Trolleyed, boozed up, smashed and receptions that start just short of midnight- welcome to the party conference circuit

Will Mapplebeck, a Newcastle-based lobbyist, attends the party conferences. Here, he drinks in the Tory knees up

The IDS of March

Steve Beauchampé considers what’s behind Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation

Not at all like local democracy

Allowing local authorities to retain business rates only rights one of many wrongs imposed on them by central government writes Steve Beauchampé

Mitchell police “no further action”

Officers will not be disciplined as a result of Plebgate meeting.

No foreigners, no gays, no benefit claimants

Steve Beauchampé on Britain’s fractured political machinery….

That nice Mr Gove

Laurence Inman is in love, but it’s a very weird kind of thing.

Lessons from the Eastleigh by-election for the West Midlands

John Chubb’s thoughts on last Thursday’s unexpected call to a ballot box in the south.

Conservative party conference to return to Birmingham in 2014

City’s events strategy to target growth sectors in line with investment drive

Conservative MPs and Digbeth businesses get creative

Fazeley Studios in Digbeth played host to a fringe session with an array of Conservative MPs and local creative Birmingham businesses

Tories Arrive in Birmingham

The Conservative party conference has got underway, accompanied by protests and several no-shows.

Security operation begins for Tory Conference

Details of measures to be implemented ahead of the events at the ICC have been released.

Carry on during the conference

There will be minimal disruption while the Tories are in Birmingham.

City awaits the Conservatives

ICC staff are ready for Cameron & co.

Tory candidate for Deputy Police Commissioner supports Labour campaign against police privatisation

Walsall Labour have welcomed the support of the Conservative candidate for the role of deputy Police Commissioner

Birmingham welcomes back Conservatives for Autumn Conference

Birmingham is gearing up to host the Conservative Party for an unprecedented third Autumn Conference in five years, when it returns to the city next month.

The Old Etonian and the refugee

Steve Beauchampé still doesn’t like David Cameron, or much of the press.