A few musings from Party Conference

Apologies for the lack of posts - Right Ranter has been at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester for the last week and is currently on the train back to the Midlands, an M&S gin & tonic in hand, ready to ruminate over the conference.

It's been a mixed few days; on the one hand, one of the most successful I've been to...but on the other, quite sombre and with a strong sense that it will not be easy. Not easy to win (needing to win 117 seats, our best result since 1931) and a hellishly difficult challenge that awaits us even if we do. In a word, sobering.

A few pluses and minuses from the week in the North:

Pluses

DC. Cameron's speech this afternoon was a barnstormer, and well worth the Disney-style queue we endured to see it (which paid off: really good seats, but see below). He struck just the right tone, and said some socially conservative things we'd never have got away with even five years ago. It really 'gee-ed me up'; sent me away with a sense of purpose and vision, not just politically but in my personal life as well. The desire to fix things with our country and with myself as well. Powerful stuff - and one of his best. Or, as lazy media pundits would say, the speech of a lifetime. Oh, and he's a much better speaker than "One Term Barry" (hat tip: Donal Blaney), as he can vary his style & his tone. With Obam-bam it's all delivered in those same portentous tones.

Manchester. The city looked attractive, the people were friendly, the police did a good job. Some of the 'friskers' at the security check seemed to really enjoy what they were doing, but I will try to ignore this. I suppose it's just lucky if your job is also your hobby!

The Centre for Policy Studies fringe event. Fantastic - best I've ever been to. A well-informed audience makes all the difference. Fraser Nelson, Iain Martin (both late of The Scotsman) and Michael Fallon MP were excellent. Telegraph one was good (as always) but there was this stupid woman there who asked a lengthly question - about herbs. No, really.

Azerbaijian. Their reception was excellent - short speeches, good canapes and champagne! A repulsive case of builder's bum from some TV functionary marred it only slightly.

Minuses

Queuing. The conference has become a victim of it's own success, such that it gets very busy (even at fringe events) and is heavily over-subscribed. Sadly this involved queuing out in the p***ing rain on Tuesday morning - not good. Also, while the queue for the leader's speech was faster than in Brum last year, about a third of the seats had been reserved for the media, countless 'international visitors' and bigwigs. Oh, and one Perthshire git in a kilt who will otherwise remain nameless. More seats for the 'umble rank & file next year, please!

The cost. One thing about the seaside is that it's cheap. Blackpool and Bournemouth both have some decent B&Bs where £40 a night will buy luxury. Manchester is much dearer, and our budget hotel was certainly "no frills" - I had to go out and buy my own bloody shower gel! But it served a purpose!

The Chinese Embassy fringe event. Dull speeches, no booze and not a spring roll in sight. Hardly the Beijing Olympics.

More thoughts may follow - my thumbs are sore from much Blackberry-ing!