A day trip to Brighton

THE Liberal Democrat conference is always a happy-go-lucky affair. Far more relaxed than the gatherings of Labour and the Conservatives, security is almost non existent - a cursory glance through my brief case revealing nothing more than a razor, some paperwork, and a dictation machine. None of the body scanning and Semtex searchning that goes on at the other two.

Brighton is also laid back - as one Tory MP said to me a few years back and with more than a wicked glint in his eye, it's raffish. Down market chip shops are now being turned into elegant eateries and even the gay hotels are now what is known as boutique - charging twice the price for satin and chrome.

So why was I enjoying only just a day with the Lib Dems? Too many reasons to bore you with, but suffice to say what's the point in spending five days at the seaside when the only Liberal Democrat MP within the circulation area ignores you because of some insignificant squabble he has with the newspaper?

It's one thing being cut dead in the Members'Lobby at the House of Commons, but I've got better things to do than play Mr Bob Russell's childish game for five days at the seaside.

All because he was caught out by The Independent newspaper lobbying fellow MPs to be named to Backbencher of the Year - not the done thing.

When the EADT ran the story, he got in a strop - presumably because legions more of his constituents read the EADT than The Independent and he couldn't keep his voters in the dark at his breaking protocol.

Over such silly things do feuds break out!

It's a great pity because Lib Dems are good company and evenings in the bars of Brighton hotels are great fun. It's Lib Dem activists who haved missed out this time on the EADT's hospitality and the opportunity to bend my ear.

Saturday it's Manchester for me and then Bournemouth, my favourite conference venue of all.

Happy days.