Plan for Change, indeed. A better slogan for Conservative party conference would've been Change of Plan. Out with parties and dumping on Gordon Brown, thanks to the economic crisis: in with sobriety and statesmanlike non-politicking. Which leaves a lot of disappointed delegates, so thankfully for them, there's always Eric Pickles.
At the Observer fringe event on Tuesday night not only did he reveal the Pickles Diet, on which he's shed two stone (no chips, no cheese, no seconds, if you're interested) but was wickedly funny about both his opponents and his colleagues. Who are sometimes one and the same, if you're as ambitious as I suspect he is.
Thus on health spokesman Andrew Lansley's argument that fat people only had themselves to blame (shortly after describing a row years ago which ended in Pickles' brakes being cut): "Sadly for young Lansley, I have actually worked out where he's parked. He looks like he enjoys a mixed grill, as well."
He went on to defend the policy (a bit) but the point was made.
If I were party chairman Caroline Spelman I wouldn't be reassured by last night's denial that he wants her job.
There's ruthlessness under that northern nightclub comic charm. Even if his professional Yorkshireman image will be ruined by the revelation that he drinks Earl Grey...
