The merch stand in Bournemouth

AN understated satisfaction could be detected among the party faithful enjoying the Lib Dem conference this year.

Gone were the bolshy statements from last year about success at the 2024 general election, those never-ending reminders that they have 72 MPs et al.

There was instead a kind of dead-still calm to match the waves gently lapping at the sandy beach beneath Bournemouth pier.

The members are doing their best to position themselves as the most sensible of sensible options – the place to go for those deflated by both Labour and the Tories but find Reform beyond the pale.

In Camden, it has sometimes been referred to as a “best of the rest” option ­– although the Greens and maybe even new Your Party activists may disagree.

Among the earnest smiles and pastel scarves, there was an admirably strong approach to fighting back against anti-migrant and racist rhetoric – with political debate.

An unusual idea in the current climate, but they will have to draw a clearer outline about who they are and what they stand for.

What will people be voting for apart from none of the others?

There is still a line to tread too between trying to get noticed this way with explicit opposition to Nigel Farage – or through the stunts of which leader Sir Ed Davey has proved so fond.

This year, he came into conference with a marching band while last year’s images of him on a jet ski marked all the publicity material.

An embarrassing dad degrading the message?

Or a real human grabbing the attention of the media?

As many things often are with the Lib Dems, you may consider it all both good and bad.

After laying down the conductor’s baton, Sir Ed opened his conference speech warning of the spectre of a “Trump-inspired” Britain – so maybe the decision has been to try and carry on with both, even if many members will tell you they don’t need to see their leader in a wetsuit again soon.

Bournemouth is a place for sandy beach holidays, not hard politics.

But inside the conference centre, the Lib Dems were trying to build a case: that the centre-ground can resist extremes.

They might win as many votes just by sounding like fair and nice people.

At some point, however, they will have to explain where the money for fair and nice things will come from.