'Our stunts help us get heard' - Lib Dems

Sir Ed Davey arrived at the Liberal Democrat autumn conference at the helm of a marching band

The Liberal Democrat leader certainly knows how to make an entrance.

From bungee jumping in Eastbourne during the general election, to arriving at his party's conference in Brighton on a jet ski last year, this year's autumn gathering was no less eye-catching.

Sir Ed Davey arrived in Bournemouth on Saturday at the helm of a marching band. Confetti canons were released as he drummed along to the tune of Sweet Caroline.

While they claim stunts like these helped them win a record number of seats at last year's election, some in the party think they are wearing thin, with calls behind the scenes for a more serious approach.

Alison Bennett was among Lib Dem MPs and activists who went for a swim in the sea to highlight sewage pollution

Mid Sussex MP Alison Bennett disagrees. On Sunday, she joined colleagues in a cold dip off Bournemouth beach to highlight the issue of sewage pollution.

"I think what the stunts do is make sure we're having that conversation about those important issues, be it sewage or be it the crisis in children's mental health," she said.

"We're now in an age of five party politics in the South East, so making sure our messages are heard is absolutely vital.

"We have a series of very serious policies and we need to make sure that people are talking about those issues - be it cost of living, be it looking after the environment. Stunts help us with that."

Getting attention is a challenge for the party in a crowded field. Despite their election success last year, securing 11 seats in Kent, Sussex and Surrey, many agree it is Reform UK that seems to be dominating the political conversation.

The Lib Dems have chosen to address Nigel Farage's party head on at this conference. They've handed out Lego figures of Nigel Farage to journalists, calling him the "plastic patriot". And the Lib Dem group leader on Kent County Council, Antony Hook, joined a panel discussion on Monday called "ReformWatch".

"Clearly there's a lot of attention on Reform and there are a lot of people who are thinking about Reform and their messaging at the moment and part of our challenge as a liberal party is 'what is our response?'," Lewes MP James MacCleary said.

"Britain isn't working for a lot of people at the moment," he says.

"What we're trying to do is put forward a prospectus and a plan which says actually it isn't just about Reform, we're also here and we can present something exciting to you too."

The Lib Dems are handing out Lego figures of Nigel Farage to journalists at their conference

A key question at the conference is, should they try to appeal to people who might be thinking of voting Reform, or to those who would do anything to keep Nigel Farage away from power?

From speaking to South East MPs, it seems they think it is a mix of both.

One tells me there is an opportunity to pick up voters who are feeling disaffected with both Labour and the Conservatives and who might otherwise turn to Reform.

But at the Sussex mayoral election next year, they think they can also position themselves as the main alternative to Reform UK – encouraging people to vote tactically to keep Nigel Farage's party out of power, similar to their messaging around the former Conservative government last year.

That election will be the next big political test in the South East as residents are asked to pick a candidate for what will be a high-profile and high-powered new role.

The Mayor will oversee local services and key strategic areas like transport, health and housing.

The Lib Dems say they are planning to put forward a serious policy platform to try to convince voters to pick their candidate.

But it seems, when it comes to making themselves heard, the stunts are here to stay.