Yahoo News Expand the bandwidth: today at the Liberal Democrat conference
Quote of the day
We are not complacent, we are not drunk on our success, we want to continue to expand the bandwidth, draw people into the party.”
New(ish) Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna explaining how the party could potentially win 100-plus seats in a general election.
Apology of the day
I deeply regret the offensive statements on social media. I want to apologise to anyone that I have offended.”
Now-removed candidate for Banff and Buchan, Galen Milne, expresses contrition for saying on social media that senior Conservatives should be “burned at the stake”.
Speech of the day
Umunna again – the former Labour MP’s debut at the Lib Dem conference. Focusing on his foreign policy brief, Umunna argued that in an era where authoritarian leaders were increasingly prevalent, the UK had lost moral authority to intervene given Boris Johnson had threatened to break the law over a Brexit extension.
“A giant battle is raging between the pluralist creed of liberal democracy on one hand, and a desiccated authoritarianism on the other,” he said. “What is clear is that we will not see the leadership on the world stage required from the new occupant of No 10.”
Tweet of the day
Jacob Rees-Mogg responds to the suggestion he should be burned at the stake.
Typical Lib Dem. Mr Milne should get his facts straight. As Lord President of the Council, I am entitled to the privilege of being beheaded. https://t.co/5D1YIuUCk6
— Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob_Rees_Mogg) September 16, 2019
Tuesday highlight
It is the last day, and the final event – and centrepiece of the conference – will be Jo Swinson’s first speech as leader. Expect a tumultuous reception from an excited crowd, little in the way of new policy details but a speech intended to attract remain-minded voters and send activists home with a spring in their step. It starts at 2.10pm.
