Technical problems yesterday meant that a couple of my postings on the Tory conference here in the UK vanished into the ether. Here’s the introduction for those who might be wondering what’s going on:

They have a saying here in Britain, “It’s grim up North.” In Blackpool, a 19th-century seaside resort in the North West of the country, the British Conservatives are gathering for their annual conference, and face some grim prospects. On the eve of the conference yesterday, two polls showed Gordon Brown with a double digit lead over David Cameron. The news got slightly better this morning, with two polls showing Brown’s lead down to a paltry 7 points. Even the ever-cautious Mr Brown must be tempted to call an election on the basis of these numbers, to seal his mandate and probably increase his majority. As a result there is an air of resolution here, a determination to rally to support the leadership and not fall into fractious infighting. Party delegates I’ve talked to both from right and left want to ensure that Brown’s lead is cut, for if Brown won a mandate election you could be sure that you’d see a more Europeanized Britain, a weaker Britain (plans were leaked to the Daily Telegraph today to halve the size of the already depleted Royal Navy) and a more state-dependent Britain. No-one wants that here. The Tories’ motto here is “Gordon Brown is not the change the nation wants.” It’s certainly true that he’s not the change the nation needs, but wants is another matter, going by the polls. So the consensus is that with a unified party, it is up to David Cameron to deliver, with a speech that will reach the country and stir his activists. Already we have seen a commitment to cut the tax paid by first-time homebuyers. More of the same is the promise. It’s a good start, but this is make-or-break time.

One day on, that impression remains the same. The early speeches by luminaries such as William Hague and Boris Johnson showed a great deal of fire. The mood of the delegates is determined. They are not going down without a fight. The question is, once again, whether the public is interested in what they have to say or even listening.