Don Porter: Thousands of supporters have joined Conservative Voice

Don Porter CBE is a former chairman of the National Conservative Convention and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party Board.

Following the successful launch of Conservative Voice in September, our enhanced website was launched on the eve of Party Conference here in Birmingham - www.conservativevoice.co.uk.  You can follow us on twitter as @Con_Voice.

Conservative Voice was formed in order to drive more effective campaigning at all levels of the Party, with a particular focus on helping to win a majority in 2015.  The organisation also aims to give a greater say to members of the voluntary party - the activists who play such a vital role in helping to win elections on the ground.

Since the launch, thousands of supporters have joined Conservative Voice, demonstrating the appetite within the Party for campaigning in new and different ways.

Memories of conferences past: Don Porter recalls how he kept the conference show on the road in 2003

Don Porter was a member of the Conservative Party Board between 2000 and 2009 and is now chairman of Conservative Way Forward.

My first Conference was 1972.  I attended as a student from Lancaster University.  Pre-security days, there was  no queuing to enter the Conference hotel, no Conference pass required; you could just walk in off the street and observe the Prime Minister at close quarters with no security pass.

Over the last nine years, I have seen Conference preparation from a closer perspective during the time I have been on the Board of the Party.

Those nine years, all in opposition, have seen a transformation in morale and motivation.  The early years were challenging times, with much hard work behind the scenes to attract respectable numbers and keep morale at a reasonable level.  Even in those times, it was a great privilege working with the then Leader and Party Chairman, William Hague and Michael Ancram: always positive and focused on the challenge ahead.

One Conference stands out.  2003 was the Conference I chaired as President of the National Convention.  I had the idea of a quality reception on the floor of the Winter Gardens and wanted to call it "Celebrating Success".  We didn’t have a great deal to celebrate - but I was determined to raise morale.  The Conference company we had used for many years said it would not be possible: too much work in removing the chairs following the afternoon session; they asked what would happen if we only sold a couple of hundred tickets - would the Leader and Shadow Cabinet attend?

I was determined to proceed.  The evening was a sell-out with 1,200 people attending with the Leader and Shadow Cabinet.  Quality champagne properly chilled, actors, magicians and other artists provided entertaiment: a great success.

On arrival at Blackpool's Imperial Hotel for that same Conference, I was discreetly told by a professional colleague that I should prepare for a change of Leader that week.  Again, I was determined that would not happen.  It would be far too damaging to our Party during our Conference week.  Once again, it did not happen.  A great deal happened behind the scenes to ensure we ended the week largely in tact.

This year, how very different: morale and motivation high; a united Party; events sold out and over-subscribed; a determination to win next year.  Long may this continue - enjoy Conference.