This is my ninth conference as a member of the National Executive Committee and there is a real buzz in the air. And not just in the bars. Ahead in the polls, unity amongst the members, unity with the trades unions and the government, and almost unity on the NEC! Something is in the air. Talk of elections. Dates were whirring around the bars and fringe last night and then this morning Hazel Blears announced it. May. The Council elections in May.
And our recent council victories in Worcester and Birmingham against the Tories and against the Lib Dems in Nuneaton have also put a spring in our step. There is a real sense that the tide has turned against Cameron. And just to rub it in Harriet Harman gave a name check to all the Tories who have come over to Labour and then offered Quentin Davies an opportunity to speak at the conference.
We gave him such a roaring welcome it nearly knocked him sideways. Great gag from him, or was it a slip of the tongue, when he referred from the stage to his Labour colleagues in the House of Commons who are “seated here on your right and my left”! His attack on Cameron and his ex Tory colleagues was scathing. And we loved it. As he left the stage we gave him a standing ovation.
Really good receptions last night for the West Midlands region, European Commission and USDAW, then it was networking in the bars till the early hours. Tried to convince a delegate that I wasn’t John Reid. “You’ve even lost your Glaswegian accent ” she said. Unconvinced, she went away muttering.
When the alarm went off this morning at 6.30 for the 7.30 NEC meeting I thought back to what an actor friend said to me before I set off for the conference. “Bournemouth, darling” he intoned in his deep gravelly voice, “Bournemouth? You are old enough for Eastbourne dear”.
And this morning I felt it. But after a bracing walk, good breakfast and coffee I was ready for the debate on Europe and then local communities and the equality agenda. Equality. Something the party is really, really proud of. We have led the way on this and the debate reminded us that on virtually every equality measure, including the minimum wage and the abolition of the notorious Section 28, the Tories have opposed us tooth and nail.
As a delegate from Mitcham and Mordern pointed out, “Cameron has more old Etonians than he has women in his shadow Cabinet. So much for equality”. Interestingly, my spell check wanted to change ‘Etonians’ to ‘Estonians’!
But the best quote must be “Equality isn’t an issue for us. It’s our political DNA”.
Lovely moment when John Prescott walked into the hall and we gave him a round of applause. We don’t forget. And when we do remember it’s empowering.
It was good to hear our ‘Mo’ get a mention from Shaun Woodward.
In my speech on local communities I gave credit to my MEP colleagues and the work they do in the European Parliament, even naming some of them like Arlene McCarthy and Glenys Kinnock. But my brain had an idea and my tongue rejected it when I named Glynis Wilmott MEP as Glynis Whiting! Oops!
Dashing off now to get an early seat for Gordon’s first speech as Leader. Expectations are running high.
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