The Liberal Democrat Conference rally takes place at The Sage in Gatehead from 18.30-19.30 on Friday 9 March 2012. Speakers include Nick Clegg, Tim Farron, Deputy Leader Simon Hughes and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Kirsty Williams.

Nick Clegg will say:

"We've made some difficult decisions, not all of them popular. But we made all of them with only one test in mind: What was the right thing to do for the country?

"And now it is time to move on. To stop justifying being in Government and start advertising being in Government. To stop lamenting what might have been and start celebrating what is. To stop defending our decisions and start shouting our achievements from the rooftops.

"We're in Government, and it is a better Government for it. Fairer, freer and greener.

"Lower taxes for working people. Fairer chances for our children. And the beginnings of a new, green economy that benefits everyone in every city, not just a few in the City of London.

"So: no more looking back. You can't drive if you're only looking in the rear-view mirror.

"We have to look forwards, to the better future that we are building for our children.

"Of course we have many fights ahead of us. But I don't know about you, I'm up for a fight or two. This party has never ducked them. The great men and women in whose footsteps we follow never ducked them.

"So let's tear off that rear view mirror and look straight ahead. Let's get on with the job that we all came into politics to do. Making this a more liberal nation."

Tim Farron will say:

"We got three quarters of our manifesto into Government policy, so I hereby allow you to stop saying sorry for the quarter we didn't get.

"And if people wanted that missing quarter, well they should have flipping voted for us shouldn't they?"

"The comeback starts here.

"Together we will build our party so that we go from here to new victories.

"Winning back the seats we lost last year, defending our parliamentary seats, winning new territory, transforming Britain into a Liberal society."