The Wardman Wire

So the Labour conference is well under way and so far no one has stepped out of line. It looks like that will be the order of the day. No party does unity better than the Labour party when is on show. Despite some horrendous polls, it has actually been quite a good week for Brown, by his standards at least. The freaky Friday bounce has added a little cheer to the city and economy if only for a few days.

Tuesday is a massive day for Gordon Brown. I expect him to rise to the occasion too. The expectations are low and despite his PMQs performances, he is a much improved performer than he was a year ago. I suspect his speech will be defiant and battling and will be very well received by the delegates and also a begrudgingly warm reception from the media.

I expect a business like and rallying conference from Labour, but then again one slipped word, one gun-ho cabinet member, one overheard mic and it could all come crashing down. The next three days while maybe not explosive will be electric with anticipation.

But whatever the behaviour of the party this week and the scale of Brown’s performance, the problems will still remain and the real fireworks that we have all got our eyes on Manchester to see may actually be primed to go off at a later date… the Glenrothes by-election fall out perhaps..?