(1) One by-product of Gordon Brown's constant politicking is the galvanising effect he has had on the Conservative Party. Faced with the imminent threat of a General Election the party has come together. We've also unveiled a whole series of popular policies. Reports of the Conservative Party's death are exaggerated.
(2) David Davis will be particularly glad that the Conservatives won't be returning to Blackpool any time soon. Two years ago he stood on the Wintergardens stage and gave a lacklustre speech that did nothing to dampen the feverish enthusiasm for David Cameron's leadership bid. The Shadow Home Secretary underperformed again yesterday. As today's Sun concludes: "A Shadow Home Secretary should be able to take a long, loud standing ovation for granted. Not this one. Far from bringing them to their feet, Mr Davis almost sent delegates to sleep with a long, limp repetition of old policies."
(3) William Hague never has any trouble delivering a speech that delights the Conference. After Sunday's attack on Brown the Shadow Foreign Secretary spoke yesterday about his own brief. He focused on Europe and after reiterating the party's promise to hold a referendum on the draft EU Treaty he also promised to amend the 1972 European Communities Act "so that if any future government agrees any treaty that transfers further competences from Britain to the EU a national referendum before it could be ratified would be required by law."
(4) The attendance at yesterday's international development debate was poor but the quality of the debate was very high. Ben Rogers spoke movingly about Burma and confirmed his
reputation as the party's leading authority on global human rights
issues. Zoya Phan from Burma brought the Conference to its feet (and has written for Platform10). Andrew Mitchell put forward some sensible and practical ideas in his speech. Iain Dale defended the Rwanda trip and described his visit as one of the most impactful of his life. President Kigame paid generous tribute to the party. It's certainly true that Rwanda helped tens more Tory activists embrace international justice issues as core to their politics.
(5) I don't have numbers but, anecdotally, more people appeared to have signed up to the Conservative Christian Fellowship's petition on Zimbabwe than the official Conference petition on an EU Referendum.
(6) Yesterday was ex-leaders' day. Not only did IDS inspire the Conference (a view shared by Quentin Letts in The Mail and by the Telegraph's leader-writers) but John Major appeared on Radio Five to skewer Brown on his Iraq visit. Of Major's intervention, Jonathan Freedland writes: "The swift and rare intervention of John Major underlined the gravity of Brown's mistake. But it also suggested a Conservative party that was focused and well-organised, marshalling its resources effectively."
(7) Both The Times' Sam Coates and BBC's Nick Robinson have blogged less this week because of infections they've picked up during the Party Conference season. Fraser Nelson mentions one or two other downsides of the long Conference season over at The Spectator blog. I've long suspected that coming last in the Party Conference timetable is unhelpful. While it's true that the Tories get the last word, it's also true that journalists are fed up and other parties have had the opportunity to set the agenda.
(8) I enjoyed a delicious dinner in the Imperial Hotel last night with Owen Paterson and John Hayes. There were hardly any other diners. The Conference hall has often been empty. Cab drivers tell me that business has been slack. CCHQ say that pass applications were at a five year high but it doesn't feel like that. I know of a number of candidates, including Louise Bagshawe and Mel Stride, who have stayed in their constituencies in anticipation of an early campaign. Perhaps many others have taken the same wise decision. After dinner btw I went to the Northern Ireland Conservatives reception, hosted by Owen. Owen's predecessor David Lidington was presented with a beautiful Waterford crystal vase. David Lidington, one of my favourite people in politics, was hugely popular amongst NI Conservatives - embracing their long-held wish to be brought closer to the heart of the whole party. Owen has a tough act to follow.
(9) Theresa's fashion sense and dance routine were featured prominently in yesterday's London Evening Standard and there are lots more photographs of the Shadow Leader of the House in this morning's newspapers. Some are more positive than The Sun which writes: "When it comes to fashion, she seems to have a habit of putting her foot in it." Tory Conference wouldn't now be Tory Conference without a 'Theresa May wears X' story.
(10) The age difference in the ConservativeHome team is certainly beginning to tell. I'm in bed by midnight but Sam doesn't return from the bars until at least 2am. He then goes for a run at 7am every morning along the beach. The one thing we share is a cooked breakfast at 9am. I recommend the Dukeries Hotel on Adelaide Road to anyone wanting a good value, friendly and clean Blackpool hotel.
"CCHQ say that pass applications were at a five year high"
File that with the "hottest 10 years in history all since 1990" and the "Thames barrier being raies 6 times a year" fibs from the video wall I guess!
Next thing you'll be claiming you can raise £3.5bn per annum from a resident non-dom levy...
Posted by: Chad Noble | October 03, 2007 at 09:06
Deliver us from Hague:
http://www.ukip.tv/?page_id=2
Posted by: ukipwebmaster | October 03, 2007 at 09:10
'he also promised to amend the 1972 European Communities Act "so that if any future government agrees any treaty that transfers further competences from Britain to the EU a national referendum before it could be ratified would be required by law."'
He must know this is meaningless. Any future govt that wanted to avoid such a referendum would simply change the law back again.
Until we have a written Constitution and Bill of Rights that is enforceable in law courts then the govt of the day is a de facto dictatorship. In the past this didn't matter because even Labour politicians could be relied upon to observe conventions. This is clearly no longer true - we have a constitutional crisis on our hands, and the Tory leadership doesn't seem able even to recognise it, never mind propose answers.
Posted by: Alex Swanson | October 03, 2007 at 09:50
Editor - on (10) you looked pretty fit when interviewed on the Daily Politics - smart suit etc. I won't make a joke about comparison with the gentleman you were interviewed with because I really like him. Any...er...fan mail from recent higher media exposure?
Posted by: sbjme19 | October 03, 2007 at 09:52
Editor:
I'm not sure the criticism of David Davis's speech is totally fair.
The question I would ask is was David Davis's speech intended to be understated to set the tone for the main event - Ian Duncan Smith's marvellous speech?
My impression of the Conservative approach is that being 'Tough On Crime' is the last resort and will be addressed rigourously by the leadership but being 'Tough On The Causes of Crime' is the key objective?
I suggest that the two speeches (DD/IDS) combined provide that message.
In my view he could well have taken a minor one for the team and if that's the case well done DD!
Posted by: John Leonard | October 03, 2007 at 12:27
"Any future govt that wanted to avoid such a referendum would simply change the law back again."
No need - the current treaty has a "ratchet clause": If it gets passed, no treaty will every be required again, hence no need for ratification by countries. WHY isn't William Hague denouncing this to the skies?
Posted by: Gospel of Enoch | October 03, 2007 at 12:58
I was also in my constituency rather than Blackpool. I really couldn't justify a week out catching up with friends (which is all Conference is really about for the delegates) when I have a key marginal seat to win. As a result of being here I have been able to achieve masses of work - I look forward to the team returning today ready to fight an election straight away!
Posted by: David Gold | October 03, 2007 at 13:18
Free Burma!
International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October
International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.
www.free-burma.org
Posted by: Free Burma! | October 03, 2007 at 13:27