Peter Franklin is worried that a bored public is going to stop listening

The World Tonight
Wednesday 10pm, Radio 4

For my final conference report, I'm back on task reviewing the Radio 4's 10pm current affairs slot. I shan't go on for long - because neither did Wednesday's World Tonight, which though it led with the Conservative conference, could barely hide its ennui.

I don't suppose we should blame the political hacks, who after three weeks of party conferences, must be thoroughly sick of the whole business. Bournemouth '06 was always going to be a difficult story. Labour had its leadership crisis, and the Lib Dems had the slightly interesting spectacle of a sober Charles Kennedy peering over Ming Campbell's stooped shoulders, but the Conservative conference was under such tight control that they didn't even let in the delegates.

The media's attempt to stir up a row over tax policy fell flat as pancake or, for that matter, a flat tax. Edward Leigh and friends made their point politely, George Osborne and David Cameron disagreed politely and that was it.

The Boris versus Jamie story was a short-lived diversion and in the end there was nothing to stop the leadership from getting over the messages they wanted to give. Mission accomplished.

In the end the World Tonight explored the idea that the conference wasn't a political event, but a branding exercise. For no particular reason there was a vox pop in Cheadle, then a couple of marketing types were dredged up to give their cynical opinions and that was the end of that - a resounding anti-climax to the conference season.

I wasn't actually at conference this year. I've been looking in from the outside. And it's left me with a nagging worry. The biggest danger facing the Cameron project isn't a rightwing rebellion or a new leader of the Labour party, but the risk that the public will simply get bored and stop listening.

Comments

[TomTom]

but the risk that the public will simply get bored and stop listening.

It has already happened

[david]

Sorry! what conference was that?

[Chris Ryder]

conference? when? and who for?, sorry did I miss something important? ..ok yes I confess, on that this member of the populus is VERY bored!, guilty as charged.