Tonight:
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Labour found a blitz spirit as a night of political setbacks turned into a sentimental singing session in the early hours.
A sense of being beleaguered grew as Gordon Brown and most of the Cabinet arrived for the silver plate gala dinner at the Metropole to raise funds for an election war chest. At £500 a seat, the tickets had proved hard to shift and the room capable of holding 800 people was only half full.
Several tables were taken up by trade union delegations, rather than the blue chip business lobbyists who used to fill Labour's coffers. The rumour was that a call had gone to the unions to bail out the event.
Opera star Lesley Garrett sang You'll Never Walk Alone and, said one guest, “there was not a dry eye in the house”.
During the evening, a weary looking Mr Brown was told The Sun was turning against Labour.
Later, in a packed Grand Hotel bar, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw led the noisy singing of Jerusalem until, at 1.30am, a security guard complained.
For New Labour, it seemed the party was finally over.
Reader views (4)
We kept singing until dawn pretty much - just stopped long enough for Standard journos to leave the building! It ain't over yet. Not while Labour still has a chance to look forward, restate our vision, be honest about our failings and pledge to keep fighting for people. What Conference proved is that it isn't about one person, it is about progress for us all.
- Duncan Enright, Witney, 05/10/2009 10:04
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What was being played on the Titanic as that sank I wonder?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 01/10/2009 09:43
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As I recall the band kept playing as the Titanic sank as well!
- Dannyp, Egham, 01/10/2009 08:14
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Do they still round it off with a rousing chorus of 'keep the Red Flag flying' . . . ?!
- Roz, France, 30/09/2009 16:24
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