Lib Dems: how are you going to fight the next election?

Questions for Nick Clegg's party to mull

The next general election is probably still several years away, which may explain why it has not been much discussed in the media so far. But it is the Liberal Democrat annual conference at the end of next week, so that can serve as a hook for a couple of questions that the Lib Dems should start thinking about.

-- Are the Lib Dems planning to go into the next election as an independent political force?

-- Are they going to field candidates against...