The last day of conference has arrived, and the highlight as always will be Charles Kennedy's speech. But before that it's the financial appeal.

It's difficult to find new ways of raising money for the party from conference-goers every year, but this time new party treasurer Tim Clement Jones has succeeded. Newly elected young women Liberal Democrat MPs Jo Swinson and Julia Goldsworthy have been given microphone headsets, and they wander among the delegates in the hall answering questions from Tim on the platform about their campaigns, how they felt when they won, the highlights of the General Election campaign and so on. It's a very informal, relaxed event, and we're all very impressed by the confidence, competence and calibre of yet more of the party's new MPs.

Then it's Charles. We hear a major set-piece speech from him at every conference, spring and autumn, and it must be difficult to ring the changes. But this is one of his best speeches yet - clear and passionate and convincing. We all leave on a high - and a feeling that (even) Blackpool was better than we'd expected.