Blackpool turns blue

TO mark the opening of the Tory conference last night, Blackpool Tower was illuminated in blue, presumably a symbolic gesture that in the heart of Labour territory, there are no no-go areas for David Cameron. And the Tories still have much work to do...

Sunderland result might deter Brown

SUNDERLAND is a metropolitan city in the North East of Engand. Hardly Tory territory but yesterday Labour lost a council by-election there. It adds ammunition to the belief that in a good year for the Conservatives, the party could win the newly created...

Stop your dithering Gordon

WHAT are you waiting for Prime Minister? The power to manipulate Britain's fragmented constitution by holding an election when you think you have the best chance to win is yours alone. All this dithering about a date is starting to make you look weak...

Tebbit turns on Cameron

LABOUR is enjoying hugely playing mindgames with the Conservatives. It's not just about the timing of an election - it's being put about that the Tories must brace themselves for more defections to Labour. With Tory strategists in turmoil, the last person...

Predictable but sincere

GORDON Brown has waited 13 years for his big moment at the Labour Party conference. To call his first speech as leader to the faithful ordinary may sound churlish – especially given the reception he received – but even his stoutest cheerleaders would...

November 1st or bust

OPINION seems to be hardening that if there is to be a snap election, November 1 is the favoured date. Even though the clocks will have changed and it will be dark around 5pm – always bad for canvassing the elderly - Labour Party organizers are advising...

Speculation won't go away

NO matter where you go in Bournemouth, the chat is only about one thing: will he or won't he? It's absorbing watching Cabinet ministers briefing their favoured journalists (from the national media) -  tomorrow's newspapers will make fascinating reading....

Farewell to Room 28

HAVE arrived in Bournemouth ahead of most of the brothers and greeted by some shattering news. The hotel I have stayed at for the past 10 years is to close at the end of next week and will be demolished to make way for a block of flats. Disaster. Room...

Erotic fiction web site knocks out the Conservatives

BIZARRE happenings in Worcester yesterday when Labour gained a seat from the Conservatives on an incredible swing of 17.6%. Was this the signal Gordon Brown wanted to stampede to Balmoral and asked for Parliament to be dissolved and an early election?...

Media makes plans for a snap election

ALTHOUGH I believe the balance of probability is against an October election, the media has to be prepared just in case. The logistics of covering the campaign and results is mind boggling. Correspondents have to be found to cover all 650 parliamentary...

Gordon does it again

THERE'S no getting away from the fact that Gordon Brown is totally in tune with Middle England, and can appeal to natural Tory voters in such a way that it is sending the Conservative Party into absolute panic. The latest example is his positioning over...

Opinion poll saves Ming

MUTTERINGS about Ming Campbell's leadership have been the main noises off in Brighton this week. Some delegates are not happy with the lack of progress the party is making - indeed the Lib Dems seem to be inreverse gear. However, today's opinion...

Back from the brink in one piece

MANY thanks to all who sent me kind messages over my health. If you have not been aware, I've been off work for six weeks, during the summer mayhem that has transfixed the Conservative Party. Unless I have a set back, I'll be in the office from Wednesday...