Richard Spring MP
Member of Parliament for West Suffolk

It would be absurd to say that Conservative MPs were anything other than cheerful at the moment; the Budget has not exactly electrified the electorate.

Last night Alan Duncan, the perfectly formed Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, had an enormous 50^th birthday party. Margaret Thatcher came, William Hague was his usual and funny speaking self, and Rory Bremner came to imitate Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and other politicians who were not present.

Afterwards we all went to a dinner at which Michael Heseltine spoke. I well remember how brilliantly he lifted spirits in the House of Commons when we were in Government, and in a similar state in which Labour now find themselves. He amusingly gave us some sound advice on being in opposition.

The will to win is back. Nobody is being remotely triumphalist – there is still a long way to go. However I can think of no time in my fifteen years as a Member of Parliament when Conservative MPs have been in better spirits.

Spring is in the air for the Conservative Party and it shows in all sorts of different ways. Conservative Future is attracting vastly increased interest on university campuses – many younger people now want to be involved in politics, and eventually to become Members of Parliament.

Last night, under the auspices of the Conservative City Circle ,a party was held at the solicitors S J Berwin in their beautiful building overlooking the Thames. It was for young City professionals, including many lawyers. It was sponsored by Jonathan Djanogly, the Shadow Solicitor General, who is associated with S J Berwin. It was addressed by Dominic Grieve, Shadow Attorney General, twice in a row Channel 4 Opposition Politician of the Year. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Interestingly enough, much of the conversation was less about today’s Budget, but about the rise in the Conservative Party’s fortunes, and how the process could be enhanced. It was simply another sign of those tectonic plates moving politically, and it bodes well for a Tory future.

Yesterday an extraordinarily successful conference on green growth took place in London opened by George Osborne and at which David Cameron spoke. It is he in particular who has driven on the green debate in political circles.

The line up of speakers was impressive – Sir Terry Leahy of Tesco,, Stanley Fink of Man Group, Eddie O’ Connor of Airtricity and James Murdoch of BSkyB. All in their different ways are promoting a green agenda in their businesses, and responding to market forces. We now need to look at problem areas like regulation, taxation, planning and requisite skills – how government nationally and locally interact, and then in turn do so with business.

Canvassing at the weekend revealed how really dismissive Labour supporters are of this Government. It may be that it is Governments that lose elections, but an Opposition can make it easier. By capturing the green initiative David Cameron has not only changed the profile of the Conservative Party, but actively raised public awareness of one of the great challenges of our times. 

For some time the Conservative Party has had headquarters in Victoria Street, after leaving Smith Square.

In some peoples’ eyes, the Smith Square building had become hexed. Yes there are memories of previous election victories immortalised in film and photographs, and the celebrations that took place in that building. More latterly there were no parties or celebrations. Moreover the various nooks and crannies of the building were filled, at times, with small groups sharing their gripes. Today the only huddles you see are furrow-browed Labour MPs earnestly in conversation in the corridors of the House of Commons, grinding their teeth at what is happening to their Party.

This weekend CCHQ moves to Millbank Tower, scene of the build up to the immense election success of Labour in 1997. Having sold Smith Square and  replenished the Conservative Party’s coffers, by comparison Labour languishes in even greater dependence on the trade unions.

The occupation of Millbank Tower by the Conservative Party may well be a defining and symbolic moment reflecting what is going to happen at the next General Election. About that Messrs Clarke and Milburn would, I suspect, fully agree.

One of my regrets is only becoming a Member of Parliament after Margaret Thatcher had left the House of Commons. She may have excited controversy but she was one of the most formidable politicians of our age.

When the Falklands War took place, and the lead up to the first Iraq war, the preparation and detailed thought were comprehensive to a degree. Listening to Tony Blair at last being interviewed on Radio 4 yesterday, what a contrast. Going to war is not about being some moralising Sir Galahad. Of course there has to be a moral base to foreign policy, but Blair has fallen into the trap of identifying countries in black and white and apocalyptic terms. His powerful and dramatic description of problems in speeches all too rarely translate into properly thought out actions. The sheer functional incompetence in all government departments is breathtaking.

Would Margaret Thatcher have gone to war in Iraq without demanding (and getting) the closest involvement in deciding critical issues like post-invasion security, control and governance? Of course not.

Tony Blair has liked to suggest he is something of an heir to Thatcher. However his legacy, by comparison, will be a woefully anaemic one. 

Eureka! Something is definitely stirring in the political undergrowth. Early this morning I went to buy some apples (English) from the greengrocer near to where I live during the week in Central London. Over the years, these shopping forays have been quite erratic. The reason is simple. The shop owner is a lifelong Labour supporter who has attacked me remorselessly for every conceivable ill afflicting the country, although I suspect it has largely been a case of a plague on all your houses. However his verbal energies have definitely been directed towards attacking Conservatives virulently and most specifically. The sheer intensity of these attacks have been a little draining before 8 o’ clock in the morning.

Cautiously, therefore, this morning I asked him how he was. The reply was truly amazing. He is now fed up with this Government, thinks taxes are too high and it is time to have us back.

Does one swallow really herald a political spring? I suspect so and I suspect the swallows will return this year more quickly than we think.

Have you noticed how irrelevant the Liberal Democrats are becoming? Two days ago there was a re-shuffle of their front bench which barely hit the radar screens. A year ago we were entertained much more frequently to the views of Liberal Democrat spokesmen on the airwaves – no more it seems. Engagingly eccentric Lembit Opik was the only Liberal Democrat MP to be noticed this week.

David Cameron has led the charge very successfully on green issues. The interim report on foreign policy written by Pauline Neville-Jones and her team, endorsed by David Cameron, has also enabled the Conservatives to create greater distance even on a difficult subject like Iraq – but with real coherence. I fear that the Liberals’ thunder has been stolen. In contrast to Ming, David has caught the public’s imagination. Today’s poll says it all.

It would appear that we are back to two party politics in England. That is why my Liberal Democrat opponent in two General Elections defected to us this year, citing their increasing irrelevance.Colleagues report tetchiness amongst Liberal Democrat MPs. I can’t think why! 

A few years ago, I was asked by a constituent to visit her, as she felt threatened by a former partner, and felt inadequately protected by the police. What I discovered was deeply depressing – she had lost all her confidence, she had three children by different absent partners. The youngest child, aged five, spoke to her in unprintable language. It really was a tragically dysfunctional home setting for all four of them.

Iain Duncan Smith deserves to be applauded for trying to analyse the root causes of our very obvious and acute social problems. His Social Justice Policy Group has sought to undertake this hugely important task in a wholly dispassionate and professional way.

Then last night I attended the launch by William Hague of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission. It seeks to put human rights and democracy at the heart of foreign policy. These values apply universally whether domestically or abroad.

These two areas have not in the past been universally associated with the Conservative Party. But their emergence says a great deal about how change is underway, at a time when people feel that the Government’s rhetoric, all too often, has not been matched by reality. 

David Cameron got a bit of flak for going to Iraq instead of addressing the CBI, although it was the only two days made available to him to make the visit. The one thing for sure in politics is that you will be criticised…….

However last night David came to address the Conservative City Circle, which I co-chair with Michael Spencer. We had over 1000 guests, and had to turn away many others. We also announced the establishment of City Future which is a group of young City professionals who will have a formal launch early in the New Year.

The real point is the way David captured his audience and was at times almost mobbed afterwards. What a contrast from years gone by. Afterwards he addressed another City dinner, and took a whole range of questions, with good humour and aplomb.

George Osborne will be speaking to a group of corporate finance executives in the City today; he and his team have been assiduously working the patch.

I’m afraid that sending Ed Balls into the fray, when the financial services industry has been ignored for nine years, is too little too late.

The success of the event last night was one clear way of celebrating David’s first year as leader. Eat your heart out, Gordon.