What a summer!

As the summer formally comes to an end (although the weather doesn't seem to have noticed this), it's time to reflect on just some of the many things that have happened in the last few months.

• Brexit.
• A new Prime Minister.
• Five leadership elections have begun (can you name all five parties?).
• Wales have been the last Home Nation remaining in an international football tournament.
• England has had to get a new manager. And it's still looking for some more decent players.
• Gary Lineker has shown what to do when a wild prediction proves correct. Pay attention Paddy Ashdown.
• Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton
• Torrential rain.
• Hornby have had excellent advertising for their R3501 Virgin East Coast Train Pack.
• More celebrity deaths, including the voice of Postman Pat.
• ...and so much more.

It's been quite a few months that have kept the papers busy. Who would have thought the summer could be more intense than the autumn?

When the Liberal Democrats had a strong leader

Apparently the Lib Dems had a party conference this week. Not that it got much notice. The Lib Dems remain in a rut.

But there was a time when they made an impact under a tough leader and were actually very good at coming third. Here's a classic Rory Bremner sketch from those days:

Pots and kettles

The Liberal Democrats have accused Gordon Brown of "dirty tricks" over his offer of a job to Paddy Ashdown. (BBC News: Lib Dem anger over Brown 'tricks')

Let me repeat that. The Liberal Democrats are accusing someone else of dirty tricks! Hello Mr Pot.

Oh and why did Brown ever think Ashdown was suitable to be Secretary of State for Northern Ireland? The man makes no secret of his hatred of "tribalism"!

Still he could swap stories with Sammy Wilson...

Never believe something until it's been officially denied?

Charles Kennedy has denied reports that he is planning to challenge for his party's leadership again. The old adage of never believing something until it has been officially denied seems very apt. Ever since he was stabbed in the chest, Lib Dems have been wondering if this was a mistake. And Kennedy has certainly dropped hints that he would like the members to be able to consider him, whilst reminding the world he is still about and is even being lined up to head the Lib Dem campaign for the Scottish Parliament. With so much speculation about Ming Campbell's future due to a constant stream of disaster with things getting worse, surely the time is coming for the Lib Dems' "king over the water" to come back and smite the Campbells?

Also in the news is a reminder that Friday was the eighteenth anniversary of the election of Paddy Ashdown as leader. Ashdown has the dubious distinction of having been the only Lib Dem leader to offer his party a sense of direction and leadership. And he's only three months older than Campbell. The Lib Dems must all be kicking themselves that he's no longer their leader.

Alarm bells Minging... and who's running the show?

Following on from earlier, I've noticed that the Daily Telegraph has it even worse for Sir Menzies Campbell with "I'm sorry for my poor showing, says Sir Menzies". Amongst the highlights:

Sir Menzies Campbell has been forced to apologise for his poor performance as Liberal Democrat leader.

Some of the party's MPs fear that they will have to replace him within the year, it emerged last night. They gave Sir Menzies, 64, until the party's autumn conference "to get his act together" even though he was elected only two months ago.
...
Last week's local election results were a disappointment, with the party gaining two seats overall. One MP said the party was "hitting the panic button" over the threat from David Cameron, the new Tory leader.
...
But some Lib Dems are now privately convinced that they will have new leader within a year, with Nick Clegg, 39, the so-called Lib Dem answer to David Cameron and the party's home affairs spokesman, as the frontrunner.

"Ming will be gone within a year," said one Lib Dem MP.

Some Lib Dems fear that the idea that Sir Menzies's experience would outshine the youthful energy of Mr Cameron is proving mistaken. One MP said last night: "I just think he is not physically up to it."

And most intriguingly there are serious questions about just who is setting direction for the party, if there is one at all:

Another, on the Left of the party, bitterly complained that Lord (Paddy) Ashdown was pulling the party's policy strings by virtue of the Right-leading CentreForum think-tank.

He cited ideas of ditching the party's traditional opposition to tuition fees as one such potential policy reversal, but complained that Sir Menzies was not giving direction.

The criticism of Campbell has been quite high profile and public before and it seems it's getting to be yet another Groundhog Day. The Lib Dems are criticising the leader for underperforming and demanding he raise his game, otherwise they will depose him. And old leaders are emerging from the shadows. Could we see the Lib Dems come full circle and bring back the leader who they so brutally deposed?