Administrator

2nd Oct 2011

This is a space for us to jot down thoughts, observations and what we have heard at the Conservative Party Conference 2011. If you have any thoughts leave a comment below or e-mail me at nckpost@hotmail.com. (ps, The rumours are that Wi-Fi and mobile phone coverage are not particularly great).

9.15am: (Nick) – Conference reminds me of Glastonbury (Dave Skelton vehemently disagrees with this comparison, but stick with me). Thousands of people descend onto what is a foreign land, you have a main stage containing headline performers and lots of smaller stages featuring a wide selection of entertainment, the BBC presence is massive, the venue is surrounded by a cordon of steel manned by fluorescently grumpy security guards, you need to beware of people pushing mind altering policy ideas…

The shirts are ironed and folded, the multiple ties are packed, cuff-links – check, conference pass (including pasty photo) – check. Now I’m off to catch that train which will take me to a better future.

11.30am: (Nick) – Euston Station contained what I suspect was an unusually high percentage of suites, slacks and jackets for a Sunday morning. The queue in WH Smiths snaked out of the shop and everyone had at least two papers under their arm. Some had the whole Sunday spread.

The 10.20 to the better future, via Milton Keynes, is a lively mix of politicos and residents of Greater Manchester. Your intrepid correspondent had to perform a body swerve reminiscent of what we’ve seen in the Rugby World Cup to bag the last seat in carriage B. Apologies to the lady who was charging down the aisle, but on this train Darwinism rules. (I exaggerate. Three Conference goers gave up their table seat for a family with a baby so it’s all good spirits).

The announcement: “We apologize for the technical difficulties at the buffet” brought a collective groan as people struggled to get the coffee they want – nay need. Does everyone remember the cold turkey scene from Trainspotting?

5pm: (Nick) The atmosphere in Conference is positive but curious. Positive because there is feeling that we are in government and governing. The stories in this mornings papers were generally well received.

Curious in the sense that everyone knows that there are some issues that need to be resolved (Europe, how to fix ‘broken Britain’, what the slogan means in practice). There is also a lot of talk on how Boris should tackle Ken, and about boundaries as well.

9pm: (Nick) Conference is a whirlwind of activity, and background noise is constant chatter. You have to plan your schedule carefully and even then you miss out on much that seems good.

In no particular order here are some memories. Francis Maude said you can be a One Nation Tory and a Thatcherite as the party needs to constantly modernise,
Philip Blond wants to strengthen the PMs Big Society backbone,
to fulfill the Governments technological vision it will cost £30 and no-one knows where this money will come from,
Conservatives are completely comfortable with modern world issues such as gay rights,
China is looking for a Western country to be a center point when it floats it’s currency,
Grant Shapps likes Twitter because he can get ideas out before they become ‘civil service-ised’
And the number one priority is deficit reduction, otherwise there is no point in doing anything else.

The big ideas that excite people are tempered by the reality that cash is scarce.