An exciting Bournemouth conference in store

Michael White, the journeyman of the Guardian politics department, sets the scene for an interesting time at Bournemouth. He gives Nick Clegg some credit for allowing Vince Cable room to breathe, and mentions the recent LibDem Voice poll:

Cable, effortlessly authoritative on economic matters, is the man the broadcasters want to interview. To his credit the likeable leader - at 41 he is 24 years his junior - does not try to bigfoot Dr Vince. An activist poll by Lib Dem Voice finds two in three satisfied with his leadership.