Delgates fail to provide a passionate ending

And yesterday’s speech was received in the manner of work colleagues greeting each other with a friendly hand shake rather than close friends who meet with a firm embrace.

The fact that scores of seats in the spacious Birmingham arena sat empty didn’t help in trying to make it a more cosy occasion, but the Deputy Prime Minister will still have travelled home afterwards safe in the knowledge that his party – or at least those who have not deserted over the past 12 months – is a lot more accepting of life in the coalition than it was this time last year.

This was never going to be an occasion for razzmatazz. The “financial storm” in the Eurozone and “worsening” outlook for the global economy required a more workmanlike vibe. There will be more action to boost growth, Mr Clegg assured us, but just what that will be remains as much a mystery as before.

Wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez watched on, decked out in a high street dress in Lib Dem yellow, but only on three occasions was the polite applause punctured by a more passionate response. The loud cheers were reserved for the boast that while other parties had bowed to the “vested interests” the Lib Dems were in “nobody’s pocket”; a pledge that the Human Rights Act is “here to stay”, a swipe at Tory Right-wingers who want it scrapped; and a plea not to punish all young people for the acts of summer rioters.

Yet when it came to attacking Labour the audience’s reception lacked the conviction with which it was delivered by Clegg. For many inside the hall, a Left-leaning coalition would still be more palatable.

The end of the speech was met with a standing ovation and Clegg and the party leadership will leave Birmingham feeling it’s job done – a line has been drawn in the sand after a terrible year.

As Clegg stated, his “biggest concern” is the economy. Growth and recovery are not only needed to create jobs and prosperity – the Lib Dems know that a revived economy is necessary if their own political fortunes are to recover by 2015. If that happens, his party may just start to love him after all.