Man from Manchester
A quick review of my day at the Reform conference.
As a long term supporter I have obvious bias so I will skip political comment and just stick my impressions.
An ebulliant Dr David Bull hosted. First up was James McMurdock a lively Essex boy who went from new member to MP in the space of two months whereupon Nigel Farage said to him ” oh my dear boy I’m afraid I might just have ruined your life”.
Anne Widdecombe was her commanding self and I am told by a party insider that one of her roles is to keep the big beasts in line because she readily tells off anyone who shows the slightest tendency of getting a bit above themselves, apparently getting a dressing down by Anne is rather like being savaged by a rottwheiller. What fun.
I was sat next to an economics lecturer from Surrey, a Tory who finds himself on the edge of defection and his trip here was to satisfy himself that he was doing the right thing. I was soon to learn that meeting people was to prove just as interesting as the speeches.
Rupert Lowe was new to me, never really on my radar but he demonstrated a real ability to dissemble Establishment narratives and recognise the motivations and harms which ensue and he earned the first standing ovation of the day.
Lunch was a smorgasbord of new people to meet and chat to, a yummy mummy from Northern Ireland, a market trader from Barnet London worried for his young family. A (I kid you not) nuclear physicist currently working on the reactor at Hinckley Point showing support and remarkably a young man Inhis late 20s wearing bondage trousers and an Adam Ant style tunic complete with braids, buckles and shiny buttons. He looked a bit lonely so I couldn’t resist, he was despite his attire rather shy and was exploring politics for the first time.
Lee Anderson was his direct self and gave us some laughs and Tice was, well, Tice.
I have to talk about Zia Yusuf a bit, a picture of fierce determination, drive and ambition the audience went very very quiet as you realise that here is a man of power. Indeed during the break Tice and Anderson were glad handing in the throng but when Zia walked through in the sharpest suit you can imagine the crowd parted like the Red Sea affording him a clear path.
Nigel was classic Nigel demonstrating his Inate ability to read the room.
To sum up this is a party of unity, not just the politicos but the members too. Oh there may be nit picking about policy here and there but the unity is about the vision, the growth, the progress and the ambition for something better.
Bring it on I say!