David Maddox: Nick Clegg faces damage limitation instead of enthusiastic plaudits

IN THE good old days, Lib Dems used to be fond of conferences in a similar sort of way that they were once fond of by-elections .

But this weekend in Sheffield, Nick Clegg's own constituency patch, there will be lots of protesters and unhappy activists.

They have not been able to deal with their betrayal of students over tuition fees and now there is going to be a major rebellion on NHS reforms.

As Michael Moore's reception on this week's Question Time showed, Lib Dems are not the cuddly option that everyone applauds any more. This conference comes against a background of impending elections in Scotland, Wales and the English councils. In Scotland they are in single figures in polls and not much better anywhere else.

Sheffield this year will not be a happy homecoming for Mr Clegg. Instead, this is a conference of damage limitation and trying to persuade members to hold their nerve.