Gallery: Curtain up on the Lib Dem conference

The stage is prepared for the start of the conference in Brighton Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Sir Menzies Campbell rehearses his speech on the first day of the conference Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Sir Menzies prepares for the start of the conference Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

A lone protester holds a placard demonstrating about cigarette sales Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Sir Menzies and his wife Elspeth take a walk on Brighton promenade Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Stacked chairs and empty seats on the first day of the conference Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Members of the Liberal Democrat party listen to the start of the conference Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Members of the party at the start of the conference Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Menzies Campbell prepares his speech backstage before going to address the human rights and civil liberties rally Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Sandy Toksvig and Sir Menzies in a Q&A session Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Nick Clegg votes in the main hall of The Brighton Centre on day three of the party conference Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

The taxation debate Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Charles Kennedy attends the 'leading the north' fringe at the Grand Hotel Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Sir Menzies with the party's shadow secretary for innovation, universities and skills, Sarah Teather, during a visit to Varndean Sixth Form College in Brighton Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Paddy Ashdown speaks on the 'war on terror' Photograph: Cate Gillon/Getty

Sir Menzies works on his speech at the Grand Hotel Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Sir Menzies gives his speech on the final day of the conference Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Sir Menzies during his speech Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Party members on the final day of the conference Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Sir Menzies after his speech on the final day of the conference Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian