will be able to (should they wish to) to participate in Lib Dem Disco, Lib Dem Karaoke and, of course, the now legendary last night of Conference ‘Glee Club,’ where reworked versions of well known tunes are sung as well as many renditions of the Lib Dem anthem ‘The Land.’

Meanwhile, for those whose singing is best confined just to the shower in a morning, there’s also the conference bar to enjoy a tipple (or two) and a gossip about who’s up, who’s down, if the leadership might be defeated in a vote, and various other skulduggery that is the stuff of party conference season.

Of course there will also be some serious stuff going on too.

This year we have debated on issues ranging from the NHS, youth work, policing, gambling as a public health issue, hospitality, public transport, and a host of other important topics.

All very worthy.

The question is whether anyone outside the Conference bubble will ever get to hear about them.

Because, to put it at its politest, we Lib Dems have a problem.

Partly of our own making and partly outwith our control.

Despite being the largest third force in the House of Commons in a Century, with 72 MPs, we get barely a fraction of the media coverage that we should and than we used to, with far fewer MPs, in the pre-Coalition days.

Now I accept that a lot has changed in the political media landscape since the days when Paddy Ashdown and then Charles Kennedy led our party. We live in a true multi-party democracy, even under the bust first-past-the-post electoral system which urgently needs changing; Reform dominates so much of the broadcast airwaves (because negativity and controversy seems to be what sells…or, at least, what much of the media wants these days); there’s new/renewed forces on the Left, with the Greens riding the Polanski effect and the still as yet unnamed ‘Your Party’ exciting at least some parts of the electorate.

But what of we Lib Dems?

Being polite and moderate is our thing, but isn’t that (sadly) all a bit meh, a bit boring, a bit beige.

We clearly need to up our game as a party in trumpeting not just our many successes in local government but also the many policy areas where we are to the progressive Left of Starmer’s increasingly embattled Labour government.

This Lib Dem Conference cannot just be more of the same, we have got to be bolder, braver, and yes louder in getting our message across and communicating our values.

To that end I’m looking forward to attending Compass’s fringe meeting on the Saturday morning of Conference (‘The Future is Orange?: What next for the party?’, 1pm, The Hardy Suite, Hermitage Hotel) and I’m looking forward to chairing Dignity in Dying’s fringe, ‘Assisted Dying: a catalyst for patient power at the end of life,’ on Sunday 11.30-12.30, in the Branksome Suite of the Bournemouth International Centre.

If you’re around, please do say Hi.

Have a fantastic Conference…oh, and, don’t party too hard!