Politics for activists doesn’t get much better than Thursday night! Question Time with the three would be leaders and then the Dunfermline by-election.

All three performed well – enough – although the atmosphere was a bit subdued in the studio and the lighting was foul – not doing any of them any favours. Dimbleby was actually quite brilliant. He had done his homework and didn’t let those who had been spinning negatively get away with it. I hadn’t been aware of the stuff coming from Simon – but according to Dimbleby it was in his manifesto. Simon denied it – but then Dimbleby said that he was being told it was on Simon’s website as they spoke. It was a killer.

There were some tetchy bits with Ming – who seemed in no mood to be slighted by Dimbleby or anyone in the audience. Twice, I think, he basically said that something had been raised (that he didn’t like) and wanted the opportunity to come back on it – which Dimbleby gave him.

And my boy Huhne – did well – but was even better last week on Question Time. More humour and more human!

But the real joy was to come. The Dumfermline by-election super result. We stormed to victory and how sweet it is in the midst of all our troubles to shine through the mess with the heart and soul of Liberal Democracy triumphing. I don’t know if this signifies that we are better off without a leader at all … !

No – what it demonstrates is that the party and its values and beliefs are what matters and will survive all the slings and arrows that life throws at us.

Hurrah!