Conservative Party Conference: Bournemouth Blues

GOOD DAY

Shadow Education Secretary David "Two Brains" Willetts moved the Conservative Party forward, and away from Europe, when he urged an end to teacher bashing

BAD DAY

Gordon Brown was verbally abused by Shadow Chancellor Francis Maude who said he would have to come back to the Commons like a "whipped dog" after slashing his growth forecasts.

REBEL OF THE DAY

Jan Zahrdil, the Shadow Czech Foreign Minister; With his country's application to join the EU still to be approved, he said: "We want to join the right way Europe, not the Third Way Europe...because the Third Way is the fastest way to a third world."

SOUNDBITE OF THE DAY

Shadow Chancellor Francis Maude, criticised for his low profile, after being introduced to representatives before his speech: "Well, at least the chairman recognises me."

BEST PARTY

Drag costumes and outrageous cross dressing were an entertaining sight at the conference revue "Are we being served?"

CLAPOMETER

Delegates enjoyed Michael Howard's Eurosceptic speech and rewarded him with a 52-seconds-long standing ovation, with 89dB.

TODAY'S BUSINESS

Morning: Debate on Northern Ireland, with a reply by the Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Andrew Mackay. Motion on the danger of electoral reform. Debate on welfare reform, with the Shadow Social Security Secretary Iain Duncan Smith

Afternoon: Debate on Defence, with Shadow Defence Secretary John Maples. Keynote address by leader William Hague

On the fringe: Bill Cash, David Davis and Alan Clark on the euro referendum, , 6pm Royal Bath Hotel; question and answer session with Ann Widdecombe and Kenneth Clarke, 6.30pm at the Pavilion Theatre