DIARY
WILLIAM HAGUE Blackpool Nancy is now in her nineties and has been watching our conference proceedings on television. I have thought about her a lot this week, especially when addressing her colleagues and successors at the Conserva- tive agents' dinner. This is an annual riot Where the party leader is expected to deliv- er an important soundbite to start off the week. The agents are the backbone of the Professional party throughout the country. They are also a hard audience to please, but I was relieved to find that they were Willing to be gentle with me on my first out- ing. A trip round the commercial stalls is a highlight of the opening stages of each Year's conference for the party leader. I boldly went where few Tories have been before. I fancied myself a lion in the den of Daniels which was the TUC stand. They have not been here in recent years, but I wanted to show that there are no no-go areas for the modern Conservative.
ir. ohn and Norma Major were welcomed With real affection and emotion by the con- ference. Despite our devastating defeat, few of our supporters believe that the blame should be laid at John's door. With characteristic modesty and personal courage, John said he was prepared to Shoulder the responsibility. The conference Shouted, 'No, no.' It was truly moving. John is a decent and sincere man and I could not ask for more generosity in his dealings with ine. This week, three of the party's former leaders visited the conference. All of them have served as prime minister. Last week, three of Tony Blair's predecessors went to the Labour conference in Brighton. Only one of them had served as prime minister. That is the ratio I intend to maintain.
0 n the first day we welcomed John Randall MP, the victor of Uxbridge, the rust by-election success since — dare I mention it? — the Richmond by-election in 1989. Mr Randall is a lucky man, not only because he won the by-election, which he richly deserved to do, but because he got a standing ovation from a Conservative con- ference without saying a single word. In nor- mal circumstances only Margaret Thatcher could do that.
The Mayor of Blackpool opened our conference. I suspect he's Old rather than New Labour. I doubt I would agree with his politics, but his manners were exemplary. His kind and courteous words won over the conference. I have heard it said that we gave up going to Brighton because it felt like going into enemy territory. Despite our losing both of the seats in Blackpool, Coun- cilor Jackson greeted us warmly and urged us to enjoy the delights of Blackpool. We do, which is why we come back time after time.
At this time of year the weather is chancy in Blackpool. As I look out over the sea front from my window in the Imperial, Blackpool's famous illuminations are being buffeted by the wind. The first thing I see is a blue illuminated sign saying 'M62 War- rington'. Indeed, there are a whole series of motorway signs down the Golden Mile. I am hoping this will not confuse my driver, Bert, as one of them says M25. As Bert 'If he hadn't been free range he'd still be alive today!' lives in the East End of London I am terri- fied he is going to swerve straight over the tramlines — just like in Coronation Street. Bert was with me at the Welsh Office. I have great faith in him. He used to drive Tristan Garel-Jones when he was a minister at the Foreign Office, so he is not easily surprised.
There are more representatives at our conference this year than last. The same was true a few months ago at the Scottish Conservatives' annual gathering. Some people believe there is an invariable law that the Conservative party will revitalise itself in opposition. I do not believe this is the case. More people are coming to our conference because they know that we can now be purely political again. As a political party we offer the country something that few other organisations can — politics. There are still hundreds of thousands of people in Britain who wish to participate in the political process. Our supporters know that our party's instincts are most in tune with those of hard-working men and women up and down the country. They also know that the party's leadership, freed from the burdens of government, must now listen more closely to our supporters. They have much to say. We are ready to listen.
My staff keep telling me I should have more R and R' in my diary. They mean rest and relaxation, of course. But I tell them that `R and R' stands for reform and renewal. This keeps them on their toes. Reform has been the most serious issue of the week. I have been round the country throughout the past few months talking to party audiences. Many of them have lived through earlier proposals for radical change in the party which have made little real difference. It is a natural suspicion that I too am looking for a quick fix for our problems. But I have been telling them, as I have been telling the conference, that I am intent on fundamental change. There is no other way to rebuild our party. It is a huge credit to the common sense of our party that the message is beginning to hit home.
The press have come to Blackpool intent on fighting old battles. I sometimes feel that I need to remind them about 1 May. They have had their fun at our expense and they are welcome to Labour's honeymoon. There is no mileage for them in revisiting our squabbles of the past few years. That's their agenda, not mine. They'll catch up sooner or later, and we'll do what we can to help them in the mean- time.
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