Meet my aide for the conference debate I’m chairing at noon to have a first look at the cards in from representatives to speak. (People wanting to speak in our of the conference debates have to submit a card first – so the chair knows who wants to speak and can balance the debate between people for and against the different parts of the topic).

Lots of cards to choose from. The skill is to find the crux of the debate and hang the argument around that part of a motion or amendment. Then you need to balance the debate in proportion to the cards in, add geographic, gender, ethnic, and age balance and take any really convincing personal experience of the issue. As you can imagine on asylum – there were really lots of good points to be made.

I am always nervous about chairing at conference. Not only is the auditorium huge and fairly full and it is broadcast live on TV. The ultimate fear is that someone will call for a suspension of standing orders and whilst there are orders and procedures for every eventuality – remembering what they are under pressure is scary.

However, it all went relatively smoothly, with excellent speakers and to time. I had been told in no uncertain terms that I had to bring the debate in on time at 3.30pm exactly as I would be directly followed by a Q & A session with Charles K. Phew…