I was in Durham yesterday.
I've passed by (on the East coast mainline) hundreds of times but before yesterday I had only visited the city twice – once for a Federation of Conservative Students conference in 1983 (I was an observer not a delegate) and, more recently, a smoking-related speaking engagement that I had totally forgotten about until yesterday when I recognised the venue, the University Library on Palace Green adjacent to the cathedral.
Anyway, when I got home last night I sought out the Guido Fawkes website in the certain knowledge that Guido would have pictures of Prince Harry naked in Las Vegas. Sure enough, he didn't disappoint.
What really caught my eye, however, was another story: Rebel Tory Party Conference.
Invites have gone out today for a conspiratorial alternative Conservative Party conference to rival the real thing next month.
The one-day Windsor event calls for a renewal of Conservatism and boasts an all-star cast of sound speakers including James Delingpole, Matthew Elliott, Dan Hannan, Tim Montgomerie and Toby Young.
Although I am not, and never have been, a member of the Conservative party, I do have a small confession.
The list of "sound speakers" who will be taking part in the so-called "Tory rebel conference" includes, erm, me.
Click here for full details.
Update: I have just read some of the comments on Guido's post. They include:
"Scruton would be worth hearing. Rest are barrow-boys and tossers."
"Too many men in suits. It looks like an auditor’s convention."
"Apart from a few exceptions they are also horrendously white and ‘British’ looking. Ugh."
"It’s a veritable who’s who of dribbling right wing loons."
"A list of wankers."
That's me told.