You know what, I was looking forward to Reform’s party conference in Birmingham. Up there as a journalist, not a member, mind you. Yet you hear a lot of sighing and moaning from journalists about going to these things (never mind the fact that many would kick off if their editors didn’t let them go). What’s the matter, guys? It’s a trip away, lots of mingling, lots of material.

But there’s not much in the way of good food. Not to sound like a child emperor demanding a veal sweetbread at every meal, but the offering at these things is really, really bad. And I think Reform needs to sort it out. Reform-coded conference food could be very good. I’m imagining a little stand for Scotch eggs and pork pies, or ham, egg and chips in a box; Jenrick’s Jerky, Lee Anderson serving the bacon sandwiches (he posts a video of him patting one most Thursday mornings) and Gawain Towler making sure the Landlord tastes all right. Instead, the food and drink is........

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