UK Conference Season 2006

[Silent Hunter]

Lib Dem conference on ATM. They've passed the tax policy change:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5358422.stm

[Silent Hunter]

Labour Conference next week- Blair's last one as PM.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Ming should stop spoofing himself like he did yesterday

[Silent Hunter]

What did everyone think of Blair's speech?

[afleitch]

What did everyone think of Blair's speech?

Good, as most of his speeches are (though I did at one point think he was quoting from a song lyric!) He looked shy and exhausted while Gordon Brown sat there like a powdered up Cheshire cat (at which point my socialist leaning dad swore when it was shown on the news) I felt for him at the end; it's not how anyone should bow out.

[Michael Z]

What did everyone think of Blair's speech?

Very good. I was surprised to see him describe himself as a "progressive", though. Still, his tone was decidely amiable toward his party and I suspect that, had he made a speech like this at any point in the last ten years, chances are the Party would not have been so desperate to get rid of him.

There are still some moot points, though. Like describing nuclear power as the ONLY way to deal with the coming energy crisis while at the same time never veering beyond the sort of condescending "I'm right because I'm right"-argument he has turned into a trademark. But all in all, a very good speech, especially compared to Gordon Brown's.

[Democratic Hawk]

While a highly active member of the Labour Party, I'm too wrapped-up in the US mid-term elections to be paying much attention to the UK Conference season

Of course, were it election season in the UK, things would be very different

Dave

[Michael Z]

While a highly active member of the Labour Party, I'm too wrapped-up in the US mid-term elections to be paying much attention to the UK Conference season

Of course, were it election season in the UK, things would be very different

Dave, we're only talking about one of the most important speeches in recent British political history.

[afleitch]

Bill Clinton has made his guest speech (always a crowd pleaser) and it's all but confirmed that John McCain will be doing the honours for the Conservatives. Partisanship aside- to have two of my favourite American statesmen speak at a British party conference is a privilage and an absolute joy

[Democratic Hawk]

While a highly active member of the Labour Party, I'm too wrapped-up in the US mid-term elections to be paying much attention to the UK Conference season

Of course, were it election season in the UK, things would be very different

Dave, we're only talking about one of the most important speeches in recent British political history.

Granted but, what I was meaning, is that I only really come alive, politically, during an election campaign

Dave

[Filuwaúrdjan]

While a highly active member of the Labour Party, I'm too wrapped-up in the US mid-term elections to be paying much attention to the UK Conference season

Of course, were it election season in the UK, things would be very different

Dave, we're only talking about one of the most important speeches in recent British political history.

I had no idea that you were Lord Puttnam, Mike

Blair did a decent speech; as he can do when he wants to. Overall a much, much better Conference for Labour than I'd been thinking might happen... while I want him to go, another 1980 would not have been good.

[Democratic Hawk]

Bill Clinton has made his guest speech (always a crowd pleaser) and it's all but confirmed that John McCain will be doing the honours for the Conservatives. Partisanship aside- to have two of my favourite American statesmen speak at a British party conference is a privilage and an absolute joy

I wish it were George W Bush, who was going to be addressing the Conservative Party Conference

Dave

[afleitch]

Bill Clinton has made his guest speech (always a crowd pleaser) and it's all but confirmed that John McCain will be doing the honours for the Conservatives. Partisanship aside- to have two of my favourite American statesmen speak at a British party conference is a privilage and an absolute joy

I wish it were George W Bush, who was going to be addressing the Conservative Party Conference

Dave

He can hardly adress an envelope! (boom boom)

Seriously though, I don't think he would be welcome there, the only poll of its kind in 04 showed majority support for John Kerry amongst Tory voters and I've not met a party member yet who thinks he is a good president or a good conservative

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Most interesting thing to happen at the Tory conference so far, is Osbourne getting slapped down by just about everyone for making an ill-advised joke about autism.

Oh and the news that Francis Maude has invested a lot of money in pornography.

Mind you, none of the conference's so far have been especially interesting.

[afleitch]

Having said that, Brown has always struck me as someone who may be on the autistic spectrum from his mannerisms and his relative uncomfort in public and social situations.

[Keystone Phil]

I just finished watching parts of the Labour conference. Who is the annoyingly ugly woman with the weird face and green outfit? I'm pretty sure I saw her on the news the other day with something related to Blair. I forget exactly what the story was about but she looks very familiar. The camera almost always cut to her everytime the crowd started clapping.

[Keystone Phil]

Bill Clinton has made his guest speech (always a crowd pleaser) and it's all but confirmed that John McCain will be doing the honours for the Conservatives. Partisanship aside- to have two of my favourite American statesmen speak at a British party conference is a privilage and an absolute joy

That seems a bit odd. I couldn't imagine Cameron giving a guest speech at the Republican convention. 

[afleitch]

Bill Clinton has made his guest speech (always a crowd pleaser) and it's all but confirmed that John McCain will be doing the honours for the Conservatives. Partisanship aside- to have two of my favourite American statesmen speak at a British party conference is a privilage and an absolute joy

That seems a bit odd. I couldn't imagine Cameron giving a guest speech at the Republican convention. 

Give it time

John McCain was outstanding btw.

[Keystone Phil]

Give it time

John McCain was outstanding btw.

Have an answer to this...

I just finished watching parts of the Labour conference. Who is the annoyingly ugly woman with the weird face and green outfit? I'm pretty sure I saw her on the news the other day with something related to Blair. I forget exactly what the story was about but she looks very familiar. The camera almost always cut to her everytime the crowd started clapping.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Not sure as I didn't have access to a TV during Conference. Might have been Blair's wife. The description matches.

[Keystone Phil]

Not sure as I didn't have access to a TV during Conference. Might have been Blair's wife. The description matches.

No, I knew who Blair's wife was when the camera went out into the crowd. She also went up on stage with him at the end and it wasn't the same lady.

[afleitch]

Not sure as I didn't have access to a TV during Conference. Might have been Blair's wife. The description matches.

No, I knew who Blair's wife was when the camera went out into the crowd. She also went up on stage with him at the end and it wasn't the same lady.

Scanning Yahoo images; if it was a green touser suit then it was Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. The camera probably cut to her when there was applause as the woman has not seen much applause recently

[Keystone Phil]

Not sure as I didn't have access to a TV during Conference. Might have been Blair's wife. The description matches.

No, I knew who Blair's wife was when the camera went out into the crowd. She also went up on stage with him at the end and it wasn't the same lady.

Scanning Yahoo images; if it was a green touser suit then it was Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. The camera probably cut to her when there was applause as the woman has not seen much applause recently

That's not her.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Blears maybe?

[Democratic Hawk]

Is it true that John McCain has likened Chameron to JFK?

If so, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA ...

Dave