• [Sep 18] Mike Smithson writes: IS his appeal restricted to the party faithful?Watching Tim Farron's speech to the Lib Dem conference and the enthusiastic reaction he got from many delegates I got a feeling that maybe we were seeing a yellow version of Rick Perry. Farron's big moment was when he declared that the coalition was temporary - a message that seemed to resonate . .
I've no idea when there'll be a vacancy but my sense is that Clegg will lead his party at the general election. Everything thereafter depends on the outcome. Whatever, I find it hard to envisage is the party electing a party leader who has not had ministerial experience.
• Is Tim Farron the Lib Dem Rick Perry? [PoliticalBetting.com Sep 18]
• Farron regrets coalition divorce talk [C4 news blog Sep 20]
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