Charles Kennedy arrived in Brighton for his party's conference, claiming the Lib Dems were effectively the official opposition on key issues.

Mr Kennedy said his party was "making all the running" on serious issues while the Conservatives were a "policy-free zone".

Arriving on Saturday with his new wife Sarah, the Lib Dem leader said: "The people in our sights represent the broad sweep of British public opinion at this conference.

"We are seeing that fact over Iraq, over the public services, so both internationally and domestically the Liberal Democrats are making all the running these days and the Conservatives are becoming more incredible as each day goes by."

The Lib Dem conference agenda on Tuesday has been cleared for all but administrative business so the party's MPs can return to Westminster for the recall of Parliament to debate the crisis over Iraq.

Mr Kennedy denied feeling any resentment that the recall would overshadow his conference, saying he had been the first party leader to call for the move.