Brilliant Bournemouth
30th September 2003
Well, I was wrong. Bournemouth was not sweaty, damp and overcrowded. The conference halls were more like refrigerators than saunas; the promenades were sun-drenched rather than windswept and, though the hotels were packed, there seemed to be enough room for everyone. Labour Party Conferences have definitely got better.
Even the food has improved. At the Eastern Region Rally, which I hosted on Sunday night, the delegates demolished huge plates of appetising food from almost every part of the world. They only stopped eating when the Prime Minister and his wife entered the room. They both looked remarkably well and fit. The Prime Minister almost crackled with energy as he spoke about the need for houses and skills training in the East. Even the youngest delegate present, a four-month-old baby girl from Thurrock with her very own photo pass around her neck, listened with rapt attention.
Then he was off to the next reception. Trailed by large, silent, men with plastic leads in their ears and worried frowns on their faces.
Draining resources
The security was staggering. Apparently, men in black uniforms had been combing the area for the better part of two weeks. Every manhole within the ring of steel had been opened, examined, then closed and sealed with bright red wax. Each seal had a little crown imprint. I counted several hundred of these between my hotel and the conference centre alone
I can understand why such measures have to be taken. But that does not stop me from regretting their necessity.
Prudence pays
The Monday of Conference is traditionally the Chancellor’s day and Gordon Brown did us proud. In a magnificent speech he outlined what the government has done for the economy over the past six-and-a-half years. By any standards this is good. Britain is doing well in the midst of a world that is doing very much less well.
The Chancellor is a formidably clever man. He is also extremely charming in person. The public got a glimpse of this when his daughter, Jennifer, was born. Sadly, she died a few days later. However, Gordon and his wife Sarah are expecting another child in October. Everyone is hoping and praying that all will be well this time.
Going on
If Monday is the Chancellor’s day, Tuesday is the Prime Minister’s. Not surprisingly, the tension this year was huge. The government has just lost a normally safe seat in a by-election and the Prime Minister’s popularity is at an all time low. But, in a quietly courageous speech Tony Blair wowed the assembled delegates.
A couple of minutes into his speech he asked the Party what he should do – give up or go on. They roared back their answer - “Go on”. That, he made clear, is exactly what he intends to do.
He acknowledged the hurt and dismay that his decision to go to war had caused. But indicated that, despite everything, did not regret it. He emphasised the need to “finish what we started” in Iraq. In other words, help its people rebuild their shattered country and put a new, democratic, government in place.
Listening to people
The Prime Minister then turned to the domestic agenda. Here, too, he was more humble then usual. I was glad to hear him say that he is going hold this country’s biggest ever consultation on policy. I will make sure that the people of Stevenage have their say and that, most importantly, he listens to what they say.
Leading off
I was also glad to see Neil Kinnock in Bournemouth. He also gave a famously courageous speech in Bournemouth. I was in the hall eighteen years ago when he routed Militant. I almost burst with pride as he berated them. That was a turning point. I hope that Bournemouth 2003 was another.
Barbara Follett MP
