It was a year ago today that Sion published this article in the New Statesman.

We Cannot Be Killed
‘Shortly there will be an election, in which Labour will increase its majority’

As Tories confidently prepare for their conference they should read the article and remember Sion Simon…

It says something about the clumsiness of Team Brown that they had a 3 a.m. press conference in a hotel lobby to announce that Ruth Kelly was resigning to spend more time with her family. Could it be that they were scared that this was going to come out today (perhaps even in her conference speech) and other government ministers might co-ordinate their exits in order to further undermine Gordon.

Is there any other plausible explanation?

Just snapped this totty straight off the telly. Julia Toft actually looks glossy and well spoken enough to be a Tory girl. What is she doing in the Labour Party?

Reports from those returning from Manchester suggest the number of activist delegates was way down on previous years.

Government contractors, lobbyists, media and party staffers seemingly out-numbered the actual members….

UPDATE : Aha, turns out she is a lobbyist.

Have just watched Adam Boulton’s interview with Gordon this morning. (Replay is available by pressing the red button on Sky News). Adam was firm with Gordon, calling him on his credit boom being responsible for the bust, effectively questioning his lying and twisting of Osborne’s words in his speech. Brown looked shifty and uncomfortable, quoting from his notes and saying that everyone has got it wrong except him. Boulton reminded Brown that in a previous interview he had told him explicitly no one would lose out over the abolition of the 10p tax rate – that was untrue. Brown glowered. Jeff Randall also gave Brown a tough interview earlier in the week on Sky News as well.

Guido did this a few years ago, not much has changed really this year – except the reader numbers have got bigger. Beeboids browsing, gossipy parliamentarians, bored brokers, lawyers loafing, accountants and lazy Lobby hacks are the most easily identified from the server logs. Students from the better universities, party HQ staffers and lobbyists make up the numbers.

*The Guardianistas have two servers (ranked 8th and 43rd), add them together and Guido turns out to be more avidly read on the Farringdon Road than in Wapping. Ranked 31st is Andrews & Arnold Ltd, who supply the internet connection to 18 Doughty Street, home of PoliticsHome and ConservativeHome.

Guido has been telling anyone who would listen over lunch that the media are ready for a change in the Westminster narrative. Guido would point to the Tatler photo-shoot and the Andy Coulson midwifed Cameron on Cameron hagiography by Dylan Jones as the spin tops. The pendulum of the Lobby is ready, eager even, to turn against the too smooth, too cool Cameroons.

CCHQ will be pleased that Gordon has shored up his position, other fresher faces would knock 10 points off their poll lead, Brown is at least that much of a drag on the polls for Labour. The Conservatives are heading to Brum confident that they are on their way to government. The media, in particular the BBC, will be more than willing to throw a spanner in the works. As Dave said, “the deal is far from sealed”. The narrative is ready to shift. One thing Guido noticed about Gordon’s speech was that it borrowed more from McCain-Palin than from Obama. Experience versus change is the only viable line of attack for Gordon, they will use it. Will the media buy in to it?

UPDATE : Dave has just delivered a speech at the Carlton Political Dinner. According to a seasoned co-conspirator it was a good one and went down well with a friendly business crowd.

He started off by mocking Brown – said he was surprised that Sam Cameron hadn’t introduced him, then said she was “my wife, not a prop”. Dave joked about how the shadow cabinet were great because “they come up with loads of ideas and I take all the credit”. He also pushed the ‘no complacency’ ‘mountain to climb’ line quite hard. Last year’s Carlton speech was effectively a rehearsal for Dave’s conference speech. According to Guido’s source, the business crowd were in love with him.

Adam Boulton, Sky News

As Sarah Brown came on “Beautiful Day’ by U2 was playing in the background, you could hear the lyrics:

Thought it was a nice touch that Sarah introduced him. It was also nice that he shook her hand after the speech. Like loving husbands do.