The Freedom Zone - Day 1

Monday ... The Freedom Zone got off to a good start with healthy audiences for "Freedom Beyond the EU" and "An Audience with David Davis". Neither session was full however and the reasons were fairly obvious.

This was the first time the Conservative conference had come to Birmingham and we were all feeling our way around. Although Austin Court is only a few minutes from the International Convention Centre, it takes a little finding first time. Nevertheless, having got there, people seemed to like the facilities (which are first class) and the coffee lounge was a hive of activity for much of the day.

For me, David Davis was a disappointment. Questioned by Iain Dale about his reasons for resigning as shadow home secretary to fight a by-election and whether he now regretted it, Davis maintained that he hadn't lost a moment's sleep over it and he accepted his fate without complaint. Frankly, I didn't believe him. And if you think someone is being economic with the truth, you start to question everything he says. It was a slick performance - but not an engaging one. DD's answers lacked passion. He didn't sound as if he really cared.

To be fair, he gave a good answer as to why he supported an increase from 14 to 28-day detention, for which he has been criticised by some civil rights campaigners. Basically, said Davis, it boiled down to real politik. In order to defeat the government's 90-day proposal, he had to accept a compromise - in this case 28 days - although he now believes that 28 days, like 42 or 90 days, is wrong.

The most entertaining event of the day was "Freedom and the Internet" with Iain Dale, Guido Fawkes, Dizzy Thinks, Devil's Kitchen and Nadine Dorries, Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire.

It wasn't the day's best attended event - that accolade went (I think) to "Heffer's Half Hour" with the Daily Telegraph's Simon Heffer - but I enjoyed it because it was the one event that attracted plenty of laughs from both audience and panel. The chemistry was good, the session passed very quickly, and the audience was left wanting more (always a good sign).

"Freedom and the Internet" was followed by the second of four Free Society events, this one in association with the Manifesto Club. "You Can't Do That! The Anti-Social Regulation of Public Space" featured James Panton and Suzy Dean of the Manifesto Club, Cllr Brian Coleman of the London Assembly, and me.

There wasn't a large audience but the meeting went well, I thought. It was certainly lively. Credit to Brian Coleman for entering the libertarian lion's den, but I wasn't going to be nice to him just because he had the balls to turn up.

Frankly, his views on smoking ("disgusting habit") were quite offensive. So I suggested he probably has one or two disgusting habits himself. I also made the point that if his views are now representative of the Conservative party, they can kiss my vote goodbye. (And I write as someone who has never voted for anyone other than the Tory party.)

I was a bit shocked, however, by one or two smokers in the audience who said they oppose the smoking ban but support booze bans. They don't get it, do they? A ban on drinking in outdoor public spaces is just as bad as the smoking ban. If people are drunk and disorderly, legislation already exists to deal with it.

As long as it doesn't get out of hand, why shouldn't I be allowed to drink alcohol in the park, with family and friends (or on my own), without committing a criminal offence? Smokers, drinkers, smokers who drink, drinkers who smoke - we all have to stick together and defend one another's interests. You can't pick and choose according to your likes and dislikes.

Heffer's Half Hour with Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer did what it said on the tin. This was followed by two more Freedom Association meetings and the last event of the day, a "political chat show" featuring Claire Fox (Institute of Ideas), Michael White (assistant editor, the Guardian), Mark Littlewood (Progressive Vision), freedom of information campaigner Heather Brooke, Brian Monteith (The Free Society) and Neil Rafferty (The Daily Mash).

There was plenty of good discussion but the format didn't work as well as I'd hoped. My fault. I'd intended to have some live music to add a touch of light entertainment (think Parky or Jonathan Ross), but that didn't happen. (The stage wasn't big enough for a band as well as guests, and it would have been impossible to organise a sound check etc. Another time, perhaps.) A bigger audience would have helped but hindsight tells me that come 8.00pm at party conference most people want to be in a bar or consuming free drinks at one of the many receptions that are taking place.

And so, shortly after 9.00pm, we staggered across the finishing line, decamped to the pub, and on to a very nice Thai restaurant. Six hours later my head finally hit the pillow.

Update on Thursday, October 2, 2008 by Simon Clark

Dizzy writes about the David Davis meeting HERE. As does Devil's Kitchen HERE.