Much of Nick Clegg's address to Liberal Democrat activists at their Party Conference could have been easily predicted.
The economic mess that the Coalition Government inherited from Labour was a theme that he exploited to the full. Inevitable of course, but given the fact that his initial instinct had been to try and form a rainbow coalition with Labour and was against the speed at which the Conservatives were planning to make cuts in public spending, this was quite significant.
But what stood out for me was the way in which the Deputy Prime Minister continually drove home the message that, despite his and the Party's misgivings about working with the Conservatives, this was a chance for the Liberal Democrats to be part of Government for the first time in decades and implement many policies that members held dear, such as electoral reform.
Mr Clegg's view, understandably, was that the Party had to take this chance of being in power. But to me this seemed to be a price worth paying, no matter how many of the Liberal Democrats' more left-leaning principles were abandoned by the wayside to accomodate their more senior Conservative partners.
Of course, the outright dissent and rebellion that had been predicted from Party members by some quarters of the media did not materialise.
There have been some calls from Party members to ensure that any spending cuts do not hit the poor hardest. And there was some criticism that the speech did not touch on how the Coalition would help the least well-off in the difficult months to come.
But the reaction to the speech from delegates was largely warm and appreciative. They responded to its conclusion with a sustained standing ovation.
However, Nick Clegg knows, as does David Cameron, that this is the calm before the storm.
Will the Liberal Democrat grassroots really remain as loyal when they begin to feel the effect of the huge spending cuts that will be announced by Mr Clegg's Coalition in just a few weeks time?
I am not so sure.
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