Looking back on an extraordinary week in politics, and ahead to the future
More than a week after we were hit with the devastating outcome of the European Union Referendum, the dust is far from settling.
The Conservative party is rent asunder by internal shenanigans, back-stabbing and betrayal, leading Vince Cable to comment on Twitter that the key players "make the Borgia popes look like beginners". This divisive and damaging referendum, foisted on the nation in an attempt to solve in-house Tory bickering, has made the rifts within the party even worse than they were before.
The Labour party has had so many resignations from key positions that it has been like an extended performance of Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony No. 45. But unlike Haydn's patron, Count Esterházy, who noted the dwindling orchestra and gave in to the musicians' demands the next day, the Labour party leader has doggedly hung on in office.
And how are the Liberal Democrats doing in the midst of this maelstrom of turmoil? We have rallied round, and are looking toward the future. Yes, we are gutted by the referendum result, but while we accept its democratic nature, we fight onward for our principles.
Tim Farron has announced that we will contest the next general election on the issue of restoring our country's future in the European Union.
We are standing for and with the 48% of last week's voters who share our belief that our future should be within the EU, and for the young people whose futures have been blighted by the actions of older voters who won't bear the brunt of the consequences.
New members are joining the Liberal Democrats at the rate of one per minute. At the last count, we have had 12,000 new members join the party in the week since the referendum.
The Liberal Democrats have won a by-election from the Conservatives in Leatherhead North (Mole Valley), with 56.6% of the vote (an increase of 27.4%).
And, above all, our party is not divided. While the Labour and Conservative parties tear themselves apart, the Liberal Democrats are forging onwards.