Liberal Democrat conference 2008

The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, and his wife, Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, on Bournemouth Beach Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Lembit Öpik on his Segway, which he believes will help solve the global warming crisis Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Photographers await the arrival of Nick Clegg on the beach Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Nick Clegg and his wife on Bournemouth Beach Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

David Laws, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for children, schools and families, speaks at the conference Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

The auditorium of the Liberal Democrat conference Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

The Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, Vince Cable, speaks at a fringe event Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Former Labour cabinet minister Charles Clarke at a fringe event Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

The audience during Nick Clegg's Q&A session Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Yellow rosettes Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Nick Clegg during his Q&A session Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

A yellow polka dot bikini made of metal welded to the fence Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

The site of the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth. The conference takes place in a fortified building on Bournemouth's cliff tops. Here the Lib Dems sit in an airless badly lit underground bunker discussing policy. Outside the normal people are enjoying the autumn sunshine Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian