The Liberal Democrat conference was buzzing last night with rumours that another MP could be about to defect to the anti-Brexit party.

The party is buoyant after a stream of former Tories and Labour MPs joined in recent weeks, including former minister Dr Philip Lee and Liverpool Wavertree representative Luciana Berger.

There continues to be rumours that another could be about to join their number, making it six defections in 2019.

Meanwhile, Cabinet minister Nicky Morgan has said she would vote to remain in the European Union if given the chance in a second referendum.

The Culture Secretary insisted she did not support holding another poll and believed the original result needed to be "fulfilled".

But in an interview with BBC Breakfast, Ms Morgan, who backed the Remain campaign in 2016, said she would vote the same way in a second referendum.

"I would vote to remain," she said.t

At the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth, he running order to a member's rally, due to be held at 6.15pm, mentioned that leader Jo Swinson will introduce a "mystery man" to the conference hall.

The name of the European Parliament's Brexit chief, Guy Verhofstadt MEP, also appears on the running order, seen by PA news agency.

A defection would be more good news for leader Mrs Swinson, who is preparing to strengthen her party's pro-European Union credentials before any upcoming snap election.

She will be asking members to sign-off on her policy of revoking Article 50, without the need for a second referendum, if the Lib Dems win a majority at the next election.

Swinson said: "We got into this mess as a result of having a referendum in the first place and that (revoking Article 50) is the only satisfactory way out of it."

It would strengthen the party's position against Labour and the Green Party, with Jeremy Corbyn's Opposition favouring negotiating a new deal with Brussels if it is victorious at the polls, with those fresh terms then put to a public vote.

Arriving smiling at Bournemouth International Centre on Saturday morning, the East Dunbartonshire MP has been busy touring the venue and taking to the streets to meet would-be voters.

Baroness Sal Brinton, president of the Lib Dems, said in her speech on Saturday that the new MP recruits were "learning fast".

"They have also been on a journey to becoming Liberal Democrats, and they are learning fast. As a party, we are on that journey too," she told members.

The peer hit out at the "vindictive" Prime Minister and his "sidekick" Dominic Cummings for ejecting 21 Tory rebels who voted against the Government on the issue of keeping a no-deal Brexit on the table.

Former leader Sir Vince Cable, meanwhile, predicted that a new "version" of Theresa May's Brexit deal could win support in the Commons.

There has been talk of bringing the former PM's deal back for a fourth time, albeit with alterations to the backstop negotiated by Mr Johnson.