Cables cut conference coverage

By Guto Thomas BBC Wales political correspondent

David Cameron will address delegates on Sunday

Saturday, 3 March

All roads lead to Cardiff's Sophia Gardens this weekend, as the Welsh Conservatives finalise their game plan, to hit Welsh Labour for six on 3 May.

It seems someone out there is reading this.

Having reported dutifully that the end of Nick Bourne's key-note speech wasin

danger of reaching its climax after the

cameras and live coverage had finished, it seems that the leader's slot has been brought forward by seven or eight minutes, and so the nation will not, after all, be denied.

No embarrassment for the party there then.

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Lunchtime is fringe time at conference, although there did seem to be quite a few delegates in the local pub, wetting their appetites before this afternoon's speech by the party's chief cheerleader in the assembly, Nick Bourne.

And as delegates emerged from the nets (oh yes, they did) in Glamorgan's training facilities which - for the time being - have been transformed into a conference hall, they must have been relieved that the sun was once again shining.

Unfortunately however, such was the sun's brilliance that the lighting effects which are crucial to the modern image of the Tory stage and set, were at times invisible to the naked eye.

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Bad news. The heavens have opened once again, drenching the Conference delegates just before the first session kicked off.

But it may not be as bad as the faithful might think, since at least the rain has dampened the spirits of a handful of Labour wags who - with William Hague-style baseball caps on their heads - greeted Tory delegates with leaflets warning "Don't Go Back - Tories can't be trusted with the Welsh NHS."

Perhaps expecting a hostile reception from their arch political enemies, one of the Labour stalwarts commented that in fact the Tories had been incredibly polite about their attempted ambush - although most observers who are already counting the days until 3 May very much hope that such good behaviour is not an omen of things to come.

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Having a Conference right in the centre of our capital city would, you might think, make life much easier for all, in terms of broadcasting and communications.

Broadband, wireless, 3G connections - they're all necessities for the journalists here, as they strive to file their stories on time.

Pity then, that it appears (according to senior party sources) that someone working on the redevelopment of Sophia Gardens for the Ashes Test match between England and Australia in 2009, somehow (allegedly) managed to cut through the cables that not only service the conference organisers and the print media, but also all the radio and live television coverage too.

So it's all hands to the pump this morning with pieces of string etc. Not that this will be too much of a bother for the party's leader in the assembly Nick Bourne, who's keynote speech is scheduled to take place in such a late slot this afternoon, that he'll still be in full flow when the cameras are all switched off. Now that's what I call planning.

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Cardiff was basking in sunshine early this morning, as delegates started to meander towards their Conference at Sophia Gardens.

Everyone seems grateful that the biblical level of yesterday's rain has now subsided - for the time being at least - and that the only deluge for the next two days will be the five hundred or so delegates that party bosses claim will be in attendance.

Indeed, the only incidents of drowning in the pre-Conference period occurred at a reception last night, when speeches by Jonathan Evans, Nick Bourne and shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan were virtually inaudible, given the level of chatter (and free wine) among the Welsh Tories - very young, and very old alike.

One other thing that could easily be left to sink out of sight are the proliferation of (not very funny) jokes doing the rounds about the party's bright new idea of energy efficient light bulbs - this is already starting to underwhelm the small gathering of political journalists now facing the second leg of the Welsh political conference season.

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However, this may be a sticky wicket for the party faithful, since their stumps have well and truly been broken by some comments from their leader in Wales.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this week Nick Bourne described the conference as "a social gathering and a campaigning opportunity."

So no need to cover all those stuffy speeches, squeeze past the masses into the best fringe meetings, or take much note of any policy announcements, is there, now that we all know who'll be buying the first round of drinks at the bar.

Cheers Nick!