It is bad luck on Charles Kennedy that for the second year in a row international events are overshadowing his party conference.

The Liberal Democrats opened their session by the sea in Brighton today.

Last year it met under the sombre cloud of September 11 and this year Parliament is being recalled to debate Iraq.

Mr Kennedy can hardly complain about the debate since he called for it to be held, but it will take away publicity from his conference - and the Lib Dems need all the publicity they can get.

Although the leader has less to worry about than his Conservative or Labour opposite numbers, who both face rough rides at their conferences, his laid-back style sometimes makes the party seem invisible.

Because Britain is still dominated by the big two parties, Lib Dems have to remind people that they might be worth voting for at elections.

What the party is doing successfully is working out distinctive positions on the public services, where proposals for an innovative third way are being tabled this week, and on Iraq where they are more sceptical about war than the Labour leadership or the Tories.

Brighton welcomes the Lib Dems. They are a cheerful crowd who will bring millions of pounds to the resort, plus publicity that should show it in a good light during a week when the weather is forecast to be mainly fine.