In the world of Westminster, party hierarchy matters. The governing party, the shadow opposition, the largest third party, and ‘others’  have differing levels of influence in the House of Commons. It relates to the amount of ‘Short Money’ a party receives, the number of debate slots allocated, and the number of opportunities to hold other parties to account.

The Liberal Democrats moved up the ranks from ‘others’ to the third largest party at the General Election. Since then, they’ve settled in 72 MPs, 61 of whom were newly elected. They’ve professionalised their whips operation to ensure Lib Dem spokespeople are present to comment on all policy debates in the Chamber. And they’ve secured 3 Commons Select Committee Chair positions and 2 members on each Commons Committee (thanks to Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain’s negotiations).

However, away from the world of Westminster, you’d be forgiven for forgetting the Lib Dems are the third largest party in the UK. With media and political energy focused on the rise of Reform UK in the polls and growing unrest at Labour’s record in Government, the Lib Dems have been squeezed out of public consciousness and media pages, arguably, to where they were before the General Election. This is not unfamiliar ground for them, but it is hampering their efforts to build on the support from last year’s election.

The Lib Dems’ Autumn Party Conference in Bournemouth could provide them with a few more column inches but, short of Leader Ed Davey carrying out a Red Bull-style stunt which defies gravity, achieving cut-through will remain difficult for the party. That isn’t to say the Party Conference will be grim for the Lib Dems. It’s a member-focused event where policy is debated and made, there’s training for their plethora of Lib Dem Councillors and volunteers, and a Glee Club karaoke evening to look forward to. Even in the depths of despair after the 2015 or 2017 General Elections, the Lib Dem Party Conference was a joyous and quirky place to be.

Their challenge this year will be remaining relevant to the businesses that are flocking back to the Lib Dem Party Conference after a hiatus post-Coalition Government. At last year’s ‘Business Day’, attendees were pleasantly surprised at the access they got to Lib Dem MPs and the organisation of the day. Despite their 61 new MPs looking slightly frazzled as they managed new staff members and chaotic diaries, businesses came away thinking it was a party worthwhile engaging with. The threat this year, however, is that, with Reform UK considered the new party on the block, businesses choosing a third conference to attend outside of the Labour/Conservative duopoly may reconsider their pass to the Lib Dem conference next year.

So, even if this conference season does not impact the Westminster hierarchy, it is likely to impact the media and business perception of smaller parties’ influence in the UK. The Lib Dems will need to present a stable, professional party which is influencing policy as the third largest party in UK politics and a crucial group for business to engage with. Davey’s stunts may still take place, but a new way to achieve cut-through will now be required.