As the familiar political landmarks of the last decade start to topple, there is no clear route to take. Swoop on Labour's crumbling support in the north, or defend gains against the Conservatives in the south? The old dilemma is still unresolved as the activists gather in Brighton for a week already billed as a showdown between roundheads and cavaliers, the hard-headed realists and the idealistic activists. The battleground will be the treasured pledge to raise a 50p tax rate on the highest earners to fund extra health and education spending. The chief casualty could be the party's leader of only seven months, Menzies Campbell.

The Guardian sums up all that the media are interested in at conference -