Party members are staying away, lobbyists are taking over and with costs to attend rising we ask: are party conferences a luxury British politics can do without?
The three party conferences took place against the backdrop of worsening economic news, yet Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband and David Cameron all called on the country to pull together and that the country's best days are ahead of it.
But their speeches were heard by decreasing numbers of party members. The days of passionate debate in the conference halls are now in the past. Even the fringe events tend to be dominated by pressure groups and lobbyists.
Martin Kettle and Polly Toynbee argue that the annual events need serious reform or should be scrapped.
The focal points of the week's were the leader's speeches. Simon Lancaster (Bespoke Speechwriting) argues that despite the odd bum note, Clegg, Cameron and Miliband gave good accounts of themselves.
Plus we explore the role of humour in a political speech and we round up the best (and worst) jokes of the season.
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