Former leader Paddy Ashdown gets behind the decks at Lib Dem disco

Ex leader Paddy Ashdown on the decks at Lib Dem disco. Credit: @timsculthorpe

Former leader Paddy Ashdown got behind the decks to kickstart the Lib Dem fightback at party conference.The veteran politician took the stage at the party disco to kick the night off - only to be upstaged by Jo Swinson, the former business minister, in a playlist contest.

Together with former Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael, the trio of ex-MPs got activists dancing to Chumbawamba - and I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred.

Former special forces solider Lord Ashdown started his set with Belgian dance tune Ta Fete by Stromae.

But he admitted to activists he knew nothing about modern music and had been aided by his grandchildren.

Some 300 people packed into the party at the Bournemouth conference hotel until the early hours of the morning.