Lib Dems like you haven't seen them before

They loved Clegg in the hall, and the relief that he did well was palpable. Clegg's jokes worked better than on paper. His style is natural and engaging. Some bloggers sighed a weary "seen-it-all-before" sigh at Clegg pacing the stage without notes (he had an autocue). Don't forget: this just isn't something that happens at Lib Dem conference. Let them bask in the novelty.

The downside of his speech was his tendency to get carried away in his own rhetoric. Already Clegg is promising "the end of politics as usual", "a new type of government",  to "get the money out of politics", "public services that are human-sized, personal in nature, and designed for real people" and a "new NHS". And what about next year?

The delegates didn't care, though, and Clegg's speaking achievement was not the only significance of the weekend. It also showed where the party is heading: rightwards. Clegg has announced that, if possible, taxes will be lowered. They have embraced choice in health, backed with private provision if the public sector cannot deliver. Equidistance is now Clegg's formal position.

And it is not just the leadership making the shift.

A record number of delegates at conference voted away the committment to free healthcare for the elderly in favour of a scheme where costs are shared - and apparently not a single person attacked the move. All the health proposals sailed through on Saturday with none of the difficulty Sir Menzies encountered when trying to ditch the 50p top rate of tax or Trident. Whether this was simply a vote of confidence in the leader or a genuine mellowing of the more left-wing activists I'm not sure.

But the centreground of British politics is getting more competitive