Conservative conference diary part two

Early start yesterday but there was a good reason for it.

We had a small team out and about whose job was to engage with delegates on the subject of plain packaging.

Wearing cowboy hats featuring our new 'Last Chance Saloon' logo and distributing playing cards with the slogan 'Don't gamble with plain packaging' they did a great job.

Last night we took the latest phase of our campaign a stage further and held a reception in the IEA/TPA ThinkTent.

We attempted to give it a Wild West theme (Last Chance Saloon, geddit?) and if we'd had more time (and money) I would love to have hired an events company to dress the marquee to look like an old saloon bar.

Instead we put our budget directly into the mouths of our guests:

Food
BBQ spare ribs
Smoked pork hotdogs with BBQ sauce
Ground beef burgers with mature cheese
Spicy chicken wings
Sweet corn fritters with chive and sour cream dip
Nachos and assorted dips

Drink
Margaritas
Whisky sour cocktails
Alcoholic ginger ales
Bottles of Budweiser
Orange juice and bottled water

Twelve bottles of Jack Daniels were on display – largely for show – and no prizes for guessing what happened.

That's right, every single one got nicked!

Anyway, the event itself went pretty well and for the second night in a row we had to turn people away because it was so full.

(Actually, when I say 'we' I mean the rather oppressive security guards who kept coming to the door to check numbers.)

Last night's event was co-hosted by Forest and the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association and the highlight was a funny yet forceful speech by Conservative MP Nick de Bois.

I've never met Nick before but he was a breath of fresh air and hugely entertaining. His short speech fizzled with energy and humour, generating roars of approval from guests, only some of whom were completely sozzled.

Thankfully only one threatened to be sick on the carpet and he was quietly removed.

Anyway, someone (I think it was Grant Tucker of the IEA) said Forest's two events were the best of the conference, which was kind of him.

Lots of people to thank, of course, including the IEA and TPA (who invited us to use their marquee), the TMA (who helped organise the Last Chance Saloon) and Conservatives for Liberty (for co-hosting Stand Up For Freedom on Sunday).

Time now to check out – I've a flight to catch!

Below: a full house for last night's event