Tim Farron says "calculating forces of darkness" persuaded people to vote to leave the EU, which will "hit the poorest the hardest".

He says Theresa May did so little to campaign for a Remain vote in the referendum that she "made it look like Jeremy Corbyn pulled a shift".

The Lib Dem leader accuses the new PM of an "absence of leadership" over Brexit.

Tim Farron says the result of the EU referendum was like a "bereavement" and criticises David Cameron and George Osborne for running a pro-Remain campaign of "dry statistics" and "fear".

He recalls attending a meeting in Preston in which many were persuaded to vote Leave by what he calls "George Osborne's punishment budget". 

During the campaign, the then-chancellor warned of cuts and tax rises if the UK voted to leave the EU.

The Lib Dem leader says the people at the meeting saw Mr Osborne as a man "who they didn't really like and they thought didn't really like them".

He accuses Conservative politicians of "divide and rule" policies and says they should not be surprised "if the people you have divided decide to give you a kicking".

Tim Farron says that, as "a white, northern, working-class bloke" he should have voted Leave in June.

He assures his party that he did not and proclaims his pro-EU credentials.

Mr Farron says he believes Britain is an "open, tolerant and united country - the opposite of the bleak vision of Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson".

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron opens his leader's speech to the party, as is customary, with a little joke: "I am now the longest-serving leader of a UK-wide political party."

He adds: "I've seen off all the heavyweights - Cameron, Farage, Natalie Bennett, Roy Hodgson, Mel and Sue..."

Moving on, he says the Lib Dems have "bounced back" since the 2015 election, increasing its membership and winning council seats.

Eleanor Garnier
Political Correspondent

Paddy Ashdown raised a few eyebrows when he suggested parties on the left should agree on one candidate to take on the Conservatives in the Witney seat, vacated by David Cameron. Eleanor Garnier took the Daily Politics mood box - an unscientific test with a bin and balls - to see what Lib Dem delegates thought of what their former leader called a "naughty thought".

What have Lib Dem members made of this year's autumn party conference in Brighton?

"It's a been a really good conference," Iain Roberts tells me.

He says it's "great to have so many new members here" and for the party to be meeting on the back of a number of local by-election wins.

Iain says it's given the party a shot in the arm and is a real topic of conversation here at conference: "We're going out on the doorstep and winning again."

So what is Iain hoping for from Tim Farron's speech? He wants to hear "a real sense of purpose" and what distinguishes the party from the others.

"I want him to clearly articulate the Lib Dem sales point."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is due to address his party's conference in a few minutes' time. The conference hall is pretty packed, although there are several rows at the back still waiting to be filled.

I catch one party member, Suzanne Stokes, on her way in. How's she feeling, excited? "Yes I am. I want to hear very much what he has to say."

Is there anything in particular she wants to hear Mr Farron talk about?

"I want to know what he thinks about liberal democracy and the future for the party," she tells me.

Tony Blair concludes his Reuters Q&A with a plea to his American audience: "Don't please turn back in yourselves."

The former UK prime minister declares that "isolationism is wrong" and compares the United States to a referee in sport - much criticised but needed.

"You have been given this destiny as a country," Mr Blair says.

"No-one else can do this in the world today."

Former Labour leader Tony Blair says the UK is "like a one party state at the moment because of the state of my own party".

An audience member at the Reuters Newsmakers event asks Mr Blair which candidate he is supporting in the Labour leadership contest.

He says the answer must be "pretty obvious" but adds that it will not be "helpful to anybody" if he declares his backing.

Image source, PA

Tony Blair likens UK voters' decision to leave the EU to "agreeing a house swap without having seen the house".

"We decided to back the person who said it's fantastic and you should move," he says. "And now, we're going to see the house."

The former Labour PM adds that, while he thinks Theresa May's declaration that "Brexit means Brexit" following the vote to leave the EU is "understandable", he argues that "we should just keep an open mind".

Mr Blair does not call explicitly for another referendum on a Brexit deal and adds that he does not necessarily see the Leave vote as reversible, but says: "Let's see what the terms are."

Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair is taking part in a live discussion, external with Reuters' editor-at-large, Sir Harold Evans.

Mr Blair argues that countries' engagement in the world is becoming more difficult because of "the forces of isolation".

The former PM says: "We need America strong. We need Europe strong. We need them working together because they share the same values."

He predicts that, if this does not happen, "the world will be a much more frightening place".

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies asks if freedom of movement of people is a red line for the Welsh government.

First Minister Carwyn Jones says that movement of goods and services is the red line.

Mr Davies says the first minister has changed his position on free movement of people and accuses the first minister of "making up policy on the hoof".  

Mr Jones asks if anyone knows the Conservative policy on Brexit. "It's your question time," retorts Mr Davies.

UKIP group leader Neil Hamilton says he's delighted the first minister has signed up to UKIP policy on immigration.