Lib Dems must be more than a 'nice' protest vote

Sir Ed Davey has lost none of his skill at the eye-catching but ultimately vacuous video-opportunity. He marched into his party's annual conference in Bournemouth yesterday at the head of a drummer band, guaranteeing cheerful images to mark an event that will struggle to make news for its policies.

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Liberal Democrat spin doctors say that the stunt was designed to reclaim the word “patriotism” from Nigel Farage. That message was reinforced by merchandise at the conference centre, including a small figure of Mr Farage labelled “plastic patriot”, but we doubt whether the sight of Sir Ed with a red sash twirling a mace will have said “pride in one’s liberal country” to most viewers.

Instead, the combination of Lib Dem orange and a marching band may have conjured up associations with the more aggressive end of the unionist marching season in Northern Ireland.

Still, perhaps the casual consumer of news media might not think further than the Lib Dems being “on the march”, in which case the stunt may repeat the success of Sir Ed’s electioneering.