Alan Wager

Political anorak of uncertain colours

Nick Clegg may feel rightly aggrieved that a coalition he continues to see as courageous and necessary - for both his party and the country at large - now seems to be an unheralded disaster.

Callum Jones

Political Journalist and Writer

In the digital age, over a million people watched Clegg's tuition fees apology - original or remixed - in four days. If a single lesson can be taken from the Deputy PM's chart success, it's that the power of the internet is not to be underestimated.

Caragh Little

English teacher, book-lover, @TweeterofWit, blogger, lifelong learner

Behind the rows of gleaming suited photos lies the real story of Party Conference season. In the uniformed ranks of colour-coded allegiance - a yellow tie this week, a red one next, a true blue one a week later still - are the million stories of all our years at school. From satchels to red boxes, Tupperware lunch boxes to hospitality buffets... the types are there.

Jim Smallman

Award-winning heavily tattooed comedian, writer and professional idiot

I heard talk of the current session of parliament ending ready for party conference season, making me think back to when I worked in an office and the three weeks leading up to our Christmas shindig was a nightmare of people preparing for our get together like it was the only time they'd ever been to a party.

Dr Prateek Buch

Director, Social Liberal Forum

Following the gathering of evidence from experts in their fields, conference will debate several substantive motions on housing, socio-economic inequality, sources of sustainable prosperity and jobs and workplace democracy.

Nik Darlington

Journalist and historian

David Cameron is one of life's natural optimists. He wants the British people to "summon the appetite to fight for a better future". If material economic gains will only slowly fill the nation's bellies, Mr Cameron will need to offer something alternatively holistic to feed the nation's soul.

James Mills

Labour Party Researcher, Campaigner and Commentator

If the proposed rainbow coalition of smaller parties and Labour was not possible it was not the only option. The Lib Dems could have told the Tories to go it alone as a minority Government. The Lib Dem defence for entering Coalition instead of remaining in opposition is bazaar, as it is big headed.

Stuart Bonar

Coming to Liberal Democrat conference has changed over the years. It used to be the case that you were ignored. You'd spend your days earnestly debating policy motions and amendments then read precisely zilch about it in the next day's papers.