The accusation that, in terms of the economy, he didn't fix the roof while the sun was shining, is regularly levelled at Gordon Brown by leading Conservatives.
But today in Manchester that accusation is all too literal.
The weather is dreadful - it hasn't stopped raining all day. And as I was sat in the conference hall earlier at Manchester Central, it became clear that water was dripping down through the roof onto the edge of the main conference stage.
Goodness knows when or if it will get fixed - there's ceratinly no sign of any sunshine...