Conference Diary

Ruth Fox for the Politics Show East

We invited Labour party member, Ruth Fox, to write an account of her time at the Bournemouth autumn conference...

You can read Clive Lewis' Conference diaries here...

Conference is always a bit strange because I'm here with two hats on.

On the one hand I'm here in my own right as a grassroots party member from Hertford & Stortford.

On the other hand, I work for Bill Rammell, the MP for Harlow who is also the Minister for Higher Education, so I'm here to assist him as well.

It's my sixth conference in seven years so I know what to expect but the mood is as good as any I can remember.

Having arrived on the train it's straight off to the conference centre and the first trip through the security check which is very tight but quite quick.

The secure zone, or "island" as it's known, rings the conference centre and the main conference hotels.

I can't help wondering what the locals think Ruth Fox

The number of steel barriers along the promenade makes it look like we're preparing for the Dunkirk landings.

Sunday afternoon is taken up with finding my bearings around all the facilities then a couple of bi-lateral meetings with ministers and trade union representatives to discuss regional and party issues.

We're hit by monsoon rain in the late afternoon which carries on into the evening.

Most people are unprepared for the heavy storm so there are an awful lot of very wet, bedraggled famous faces wandering around!

The evening is taken up with the Greater London Assembly reception - they have by far and away the best food of the evening - chicken curry or shepherd's pie.

A hot buffet draws hundreds into the Marquee and Ken Livingstone's speech is a barnstormer.

Monday begins with six bi-lateral meetings in three hours.

Some are about constituency issues, others ministerial matters.

Prime Minister's Speech

A man of vision

But all thoughts are really on what Gordon Brown will say in the afternoon.

It's a scramble to get tickets to watch it from the balcony.

I manage to get three for myself and a couple of friends - the downside is we have to start queuing at 12:45 and it takes over an hour to get in.

The atmosphere is great and there's a sense of nervous anticipation.

The speech goes well - everything you'd expect from Gordon - lots of policy, a sense of vision, a generally serious speech.

When he mentions the word "manifesto" there's almost an audible intake of breath from the audience but no, he's not announcing anything.

Amazingly, and for the first time I can ever remember, there's no mention of the opposition in the Leader's speech.

Fringe meeting

I attend the joint Jewish and Arab Labour fringe about the proposed boycott of Israeli academics by the University and College Union.

My boss, Bill Rammell, is the main speaker.

The Government opposes the boycott so there's a lot of support in the room for his position.

But it's the first time I've ever been to a fringe meeting outside the secure zone which has its own security and where bag checks are done.

Members of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, are present, so security is understandably tight.

Later that evening I make it across town to the Eastern Region Party reception.

Over 150 local members from across the region are there so it's a chance to catch up with old friends.

Gordon and Sarah Brown pop in with our MEP Richard Howitt.

The speeches all emphasise the need to retain all 13 of our MPs in the region - without them there won't be a Labour Government.

There's a lot of talk about potential election dates but the fact is no one knows!

Tuesday morning is again taken up with bi-laterals.

We're sitting outside the conference hotel when I get distracted by the arrival of a large man in a fedora in a very nice limousine.

To my astonishment its Ian Paisley - surely our big tent isn't that big!

I'm reassured to learn that he's only here to host a business reception to showcase Northern Ireland - which after all is one of this Government's best achievements.

Daniel Zeichner's flaming appeal

I eventually make it onto the conference floor to listen to some of the debate.

Set alight

The star of the show is Daniel Zeichner, parliamentary candidate for Cambridge.

He's campaigning to bring the Olympic flame to the town and he uses a ministerial question time slot to lobby the Culture and Sport Secretary, James Purnell.

He ends up on stage presenting James with a version of the flame to the great amusement of the audience.

After another round of meetings Tuesday evening ends with dinner with fellow members from Hertford and Stortford.

There are five of us here in one capacity or another so it's a good chance to catch up on my last night.

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Join the Politics Show team on Sunday 30 September 2007 at 13:35 BST on BBC One.

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