Tonight:
5°c
Conservative Party conference diary
7 Oct 2009
Lastest from the Conservative party conference in Manchester:
In the air
The plan, say senior Tories, is for George Osborne's gloomy Tuesday to be followed by a “workman-like” Wednesday. But then the clouds will part for Sunshine Thursday and David Cameron's closing speech.
Brand Dave is determinedly upbeat, which means relentless optimism about the future and promises that drinking cheap plonk today will mean champagne tomorrow.
A break in the Manchester deluge cannot come too soon for conference organisers trying to stop a leak above the stage. What was that about failing to fix the roof when the sun was shining?
Conference whispers
The Eric Pickles edict against champagne bubbles and the causes of bubbles has been defied by Alan Duncan, David Cameron and Michael Howard. But it appears that the message is getting through to some in the party.
Shadow Lords leader Lord Strathclyde, whose conference parties are legendary for baths filled with iced bottles of Taittinger, has this year been banned from holding his traditional drinks reception, according to one disappointed activist.
Austerity Britain may be the theme of the conference, but some younger Tories are clearly determined to have a good time.Harry Cole, aka blogger Torybear, held a karaoke session at which more than 100 drunken activists sang an ironic tribute to new Labour.
D-Ream's Things Can Only Get Better, Tony Blair's anthem in 1997, was belted out by the throng until the early hours.
...and tomorrow
David Cameron's big moment with his speech on the last day of conference
