Sir Menzies and the Lib Dems: not much love lost (Updated)

Sir Menzies Campbell was airbrushed out of the first party conference since his departure.

He didn't attend (in the US, fundraising, apparently***), he wasn't name checked, as far as I saw, from the platform and Clegg failed to mention him in his speech or the rally.

Judging by the reaction of people in the conference hotel bar, this was largely in tune with the mood. His autobiography has riled people. Several complained at the "unnecessary" way he dwelt on Charles Kennedy's drink problem (Charles is still very popular), and the fact that it had been serialised in the Mail on Sunday, not a newspaper Lib Dems will admit to liking. Others simply acknowledged that he hadn't been up to the job. Some were just rude.

Asked why Clegg didn't mention Ming all weekend, one ally defended The Boss: "He made a fulsome tribute to Ming on December 18th."

Ouch.

*** Update: We were told by Lib Dem staffers that Ming couldn't attend because he was in the US fundraising for St Andrews university. And yet he appeared this morning on the (live) BBC Radio 4 programme Start the Week at 9am. Hmmmmm.