I have just attended the Conservative MEPs' reception, where I was delighted to meet Michal Kamiński, the leader of the new group of European Conservatives and Reformists, who has just arrived in Manchester.
I am hoping to get a chance to speak to him properly later on during his visit to conference, but we spoke briefly and he thanked me and the many many ConservativeHome readers who have expressed support for him as he faces that series of outrageous smears from our political opponents.
If you want to catch him speaking here in Manchester, you can see him tomorrow (Tuesday) when he will be addressing a fringe meeting in the Alexandra Suite of the Midland Hotel at 12.30pm.
Tuesday update:
At the ECR fringe meeting, Mr Kamiński spoke of his admiration for the British Conservative Party and how it had been a great inspiration to him in the 1980s when he was living behind the Iron Curtain. He said that once again it was time for the British Conservatives and their allies to inspire citizens of Europe.
He emphasised his desire to change the European Union, making the point that the Eastern European perspective that he and other members of the new group have is especially important in terms of seeking a Europe where nation states remain sovereign.
