After Nick Clegg had departed his party's conference in Liverpool for the United Nations, the coast was clear for Vince Cable to steal the show. He did so to loud applause at the Echo arena as he rounded on City "spivs" and the "murky" world of finance in a speech that set several policy lines distinct from his Conservative allies.
But what did we learn from a week among Lib Dem delegates? Polly Toynbee, Michael White and Seumas Milne discuss whether the junior party in the coalition can avoid disaster at the polls - and how they can resolve their differences over divisive education and health policies.
Also this week: the Labour party meets in Manchester for the announcement on Saturday of their new leader. It's being billed as Miliband versus Miliband - but would Ed or David really take the party in a new direction? And will they be capable of reaching out to the other's supporters?
Leave your thoughts below and listen to Michael White's Conference Daily podcasts here from Sunday for all the news and gossip in Manchester.
