Nick Clegg has called for unity as the Liberal Democrat conference opens in Liverpool after Lib Dem councillors on three different councils defected to Labour. Barnsley’s only Liberal Democrat councillor, Sharron Brook, who had represented the town’s Dearne Valley South ward as a Liberal Democrat since 2003, told the BBC that: “I went into a briefing on a white paper for children...

Liberal Democrat Voice reports four Lib Dem local by-election victories in key constituencies. Hurrah! Jennie Rigg has an article at Liberal Conspiracy asking how its readers can bring themselves to vote Labour. And James Graham asks some tough questions of Lembit Opik over on Comment is Free.

News reaches us via Conservative Home and the Telegraph that Norsheen Bhatti, the Liberal Democrat PPC for Chelsea and Fulham, has defected to David Cameron’s party. It is odd that Tory Chairman (and Lib Dem Voice favourite) Eric Pickles suggested to The Telegraph that the environment was one area where his party shares Liberal Democrat values.

Last week Lib Dem Voice reported on Shenanigans in Cumbria, and the likely break-up of the Tory/Lib Dem coalition which has run the County Council since 2001 following the dismissal by the Conservative council leader of his Liberal Democrat deputy, Joan Stocker. Well, now, the inevitable has come to pass, and the Lib Dems have

Here we go again. Lib Dem Voice announces this year's Awards.You have until the end of the month to nominate your favourite blogs in the following categories:Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since 1st August 2007)Best blog from a Liberal Democrat holding public officeBest use of blogging or social networking by a Liberal DemocratBest posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st Septem...

Liberal Democrat blogger Mark Thompson has launched a new site, Lib Dem TV: On it I intend to put up any interviews or other sorts of footage involving Lib Dem members and candidates that I can generate. I am also happy to post any relevant footage from other Lib Dem activists that might be of interest

A useful guide from Philip Cowley and Mark Stuart: If 11 Liberal Democrat MPs vote against the whip, it will be the largest Lib Dem rebellion so far this Parlaiment. (The current record is 10, on an amendment to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill in November). If 16 Liberal Democrat MPs vote against the whip, it will be the largest Lib Dem rebellion since the party was founded...

The BBC website gives us the low-down on the various ins and outs of the minor shadow cabinet reshuffle and a new entrant to the Lib Dem presidential race: Lembit Opik is standing down as Liberal Democrat housing spokesman to concentrate on his campaign to succeed Simon Hughes as the party’s president. A Lib Dem spokesman

It’s Sunday. It’s 9am. It’s time for photographs of bollards, but first the news. 2 Must-Read Blog Posts What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here are two posts that have caught the eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator: The Mood at Lib Dem Conference: Nick Thornsby takes the pulse The Saturday List: Lib Dem Constituency Songs: Will

THE UK's new Tory-Lib Dem coalition must deliver early benefits for Scotland if it is to win support north of the Border, a senior Liberal Democrat has warned.