ConservativeHome's Bournemouth 2006 Conference blog

Theresa May MP: The best is yet to come

What a lively last day! The highlight of the last day of conference is always the speech by the Leader. David Cameron's speech was no exception - although I have to say that there was rather more hilarity in the 'Meet the Candidates' session earlier today. Seriously David's speech was excellent and certainly pointed a new direction ahead for the Party. He focused on the NHS and the environment, but for the Party moving forward the most significant statement came when he said that when some people complain there are no policies you can’t help but feel that they mean they just want the old policies. As he firmly stated "They aren't coming back and we're not going back."

Returning to the hilarity of the 'Meet the Candidates' session this morning.  We started off by singing Happy Birthday to Anne Widdecombe and ended by her thinking my reference to a "set change" was a reference to a "sex change". Mark Menzies had the winning idea which was hardly surprising given the laughter generated by his interchange with Oliver Letwin. When Mark proposed cutting the VAT on low energy lightbulbs, Oliver brought the house down by saying he was confused and didn't understand it… which bit don’t you understand Oliver, cutting, VAT, low, energy or lightbulb? Interesting that two out of the three policies being submitted for review as a direct result of conference's votes in these sessions were policies designed to help the environment and sustain us longer term.

A good conference  - not just one that people say has been good because they've forgotten it all in a haze of free drinks, or one that people tell themselves has been good to cheer each other up, but a genuinely good conference where the Party did set a new direction and where the mood was up-beat and enthusiastic, but not over the top. Measured optimism was the order of the day. We know there is more to do, but we can see the way ahead and we've set a clear direction. As David Cameron said: The best is yet to come!

Theresa May MP: Day 2

Up early this morning for a TV interview. The foyer was strangely silent at 6.45 am. Only a few hours earlier it would have throbbed to the beat of the ambitious and chatter of the inebriated.

I took time out this morning to spend an hour at the Bournemouth Social Action Challenge. I avoided assembling flat packed furniture well beyond the scope of many MPs and stuck to painting!  This was a good example of teamwork in a good cause, leaving a legacy and showing we don't just talk, we do!

Spoke at two fringes at lunchtime. The first was the launch of BlueList.org reaching out to a new generation of young professionbals.  Then on to the Electoral Commision to talk about reengaging voters in the democratic process. It was good to see the room full showing that people are worried about falling turnout and the cynicism about politics today. Lots of ideas came up. Best line was Armando Ianucci's that we still have gramaphone politics in an iPod generation.

Best picture of the day was Ann Widdecombe's face when she learnt that the party chairman was going on stage wearing paint spattered T shirt and jeans fresh from the Bournemouth Challenge.  Some things never change!

Whizzed round the exhibition stands. More exhibitors this year. Good to see causes like UNHCR and Coalition against Malaria here. Oh and by the way the NUT told me that they had seen a lot of people on their stand as there was a genuine interest in education among the delegates.

Main topic among journalists tonight was George Osborne's speech and the mood was positive. He showed that the new direction for the party clearly led from our past achievements and was not in  contrast to them.  Be interesting to see how they write this up.

There is a real sense here at last that the party is moving forward and is not afraid to look ahead rather than back.  But there is still much more to do...!

Theresa May MP's view (1)

Arrived at conference in the pouring rain but at least I didn't have to queue for a pass. The press would have you believe that all the talk here is about tax but the hot topic is accreditation and who still hasn't got their pass.  Everyone has a story to tell about themselves or someone they know who's had to wait days for their pass. Despite that there are more people here than last year and a noticably different age profile which bodes well for the future.

I was buoyed up by the 'meet-the-candidates' session today with six priority candidates pitching policies to conference. They ranged from changing the age of majority through getting politics out of the NHS to helping the homeless. The winner was one to make all new build houses self generating in energy by use of renewables. Good to see the green agenda supported by conference.

Outside the conference platform we all roamed the corridors moving from one reception to another. The mood was consistently upbeat and positive.

Best for me was our women2win reception held jointly with the Bow Group. The room was heaving and women2win is less than a year old. The job of ending discrimination against women in candidate selection and ensuring a level playing field is not easy but we must do it not only to show we represent Britain today but also to ensure fairness and opportunity for all. And what could be more Conservative than that?