DEMOS

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• A quieter, more sober affair I'm in Brighton at Labour Party Conference and one thing strikes me: it's a heck of a lot quieter than last year. Fewer people, fewer protestors, a lower key police presence... I'm pretty sure that even the background music is quieter. Take Gordon Brown's speech this morning. All the coverage has focused on the coding for when and how he'll take over as Prime Minister, but what I really noticed was that he didn't get the roaring applause that he did last year. Sure, the speech was more wide... from : paulmiller 26th September 2005
• A very big thank you... ... to all our guest bloggers for party conference season. We didn't manage to cover them all (maybe next year) but I hope they helped give a picture of what a merry go round of politics conference season really is. from : paulmiller 5th October 2004
• Thoroughly Unreliable Another day of speeches in Brighton, here's a flavour..."Of course we debate. Of course there will be controversy. But there comes a time when we need to communicate our ideas to the electorate. We can't rely on the telly; we can't rely on the newspapers. Or the think tanks. We have to rely on our own resources. So I say to those who feel tempted to dash off a quick article attacking our Government in the press. Think again. Suppress the urge. Get out. Meet some voters. Talk to them directly". from : duncanoleary 30th September 2004
• Emerging From The World That Is Conference - From Catherine Atkinson And while shattered, and my pretty red shoes ruined forever (not to mention my feet) I left conference, having learnt so much, having met so many people and having gained so much experience.There were too many high points to list all, but Brown's speech, Blair's speech and even Bono's speech (in fact especially Bono's speech) are definitely up there in the top ten. I hope people get a chance to read them or see them in their entirety and not just the sound bites chosen by the press.The fringe... from : alistairdavidson 30th September 2004
• After 'After the Party' It was a different audience for us ? a mix of activists, journalists, party organisers as well as a few people who come to our events in London.Sometimes getting a really good conversation involving the audience at these things can be like getting blood out of a stone but when we opened it up to questions, about twenty hands shot up and what people had to say was really fascinating.Big thank you to Ian Hargreaves who stood in for Tom as chair. Tom as some of you might know is on paternity... from : paulmiller 29th September 2004
• The importance of comfortable shoes - from Catherine Atkinson I've spent the day being assailed with information. I have heard some great speeches, listened to impassioned debate and have had forests of paper thrust at me from all directions.Conference is undeniably exhausting. How could I get an early night with Billy Bragg heading up a discussion (and music night) on reforming the Lords that didn't even start till 10pm?!In spite of the physical exhaustion - I think that for many (and some may disagree), conference has been supplying some much needed... from : alistairdavidson 29th September 2004
• Life at the Fringe - from Douglas Alexander This year there seems to be a consistent concern about the unprecedented opportunity a third term of office offers. Whether it?s the Fabians debating the potential to build a progressive consensus to sustain a fourth term or Demos asking about the future role of political parties, I have to admit I?ve been heartened this year by the quality and quantity of the ideas discussed. I certainly hope these debates will continue not just in fringe meetings next year but as part of our shared... from : alistairdavidson 29th September 2004
• Bumping into Gordon - from Chris Holt ?Thanks so much for all you?re doing on debt and aid,? I said, ?but I was really disappointed by what you said on trade. You?re still saying free trade is the solution to global poverty.?He replied that trade combined with investment to enable poor countries to take advantage of trade could indeed lift millions out of poverty.?That?s not what our experience shows,? I said, emboldened by a couple of San Miguels. ?Free trade isn?t the answer.??I understand what you?re saying,? he said, bringing... from : alistairdavidson 29th September 2004
• Apparently we're Mekons I'd heard the rumours all day but have only just managed to listen to the piece on The Today Programme (Real Audio). Following the feature Tom and I wrote for the FT Magazine at the weekend and in advance of our fringe meeting this evening, Today ran a piece about the state of membership of the Labour Party and trust in politicians. Then they interviewed John Prescott who said: "I don't accept all this analysis of all these brainies coming in... whether they're Demos... I call them the... from : paulmiller 28th September 2004
• Blair finished His speech rather than his career I mean... two protests (one on the war and one pro hunting) caused brief interuptions. He did warm up as he went along but general consensus here it that it was hardly a commanding performance. Meanwhile outside the conference there are a heck of a lot of riot police. from : paulmiller 28th September 2004

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