Lib Dem Party Conference passed largely without incident, Sarah Teather's much-maligned attempt at stand-up comedy aside, and so we move 100 miles north to Liverpool for the annual Labour gathering.
Much talk in Birmingham predictably centred on growth and particularly what role the Liberal Democrats can play in this regard. There is a clear feeling that come 2015 Nick Clegg's party needs to have made its mark with a set of policies to call its own genuine contribution to economic recovery.
This is a theme sure to re-emerge in Liverpool this week as Labour look to emphasise two key points. First, that growth has flatlined and the Coalition agenda has failed, with an urgent need for 'Plan B'; and, second, that the Lib Dems are the political tail being wagged by the Conservative dog, with no real liberal influence on government policy, economic or otherwise.
Under Ed Miliband's leadership Labour has consistently polled 6-7% over the Conservatives. While this will please both his inner-circle and delegates alike, there is widespread acceptance that this would not be reflected at the polls were an election held tomorrow and, crucially, that the Labour leader needs to articulate his own vision for the Party and an alternative view to that of the Coalition on kick-starting the faltering economy.
The big question is whether or not we face a week of overt attacks on the issue of growth, or more pertinently the lack of it, or whether such attacks will come with any hint of what Labour might do differently. And by that they must go beyond the 'too fast too soon' mantra.
That's the theory, anyway. In reality it should come as no surprise if we see a complete lack of detailed new policy ideas, with the focus much more on the failings of the Coalition.
It certainly wouldn't be the first time an Opposition has pointed a finger without presenting any solutions.