West is best as far as the Lib Dems are concerned

As the Liberal Democrat's take over Brighton for their annual party conference there is a real sense of enthusiasm and confidence in the air. The party's grandees are boasting 18,000 new members since the EU referendum vote as well as claiming the party has turned a corner after recent successes in the Local Elections.

The Lib Dems are the only major party offering voters a say on any so-called Brexit deal before we leave the European Union.

However the real issue that delegates can't escape is the fact with just eight MPs, and none in the West Country, the party has very little power to change anything and must win back support in key areas.

The party's leader Tim Farron says the West Country is the first on his list as a true heartland area of the party.

It can be easy to make light of the lack of Liberal Democrat MPs and the fact they don't have enough to fill a football team or they can all fit into one rowing boat but Tim Farron's style of leadership is one that could prove successful in persuading voters back to the party. He is someone who is passionate about his politics and having conversations with everyone, he wants to be seen across the country convincing people that the Liberal Democrats are a party for the future and one that can be trusted again.

As I've already written, Tim Farron wants us to have a say on any Brexit deal, his party wants us to remain in the union, but with vast swathes of the West Country voting to leave the European Union one of the party's stand out policies could only alienate voters further and opens the Lib Dems up to the criticism of being even more out of touch.

The EU vote reaction from the Lib Dems has certainly gained traction, popularity and the headlines for the party and the confidence delegates feel is understandable but translating that into votes will not be simple.