The mood of the Liberal Democrat conference is matched by Birmingham鈥檚 leaden skies

An air of gloom hangs over the Liberal Democrats鈥� autumn conference in Birmingham. And like the grey skies overhead, it doesn鈥檛 show much sign of shifting. The mood really took hold when trade secretary Vince Cable made his speech yesterday morning and admitted he couldn鈥檛 see any 鈥渟unny uplands鈥�. To clear up any confusion, he wasn鈥檛 looking out of the window but was speaking metaphorically, about the economy.

Apparently the minister鈥檚 speech writers had tried to make his address to conference more upbeat. But Vince tells it like it is, as he reminded us. He had a few warm words to share with us on investing in infrastructure and the Green Deal but the only moment of genuine joy came when he mentioned the large media firm currently having a spot of bother and reminded delegates that unlike Labour and the Tories, the Lib Dems had never sucked up to Rupert Murdoch.

Planning is clearly one area of particular angst for the party

Planning is clearly one area of particular angst for the party as a fringe event held by the RTPI and Savills proved. MP Stephen Gilbert listened as activists lamented the 鈥減rivatisation of the planning system鈥�, the growing power of Tesco and the way the National Planning Policy Framework was being 鈥渞ail roaded鈥� through. On the other side of the debate though, there are many who think it does need to be railroaded through - and fast.

Mike Leonard of the Modern Masonry Alliance told the meeting that something needed to happen 鈥渢his autumn鈥� in order to prevent job losses, people moving abroad and the industry being left with 鈥渘o capacity for the future鈥�.

You do feel for the Lib Dems. They鈥檝e waited all this time to get into power and when they finally make it, the world鈥檚 in a mess.

Topics