Hand-in-hand or foot-in-mouth?

An update from Peter Black AM on the Liberal Democrats' plans to axe 30 per cent of Welsh MPs:

Mr Black has just told the BBC's Phil Parry on am.pm: "This goes hand-in-hand with a full Parliament for Wales."

If that is the case, it's slightly strange that the Lib Dems have been trying to amend legislation before the Commons now - long before any "full Parliament for Wales" will be up and running.

Sandals in the wind

The Lib Dems appear to have got their sandals in a twist after I highlighted a policy proposal put forward by their Treasury spokesman and deputy leader - an idea that would save billions but could also mean thousands of expected jobs would never be created.

The party has put Dr Cable's idea on its website but has now added the disclaimer: "Please note: this is not official Liberal Democrat policy and examples are illustrative and represent only a first, rough attempt."

It's just coincidence that the St Athan proposal appears in the same sentence as the plan to scrap Trident, which was party policy the last time I looked.

Perhaps by "first, rough attempt" (an interesting concept for someone who would be Chancellor to publish) they simply mean an embarrassing cock-up.

The Cable Guy

You know you're in trouble in politics when the Liberal Democrats start laughing at you.

The Lib Dems have provided much amusement for the main UK parties over the years, particularly during leadership elections.

Today, the tables turned and it was Gordon Brown's turn to become the butt of a Lib Dem joke.

Today, the party's acting leader, delivered the best line during Prime Minister's Question Time: "The House has noticed the Prime Minister's remarkable transformation in the last few weeks from Stalin to Mr Bean."

Vince Cable may look like Ming Campbell's older brother but he's generally seen to have played a blinder as acting leader, highlighting Northern Rock before others spotted the problems.

He'll be gone in two weeks, replaced by Nick Clegg or Chris Huhne. Mr Cable's a keen ballroom dancing fan - I wonder if he's done enough these last few weeks to get a slot on the next Strictly Come Dancing?

Chilling out with the Lib Dems

I've just finished watching Sir Ming Campbell's speech to the Lib Dems in Brighton - a more energetic and impassioned performance than before, received politely rather than rapturously.

He took on the age issue, promising to make age an issue at the next election as, he argued, with age comes experience and with experience judgement. (At 66, he is almost old enough to be First Minister of Wales - Rhodri Morgan celebrates his 68th birthday next week).

I spent the rest of the morning touring the conference centre armed with a copy of Hello!, trying to find out whether delegates think Lembit "Cheeky Girl" Opik is an asset or a vote-loser.

Most activists were on his side, arguing that politics needs "characters".

The man himself was chuffed to get the results of our totally unscientific poll when I popped in to the conference chill-out zone to interrupt him during a foot massage.

You can see the results, including the massage, should you be so minded, on Wales Today at 6.30pm. Or watch it here.

The qualified holistic therapist in charge diagnosed me as "tense". After a week locked in a conference zone with a bunch of political anoraks, who wouldn't be?

Added alliteration

Sir Ming's people have been briefing us ahead of his speech tomorrow.

Expect an attack on the "cosy consensus" allegedly offered by Labour and the Conservatives.

How time flies. As I recall, his members were queuing up to join the "cosy consensus" after the Welsh Assembly elections earlier this year.

In fact, the only reason they're not in power in Cardiff is because the Lib Dems couldn't find a consensus, cosy or otherwise, between themselves on whether they should do a deal with Labour or with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives.

My conference resolutions

It's that time of the year again when we hacks chase political anoraks around the seaside for three weeks in pursuit of news that is hopefully relevant to the audiences we serve.

My conference season begins later than my colleagues. As Basil Fawlty might put it, the particular avenue of pleasure of the Plaid Cymru conference in Llandudno has been closed off to me.

But Brighton - and the Lib Dems - beckons, so it's time for my own conference resolutions.

This year I'm hoping to avoid:

1. News items that begin"Delegates are gathering......"

2. The word "keynote" - now applied to almost any speech from an elected politician, usually by the person delivering it.

3. Strong drink

4. Interviews that begin: "So David, what's the mood of the delegates?"

5. Late nights

6. Mad delegates who are obsessed with the Barnett formula, Europe, proportional representation or all three.