A note to Andy Coulson: Stop the drinking

Dear Andy,

I know you are busy, but I just wanted to drop you a quick note before Conservative conference.

About drinking.

The party conference is the major political gathering of the year. Unsurprisingly, therefore, in the bars and private receptions everyone is having a whale of a time. There is plenty of free food and plenty of free drink on offer. And that's the trouble.

Look what happened at Labour conference.

The coverage of Gordon Brown speech has been partly spoilt by the Ruth Kelly story. It was leaked to Newsnight, I am assured accidentally, and then confirmed at three in the morning. And all, in my view, because party staff have been drinking.

I couldn't believe it. The drinking was widespread and unbelievably unprofessional.

It's too late for them, but you have a couple of days to do something about it.

At conferences staff, and politicians, are there to do a professional job. The press are everywhere. The smallest leak or indiscretion can be a disaster (in so far as the event matters at all).

How can it be professional for party staff to be drinking large quantities of alcohol socially?

You've probably got this covered, but in case you haven't - party staff should be told that it is a disciplinary offence to be drunk at conference, exactly as it would be in the office.

And MPs should be tactfully advised of the same thing.

See you in Birmingham,

Yours with a can of Diet Coke in my hand,

Danny

Comments

[Jez W]

I always thought these champagne socialists couldn’t manage a piss up in a brewery.

How mistaken have i been?

[JM]

Alternatively, since these receptions take place outside working hours, you could just ban the press from attending them. Fringe events and debates might have some news value, but journalists have no good reason to be at receptions laid on for party members.

[Praguetory]

Boring.

[sloshed]

How considerate and thoughtful of you Danny!

[Letters From A Tory]

Well said. It all comes down to discipline. The Conservatives had it last year and boy do they need it this year.

[Simon Stephenson]

You must have a pretty poor view of the admin staff of your Party if you see the need to maintain discipline of a group of adults with the sort of petty authoritarianism of which New Labour has, over the last 11 years, made the country heartily sick.

Or is it just seeking to score a point for the anti-alcohol campaigners?

[stu]

yes - lets censor the tories true thoughts, but highlight the labour scandals... how democratic

[Matthew Dear]

Hear hear. Discipline is the key.

[James]

Well enjoy your diet coke in the corner, I shall be enjoying my wine, beer, pimms, gin, vodka, rum, cider, champagne and sambucca in the bar and later on, on the floor.

[James]

Anti-alcohol campaigners in the Tory Party!?!?! Blasphemy!

[Frank]

%&899bsorry **8 oi9]--pixsed,f&%||

[Ed]

You shockingly boring wet blanket. Why do you think any of us turn up to the thing? Its not as if we could stand Birmingham SOBER!

[Drinker]

Yawn...

[Kate]

I'd be less concerned about the drinking than the fact that all delegates received vouchers to a local lap-dancing club in a booklet with their conference literature. Fantastic attitude! (not)

http://redemptionsson.blogspot.com/2008/09/would-you-like-lap-dance-with-that.html

http://shutupsitdown.co.uk/2008/09/23/passing-along-a-message-from-birmingham-feminists/

http://news.aol.co.uk/club-offer-for-conservative-mps/article/20080915022644370001736

[Simon]

The only way that I could survive the pain of Tory conference would be to be completely off of my face.

[Hannah]

But then we would miss out on the real news stories that are accidently spilt and have to put up with the PR spin we are usually fed.

[TimC]

Except that the booklets were put together by Birmingham City Council, not the Conservative Party, you have a point Kate.

[Tom Scarff]

Hang on. Isnt this supposed to be the Labour Party Knees Up on the Parish ?

[nig]

Well the Tories are always taking the PISS

[gail]

When I had my Company in South Africa, we were huge on Corporate Governance. In 2001 my son visited and as our birthdays are within days, anyhoo, we (my son and I) had a whooppee doo time. The day after I was hawled before my Directors, whom, I had put in place, sitting in seats, that I had provided, and let me tell you I was given the roasting of my life, misrepresenting the Company if people saw me I was letting the Company down sitting on the steps of a pub singing and such. Further, my boyfriend at the time was the MD of my Construction Group, he, I think, was a little more worse for wear, but, same thing. My point is, England, Politician, behave, respect is earned not a given right!

[Toper]

I for one cannot believe the new sanctimonious attitude that is sweeping Britain regarding alcohol. People from all social strata have been getting squiffy for the past millennium. We have laws in place to deal with those that overstep the mark and I have no sympathy with them, but please save your piety for the church pulpit and leave the rest of us in peace to enjoy our ancient pastime.

[Chris Paul]

Birmingham City Council being run by which political stripes exactly these days Tim C?

[Paul Dennett]

Absolutely shocking. We never used to have alcohol at the SDP conference !!!

[F T P Topcliff]

A bit pompous this.

Just because the reds can't take their beer, doesn't mean the good guys are equally unmanly.

[F T P Topcliff]

A bit pompous this.

Just because the reds can't take their beer, doesn't mean the good guys are equally unmanly.

[Fergus]

Re Chris Paul
Lapdancing is a legal business that, under the Licencing Act is treated no differently than a normal bar or pub. Remind me which government brought that Act in. Oh, yes.....Oops!

[Clive Britcher]

When did you join the Fussy Nanny Society? Do you want us to become a society of twerps - no drinking, no smoking, no sex, no enjoyment ?
And you're drinking something FAR more dangerous to your health - a "diet" coke - pure chemical crap.
Go home and administer 50 lashes with a wet noodle.

[Niel Malan]

This comment just show how endemic drinking is in the the UK.