The day kicked off for me, with a female candidates breakfast, once I had got through the monsoon-like downpour. There were a fine number of men supporting the event, whilst I am sure they are very enlightened to the reform agenda, I suspect it had more to do the cancelled London breakfast in the next door marquee! Frances Maude & Bernard Jenkin both made it clear that they make no apologies for the position action changes that have been made to candidates selection.
Bernard commented that Tory candidature has been a heavily male dominated process for 300 years and it was time to level the playing field – this message was reiterated at the Bow Group meeting late in the evening. I agree, but this is for talented male colleagues to hear.
Listening to the Today programme yesterday, the two lead conference items bore absolutely no resemblance to the event I am attending. I caught one of the Council leaders quoted on Today who had been nicely packaged to appear to take a divisive line on tax – he told me in the interview he had endorsed the current party stance and added those comments in addition - this apparently ended up on the cutting room floor - surprised?
Going into the Main Hall, I was really impressed. The new set works well; texting, emailing and variety. The "Meet the Candidates" session brought six potential MPs to the platform to take part in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style policy pushing session. Each had to sell a policy they supported to the panel, who then quizzed them on their suggestions and then the audience voted to put one policy to Oliver Letwin’s panel.
Despite not personally agreeing with a couple of the suggestions, notably on the NHS and ages of consent, the passion and quality of ideas was impressive. The speakers held their ground well to challenges from people including Anne Widdecombe and Michael Brown. In the end an environmental policy, to have self generated electricity in all new homes, won the day with those in the hall.
Selected candidates had a private reception with Lord Ashcroft last night. The Deputy Party Chairman has again chosen to support target marginal seats. Our prospective MPs, unsurprisingly, turned out well to meet our prime supporter.
It was early Tuesday morning when I left the Highcliffe – which was still bursting at the seams with thousands of delegates. The profile is the youngest I have seen in my party life. People are hugely engaged and even the cynics are smiling. Large numbers of new attendees and people who have not turned out for years are here… and generally we’re feeling good about political life.
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