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Westmorland and Lonsdale MPTim Farron has raised concerns about the Lib Dem voice being "buried" in the Coalition

It'll be an intriguing one - the first for many decades where the party's not been talking about their work in Opposition but their role in government.

One senior Lib Dem - Norman Baker - has already accused the media of approaching the Conference with a set agenda.

According to Mr Baker, journalists have already decided that the party is in open rebellion with a plummeting membership and morale.

In reality, he says the reverse is true.

I can reassure him that I'm certainly not arriving with an agenda.

I already know from my contacts with local Lib Dems - such as Redcar's MP Ian Swales - that membership has increased in parts of the region.

Equally I have also heard of some members walking away in disillusionment.

It isn't though party in open rebellion. You can see that from the limited number of high profile defections there have been so far.

But that's not to say that some members aren't concerned and worried about the implications of being in coalition with the Conservatives.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron .

Mr Farron has not taken a government post, and is seen as a sceptical voice in the party.

And although his comments are generally supportive, they do recognise some of the problems the Lib Dems face as they gather in Liverpool.

On the website, he writes: "It's not easy being in Government. As part of the Coalition, our distinctive message has often got buried, what we stand for has got blurred and our ability to campaign is blunted.

"I'm not having that."

He goes on to offer his wholehearted support for Nick Clegg, and makes it clear that the Lib Dems are getting a lot out of being in government.

But he also warns: "I don't want to give away careless words on a public website, but we all know what a huge risk (as well as an opportunity) it is for us to be in the coalition. I've been a Liberal since I was 16, I'm not prepared to let it get dashed to pieces now."

And that I think reflects the view of a substantial number of members, who don't want to walk away, but are concerned about how the party maintains its independence.

The good thing for the Lib Dems is that their Conference has a history of defying the leadership.

And there are some critical motions due to be heard on cuts and free schools that may provide a means of members letting off steam.

But the party also to come up with new policies and maintain its campaigning strength in local communities.

That's much harder when the party is signed up to widespread public spending cuts, but somehow the Lib Dems have to find a way.

The really worrying decline has been in their poll ratings, and the party cannot afford to see that translate into an erosion of their local government base.

suggests that more than half of those who voted for the party in May feel Nick Clegg has betrayed his principles by joining with the Conservatives.

If that continues to be the case, then next year's local elections might be tough.

If the Lib Dems begin to lose control of places like Newcastle, then you might see discomfort turn into rebellion amongst party members.

Many of them - particularly in the North - grew up with the Conservatives as their sworn enemies. That isn't going to change overnight, if ever.

But Nick Clegg has said today that he's "proud" of being in government, even though he knows he might face a rough ride from activists.

So although I'm not leaving for Liverpool with a set journalistic agenda, I will be interested to see how the party responds to both the opportunities and challenges of being in government.

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