Im just back from the Tory Party Conference, a few questions may indicate my feelings towards this years event.
Why do so many young and small ladies walk around at a rate of knots colliding into people as they walk whilst peering into their mobile phones?
Why do so many young men appear to wear suits shrunk in the wash? Are they Estate agents?
Have these young people been styled and then rejected by Alan Sugar for the Apprentice?
Why are there so many PR and Communications managers, lobbyists, research and data collection organisations, many of whom seem to exist in another world, making up so much of the attendance?
Where have the Conservative Party Members gone? Did they go to better fringe events than I did?
Why was it so boring?
Ok some observations as per above issues.
They "re-introduced" delegate speakers from party members. The format was:
Have a specific subject, that was tailored around a Ministers department. Get an intro, get a few highlights into a video or call up, then have relevant Sec of States, several, to read autocued speeches that tell us (those of us that ARE in the business of reading loads of papers and consultations), what we already know or suspect, or what we want to know ...with a message that rings with the faithful. And then repeat bits of other speeches or highlights of other speakers/ministers, whilst regularly mixing in thank yous and compliments about others and frequently saying "didnt we do well in Scotland" or some other message that guarantees a clap or cheer!
Then the token party member.
I was asked to contribute......a week before on the 25th Sept.....as far as I know this was first time I was invited....and then submit my script. There was just a problem ....I wanted to, but I was Chairing the Planning Committee that week and there was a lot to do in many facets of my life!
The Main Auditorium has been a bore for years though...same old, same old..... the lecture according to the current Minister.
So many of us enjoy Fringe meetings: smaller rooms, but filled to the brim often, where guest speakers are chaired and questions from the audience are usually 50% of the event. The sessions are around 1 hour to maybe one and a half, or some are up to two hours with food and drink. The subject matter is so wide, that it appeals to some and not others, yet I do go to a few that I would least expect to enjoy...and they often turn out to be much better than anticipated. The subject matter was very geared to Brexit in many events, but every subject under the sun is covered somehow, somewhere.
There are usually some MPs or known people at every one of these events. They start at breakfast and go on into the night. Sponsors are coming out of the woodwork and the marquee walls for every one, lobbyists hand you their card, and over large people occupy their seat in a way that forces you to sit on the edge of yours. Or sit on the floor or stand up! The sessions get hot in the small rooms. The BO of people becomes a bit uncomfortable. The young ladies and men at EVERY event spend time on their mobile phone pressing buttons. Some only turn up to sample the food and drink.
Every Q&A session has some lobbyist, PR/Comms Officer or researcher asking questions, focused on their issues. They often do a rambling speech before they ask the question.
Occasionally a party member, or an elected Council Member asks a question...thats actually about a nitty gritty issue or policy that has to be worked at local level.
But the Conference prompts conversation and debate in the bars, restaurants, reception areas and toilets! Find yourself someone to talk to and it will be better than any speech!
The Conference was in Manchester: a truly wonderful city with such lovely people, where they have faced turmoil, tragedy and trauma recently and before. Next years, as was last years, is in Birmingham, another great city and venue. The security will again be massive.
The security forces, the Police etc do a fantastic job, and in such extreme conditions. They all had smiles, they did so well.
But that idiot still got in and presented his mock P45. Someone gave him that pass. Enquiries are required. If he can do it, who else might?
And Mrs May? We all get colds, many do at Conferences, sore throats are common. CCC = Conservative Conference Cold and I reckon it came from two overweight ladies with a grumpy mood and bad manners and seemed to think that social media was an overnight new issue that would pass before the end of the week. When I was on my Ipad and using Twitter, she pointed at it and said "whats that" and as I explained they were very dismissive of it, rude about the system, and condemning of any user, failing to grasp the relevance of it in todays society. They also suggested that I was the problem with the seating, so I moved and let one of those small ladies constantly on the phone sit next to them! Even she had to sit on the edge.
Why do so many young and small ladies walk around at a rate of knots colliding into people as they walk whilst peering into their mobile phones?
Why do so many young men appear to wear suits shrunk in the wash? Are they Estate agents?
Have these young people been styled and then rejected by Alan Sugar for the Apprentice?
Why are there so many PR and Communications managers, lobbyists, research and data collection organisations, many of whom seem to exist in another world, making up so much of the attendance?
Where have the Conservative Party Members gone? Did they go to better fringe events than I did?
Why was it so boring?
Ok some observations as per above issues.
They "re-introduced" delegate speakers from party members. The format was:
Have a specific subject, that was tailored around a Ministers department. Get an intro, get a few highlights into a video or call up, then have relevant Sec of States, several, to read autocued speeches that tell us (those of us that ARE in the business of reading loads of papers and consultations), what we already know or suspect, or what we want to know ...with a message that rings with the faithful. And then repeat bits of other speeches or highlights of other speakers/ministers, whilst regularly mixing in thank yous and compliments about others and frequently saying "didnt we do well in Scotland" or some other message that guarantees a clap or cheer!
Then the token party member.
I was asked to contribute......a week before on the 25th Sept.....as far as I know this was first time I was invited....and then submit my script. There was just a problem ....I wanted to, but I was Chairing the Planning Committee that week and there was a lot to do in many facets of my life!
The Main Auditorium has been a bore for years though...same old, same old..... the lecture according to the current Minister.
So many of us enjoy Fringe meetings: smaller rooms, but filled to the brim often, where guest speakers are chaired and questions from the audience are usually 50% of the event. The sessions are around 1 hour to maybe one and a half, or some are up to two hours with food and drink. The subject matter is so wide, that it appeals to some and not others, yet I do go to a few that I would least expect to enjoy...and they often turn out to be much better than anticipated. The subject matter was very geared to Brexit in many events, but every subject under the sun is covered somehow, somewhere.
There are usually some MPs or known people at every one of these events. They start at breakfast and go on into the night. Sponsors are coming out of the woodwork and the marquee walls for every one, lobbyists hand you their card, and over large people occupy their seat in a way that forces you to sit on the edge of yours. Or sit on the floor or stand up! The sessions get hot in the small rooms. The BO of people becomes a bit uncomfortable. The young ladies and men at EVERY event spend time on their mobile phone pressing buttons. Some only turn up to sample the food and drink.
Every Q&A session has some lobbyist, PR/Comms Officer or researcher asking questions, focused on their issues. They often do a rambling speech before they ask the question.
Occasionally a party member, or an elected Council Member asks a question...thats actually about a nitty gritty issue or policy that has to be worked at local level.
But the Conference prompts conversation and debate in the bars, restaurants, reception areas and toilets! Find yourself someone to talk to and it will be better than any speech!
The Conference was in Manchester: a truly wonderful city with such lovely people, where they have faced turmoil, tragedy and trauma recently and before. Next years, as was last years, is in Birmingham, another great city and venue. The security will again be massive.
The security forces, the Police etc do a fantastic job, and in such extreme conditions. They all had smiles, they did so well.
But that idiot still got in and presented his mock P45. Someone gave him that pass. Enquiries are required. If he can do it, who else might?
And Mrs May? We all get colds, many do at Conferences, sore throats are common. CCC = Conservative Conference Cold and I reckon it came from two overweight ladies with a grumpy mood and bad manners and seemed to think that social media was an overnight new issue that would pass before the end of the week. When I was on my Ipad and using Twitter, she pointed at it and said "whats that" and as I explained they were very dismissive of it, rude about the system, and condemning of any user, failing to grasp the relevance of it in todays society. They also suggested that I was the problem with the seating, so I moved and let one of those small ladies constantly on the phone sit next to them! Even she had to sit on the edge.
