The rain has been lashing and lashing down all day, dampening the spirits of the Hope-Change equines and canines, but not those of the humans who are still buoyant following what can only be described as a hugely successful Conference by anyone's standards. The appearance of Bono before Cameron's speech was, admittedly, rather odd in a most alarming way, and Chris Grayling is going to be a bit more cagey on camera for a little while, but one can't have everything, and indeed these were just small blips on a week that has left our young hearts verily running free, though our champagne glasses do not overfloweth.
It was also fantastic to see so many old friends, Tory Bear himself obviously included, and make a few new ones along the way. The Leeds CFers have apparently become huge Hermione fans this week – and can certainly count on a bit of help with their vital campaigns in that end of the country. At the very least I shall most certainly be assisting with the effort to get Balls out for a Tenner - just as soon as the damned European Parliament get on with paying me properly. Lucky, perhaps, that I don't have to declare any donations, with a name like that.
It is of course an absolute tragedy that the Irish felt compelled to change their minds on Lisbon at the end of last week. Disgraceful attempt by the Beeb and friends to draw us all on the Europe question, but our refusal to do so shows less that we have been whipped effectively, more that we're fully behind the new group, the European leadership, and Dave's plans going forward on this one. I hear also that Vaclav Klaus has come up with a lovely little method for delaying Czech ratification until we can have our election – he's asked for an addition to the text. As the Europeans adore both talk and due process, this should tie things up nicely for quite some time, buying us precious months in which we can hopefully turf this awful government out.
One of the oddities about the European Parliament – and I would love to know whether it's similar in Westminster – is that it's entirely possible to work there without knowing very many of the MEPs even within our delegation; you simply never see them. Hence a rather embarrassing moment for two female assistants on Monday night: as we girls are wont to do, they got chatting to an older lady in the toilets, just outside the European reception in the Midland. Eventually she asked them 'are you going to the European reception?' They replied that they were, and asked if she was too – she was. Knowing that it was invitation only and that she must therefore have some connection to Europe, they asked 'Oh? What do you do?” Unfortunately the reply was “I'm an MEP.” Cue aghast faces, followed by “You don't know who I am, do you? But I know you.” Cue even more aghast faces. One of them tells me that, as the only two female MEPs she doesn't know by sight are Kay Swinburne and Vicky Ford, and figuring it therefore to be a 50/50 situation, she tried to save the conversation by saying matter-of factly “Kay Swinburne”. “No”, said the lady, “I'm Julie Girling”. Makes sense – Kay Swinburne has a Welsh accent.
Still, it could have been rather worse, and was for Roger Helmer. Luckily he's quite used to being the comic character of the group so can probably shrug off this little incident, but he and his assistant were walking out of the secure area just as D.C. was walking in. “Hi Roger!” said Dave brightly “Mmhmm” replied Roger, in a rather dismissive manner. He took three more steps, turned to his assistant and asked “Was that- ?” “Yes”, she replied. “That was David Cameron.” She wouldn't be Rogers first assistant to sigh slightly wearily at times.
Good work by a certain blue bear to get the party started with karaoke on Monday night. What a shame Pickles didn't grace the scene, as it seems he's quite a singer, but I shall leave it to TB to colour that particular picture. I will say, though, that the youth wing of the party seemed very much to be alive and well this week; for once I wasn't the youngest person in the room at a Conservative event by more than 40 years. Youthful looks were definitely on our side during Dave's speech too – securing me a seat on the floor. Nice to know the party value us for something, even if it is to make the party look better. Still baffled by Boneo, though.
And what a speech it was. I shall let the critics and the journalists tear it apart, and of course history will judge it in time no matter what we say today or tomorrow. There is no doubt that there was a vibrant mood in Manchester this year; enthusiasm but not egotism; confidence but not cockiness. Dave's speech rounded it off nicely. For those of us who had just sat through four days of (very uplifting) discussion of policy, Cameron's philosophy heavy speech did the trick nicely. I'll be honest, I may well have had a tear in my eye at one or two points, but don't tell anyone, will you?
Another day or two of respite in Britain, lapping up Strictly whilst I have the chance, then back, from Conference Bubble to the Brussels one. Not looking forward to facing the federalists on their home turf, but at least back home, with Dave firmly at the helm, things can only get better.
TB is still cracking up Helmer's accidental snub to DC. Vintage.
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