There will be a series of big interviews on Monday at the Liberal Democrat conference – here are our pics of the fringe for today.
Morning (07:15 – 08:30)
It will be an early start for Simon Wright and Dan Rogerson – they are on the panel at the National Youth Agency event at 7:45am. (Brighton Centre, Youth Zone)
Paul Waugh will be in the chair for the Dods PoliticsHome fringe on VAT, at the slightly more civilised time of 8am. Lord Newby and other panellists will discuss whether VAT should be reformed or abolished. (Hilton, Ambassador)
Vince Cable will be making an appearance at the Dods UK Manufacturing Fringe on manufacturing for growth, also at 8am. (Hilton, Osborne)
Lunchtime (13:00 to 14:00)
Lord Ashdown will be interviewed by James Harding and Camilla Cavendish at The Times and Populus fringe (Grand, Charlotte)
Channel 4 News have Ed Davey at their event, he will discuss “being a Lib Dem and life in the Cabinet”. Lunch will be provided. (Grand, Empress)
Tim Farron, Mark Littlewood from the IEA and Lord Oakeshott will be considering what messages the Lib Dems need to make to the voters at the next election at the Shelter/Fujitsu, hosted by Spectator journalist Isabel Hardman. (Hiton, Ambassador)
Just say no to Trident? Lib Dems for Peace and Security’s fringe will be attended by Tessa Munt and Kate Hudson of CND. (Hilton, Oxford)
The inaugural meeting of Lib Dems against Child Labour will try to address the “slavery of our time”. Malcolm Bruce and representatives from ChildHope and Anti-Slavery International are due to attend. (Hilton, Durham)
Norman Baker and Matthew Sinclair from the Taxpayers’ Alliance will discuss the role of private enterprise in the railway sector at the ATOC fringe, chaired by Paul Waugh. (Hilton, Osborne).
Early evening (18:15 to 19:30)
Cocktails, cake and conversation will be on offer at the National Autistic Society its fringe to celebrate its 50th anniversary. There will also be a quiz and an “in conversation” event with a senior minister. (Hilton, Ambassador)
Steve Richards will also be in conversation, with Tim Farron, at The Independent fringe in association with the RSA. There will also be a Q&A with the audience. (Grand, Empress)
Shami Chakrabarti, fresh from her appearance in the Olympics opening ceremony, will be talking human rights with Vince Cable, Paddy Ashdown and Baroness Ludford. (Hilton, Clarence)
Should there be bishops in the House of Lords? Lorely Burt will be on the panel at the BHA and Humanist and Secularist Lib Dems event to discuss the role of the Lords Spiritual. (Hilton, Lancaster)
Ben Summerskill, Lynne Featherstone and Stephen Gilbert will debate homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying at the Stonewall fringe. (Queens Hotel)
Evening (20:00 onwards)
Toby Young, the journalist and advocate for free schools, will debate whether they are “a liberal reform or a well-intentioned failure” with Evan Harris and Baroness Tyler. (Hilton, Durham)
The Royal British Legion is launching its Community Covenant Best Practice Guide. MPs and peers are invited to come along and learn how councils and commuhnites can fulfil the Armed Forces Covenant. (Hilton, Osborne)
And there are a few late-night events that are well worth a visit.
The European Azerbaijan Society drinks begin at 21:45 in the Grand Hotel’s Consort Suite, and the Love Luton carnival – exotic dancers, cocktails and a steel band – will be in the Hilton’s Metropole room. The Love Luton event features a free prize draw – the prize is two return flight on Easyjet.