By Greg Heffer, political reporter in Bournemouth
Political party conferences are best known for seaside resorts, slightly dodgy canapes and warm white wine- but what are the chances of finding love?
In one of the more unusual events on offer at the Liberal Democrats' gathering in Bournemouth this week was a chance to go speed-dating with the party's newly installed 16 MEPs.
So, perhaps taking the romantic theme of the event a little too seriously, Sky News went along to discover how these EU politicians - in two minutes - would sell themselves to a prospective partner... especially if they were on the other side of the Brexit divide.
Here's what they said:
Irina Von Wieise, MEP for London who sits on the European Parliament's foreign affairs and civil liberties committees
If you were to meet a Brexiteer - and went on an actual date - what would your best chat-up line be to convince them to support staying in the EU?
"I would say the words 'Brexit dividend' to you.
"We'll give the money that we save from cancelling Brexit to those communities that have suffered the most under Tory austerity.
I would look into your eyes and I would want to keep fishing until I found a plaice in your heart! Chris Davies MEP
"Those are the people that were most likely to vote Leave; they were totally disenfranchised.
"We need to address those issues: that's what I do say to many Leave voters. We need to address their problems."
Would someone's support for Brexit be a deal breaker on a date?
"We are liberals so there is no deal breaker! Some of my friends voted Leave and I completely respect that.
"We may have robust debates like any relationshipbut then we would kiss and make up!"
Chris Davies - North West England MEP and chair of the European Parliament's fisheries committee
Best chat-up line?
"I would look into your eyes and I would want to keep fishing until I found a plaice in your heart!"
Jane Brophy - North West England MEP who sits on the European Parliament's employment and social affairs committee
Best chat-up line?
"I probably wouldn't go there to start with!
"As someone who has worked for the NHS I would ask instead what other politics do you care about, such as health?
"Or maybe just talk about hobbies such as travel."
Would it be a dealbreaker?
"Yes!"
Catherine Bearder, South East England MEP and leader of the Lib Dems in the European Parliament
Best chat-up line?
"I would ask what it is you didn't like about the EU? Why did you vote for Brexit - was it migration? Do you think the EU's anti-democratic?
"People voted Leave for all sorts of reasons.
"For example, my son's best friend lived in Germany for seven years and he voted for Brexit just because he wanted to give the government a kicking.
"I've got an answer for everything.
"We need to reach out and find out why people voted for Brexit.
"We have the best deal of all the countries in the EU. For example, we are not in the euro, we are outside Schengen.
"No deal is going to be as good as that."
Would it be a deal breaker?
"Absolutely! We would probably have such different philosophical views."
Read the rest here:
What happens when you go speed dating with Liberal Democrats? - Sky News
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