Notes from the north west

I'm in Manchester today, discussing plans for a new event at the Conservative party conference in October.

The aim, if it comes off, is to create a must-see annual attraction that combines crowd-pleasing entertainment with a serious political message.

It's a difficult trick to pull off but I have an idea that I think could work. Watch this space.

In the meantime I can reveal details of the event we are organising - in association with the Clubs and Institute Union - at the Labour conference in Liverpool in September.

See poster above.