Yesterday was another whirlwind. I do not know how the media manage to keep abreast of what is going on. At any one time there can be up to twenty different fringe events on, plus whatever is on in the main conference hall. Inside the eye of the storm it is impossible to try to work out what is going on...
But some highlights nonetheless:
The Conservatives were fending off some negative press over their announcement that they will raise the retirement age to 66 in the next seven years (rather than over the next twenty as Labour is intending). Surprisingly most people interviewed on the street by the BBC seemed pretty happy with the changes, most expecting that they would have to work longer than that anyway.
Ken Clarke gave a barnstorming speech on the conference floor, writing off the Liberal Democrats as 'dreamers', Labour (and his opposite number Lord Mandelson in particular) as 'schemers', while saying the Conservatives had to roll up their sleeves because there was work to do.
A new party group called 'Progressive Conservatives' was launched. This new group is to push for policy from a classical liberal (small government social liberal) point of view. It was a very exciting launch (especially because Dan Hannan MEP spoke - if you ever want to wind up a crowd of Conservatives put Dan Hannan in front of them) and there were a lot of people there considering it was only launched three days before conference started.
George Osbourne spoke about the need for spending restraint and laid out some specifics - including a pay freeze for public sector workers (which was naturally immediately attacked by the unions) and removal of some of the middle class welfare that Labour has created.
There were also a very large number of receptions last night - which is where most of the fun happens!
But some highlights nonetheless:
The Conservatives were fending off some negative press over their announcement that they will raise the retirement age to 66 in the next seven years (rather than over the next twenty as Labour is intending). Surprisingly most people interviewed on the street by the BBC seemed pretty happy with the changes, most expecting that they would have to work longer than that anyway.
Ken Clarke gave a barnstorming speech on the conference floor, writing off the Liberal Democrats as 'dreamers', Labour (and his opposite number Lord Mandelson in particular) as 'schemers', while saying the Conservatives had to roll up their sleeves because there was work to do.
A new party group called 'Progressive Conservatives' was launched. This new group is to push for policy from a classical liberal (small government social liberal) point of view. It was a very exciting launch (especially because Dan Hannan MEP spoke - if you ever want to wind up a crowd of Conservatives put Dan Hannan in front of them) and there were a lot of people there considering it was only launched three days before conference started.
George Osbourne spoke about the need for spending restraint and laid out some specifics - including a pay freeze for public sector workers (which was naturally immediately attacked by the unions) and removal of some of the middle class welfare that Labour has created.
There were also a very large number of receptions last night - which is where most of the fun happens!
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