New CF site launches

Michael Lunn has already made a positive impact to CF and today saw the new, improved site launched at http://conservativefuture2007.blogspot.com/. It is a work in progress, I understand, but it is a tremendous improvement on the last site!

For those of us at the YBF conference at the weekend, the announcement of the election schedule wasn't a surprise.

A point related to that is that, yes, I intend to run for CF National Chairman. Sam 'outed' me on CF Diary some weeks ago but I won't launch my campaign until my nomination is confirmed. I have some sound, sensible ideas that have much more of professional, business approach to CF than we have seen for many years. The roles and organisation of CF are changing so much that a credible, defined strategy is needed to deliver real results over the next elected period.

I'll keep you posted!

YBF Conference

Wellington College provided a splendid location for the 4th Young Britons' Foundation Activist Training Conference over the weekend. It was an interesting event, with some fantastic speakers and a wide range of attendees. It was great to meet you all, btw!

I particularly enjoyed Daniel Hannan's lecture and having the opportunity to reminisce about Peru! He delivered a passionate but rational denunciation of the EU and came to conference almost directly from the Pro-Referendum rally in the London. Dan blogs about his day on his Telegraph Blog.

Many thanks to all of those at YBF.

Happy 'King Alfred's Day' everyone

Today, October 26th is the feast or black letter day of King Alfred the Great. So on this King Alfred's Day and in memory of him, without whom our nation of England would never have come into existence, I wish you a very happy King Alfred's Day on this 1080th anniversary of England's Nations Statehood!

So raise a toast and eat a burnt cake to good King Alfred the Great - the father of our nation! (Hat tip)

Baroness Thatcher

The Carlton Club held a Reception to mark the publication of "The Carlton Club 1832 – 2007" by Sir Charles Petrie and Alistair Cooke. Not only was the evening attended by Sir Peter Petrie, son of Sir Charles but the great lady herself, Baroness Thatcher, was also in attendance.

It was the second time I'd met her and I am pleased to say she is still on fine form! It still feels strange meeting the Prime Minister who had such a profound and positive impact on our country, particularly as my entire pre-adolescent life was spent under a Thatcher Government. I couldn't resist thanking her for her legacy, I'm convinced our generation will take classic liberalism even further...

Just had a weekend in Edinburgh visiting some friends, attending a dinner at The Royal Scots Club and watching the Rugby World Cup final. Obviously, there was one disappointment but the rest of the weekend was superb with a passionate, pro-Union speech by Lord Ancram and a lively, entertaining debate followed (there was at least one SNP supporter in the crowd!)

I should probably write a longer article about devolution though it is suffice to say that Labour have caused tremendous and , probably, irreversible damage to our country. However, the will of the people should not be dictated to by governments, that's another referendum the we need...

Edinburgh University Conservative Assocation