A rather predictable outcome after 6-8 weeks in which the most vocal Tories were those of the old-school or those urging their return to prominence.

Oh how I long for a Cameron conference speech a la Kinnock in Brighton '85 - mentions support for civil unions and then shames those who won't clap, asks them to leave. Mentions that we have one of the lowest overall tax burdens in Europe and he'll cut them if he can but he won't cut public services to make it happen. Mentions that Mrs T rescued the country in the early 80's but then lost all perspective and became as dogmatic as the administration she replaced - she's part of the past and we learn from the good and disown the bad.

Perhaps I should go to conference as a sort of 'Derek Hatton of the right' as a foil for him..?

Then again, if Michael Ancram's there....

Unlike Cassilis, I have to say the Tory meltdown never ceases to amaze. I was expecing Northern Rock to play badly, but blow over quickly enough. It doesn't even seem to have done that despite the Daily Mail shrieking that it was Labour's Black Wednesday.