Conference 2012 Diary: Saturday

Arrived early in Manchester.  City is buzzing.  As the day wore on, you could see more and more Labour delegates and visitors starting to arrive in the hotels and cafes, gradually displacing the football supporters.

First main event was the evening’s Delegates Reception.  Big queues to get in, mainly I think to get at the Tesco sponsored food and wine before it ran out!   Big buzz when Ed Milliband and Harriet Harman swept into the room, party staffers on point, very US presidential election style.  Short speeches, setting the scene for the next few days.  Harriet Harman in great form, attacking the coalition with some pretty industrial language!   Ed was relaxed but spoke well, welcoming some first time delegates by name and highlighting a key theme for the week; creating jobs for young people.

Then more working the room, lots of 100 mile an hour handshaking and they were gone again.   

So we are started.  Now we can get down to the real business.