So long, and thanks to the Brethren

UPDATE: John Key delivered probably the best speech I've heard from him - well structured, hit all the right notes, a good mixture of the more traditional National Party messages of hard work, self-responsibility and less government, and Key's own more centrist brand of "compassionate conservatism''.

And a lot of new policy, too, including details of infrastructure spending and the beginnings of what I imagine will become Key's "First 100 Days'' style plan during the election campaign.

Personally I wouldn't have chosen Jesus Jones' Right Here Right Now to walk into though - the song was a hit in Britain 17 years ago after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Were The Feelers busy?   

My only other criticism would be his delivery, which remains a work in progress to say the least. Key is not a clear speaker and does not enunciate as well as he should for someone in his position. But the party faithful didn't seem to care. 

Since the finish of the conference things have derailed a little for National, however, with the release of a tape of Bill English talking to a punter at the conference during which he talks of "Labour plus'' voters, explains the mechanics behind the decision not to scrap Working for Families, and most damagingly, says that "eventually'' National will probably sell Kiwi Bank.

There is no question that the tape is damaging for National. It will be played relentlessly by Labour during the campaign, and pointed to as evidence of National's "secret agenda'' and saying one thing and doing another. Even though English was actually saying nothing more than the party policy (except in more colourful language) which is not to sell any state assets during its first term, it reopens the door for Labour to claim National is planning to sell them further down the track.

There are two lessons here. One is that there is a new front opening up in the dirty tricks war on both sides of the political divide - Mike Williams was also recorded secretly during Labour's conference. The second is that English must be more careful when opening his mouth. He wouldn't have made those comments to a journalist unless he had made absolutely sure they were off the record. Why would he share confidences with a person he didn't know or couldn't trust?

(Written earlier)

Day One of National's annual conference is nearly over and so far the biggest clanger has been departing Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson's thank-you to the Exclusive Brethren during his departing remarks to delegates.

There was some shocked silence and a few laughs but the look on president Judy Kirk's face was priceless. Suffice to say she was not amused.

But compared to previous National conferences that have involved leadership stoushes, MPs getting heavy with unwanted visitors, and even last year's announcement by Key that he planned to lead the Labour Party, National can be pretty satisfied with the way things have gone so far.

There has been less triumphalism than I expected. For a party 50 points-plus in the polls, National seems pretty much aware that winning is no foregone conclusion. Perhaps this is because after three defeats in a row, many have forgotten what winning feels like and are dead scared to even contemplate victory, let alone celebrate it early.

Both Key and deputy Bill English have also rolled their sleeves up and got stuck straight in. From Key's opening remarks this morning, when he announced National would keep Labour's tax cuts and add another lot in the same financial year next April, it was clear National meant business.

This contrasts, for me, with the Labour Party's election-year congress, which seemed to be about showcasing leader Helen Clark and avoiding any sensitive topic. And no protests here either, unlike those that have dogged Labour in recent years - probably due to the fact that it is the government rather than any particular dissatisfaction with the party, but it still can sure bring down the mood.

Mind you, what business National is planning is still a little unclear, given that English appears to be trying to both urge economic caution and at the same time prepare the electorate for taking on greater debt in order to afford the party's spending programme.

The message from the conference today was that "debt can be your friend" and that every sensible business uses "prudent'' debt management as a means of boosting growth rather than using petty cash to fund development.

This is another way of saying that it's OK to use the taxpayers of tomorrow to fund the spending plans of today. But of course that's what all governments do with infrastructure development. It's all the same pot of money, of course, but Labour is going to accuse National of borrowing for tax cuts nonetheless.

At least it now seems that National is prepared to have the argument, and with other spokespeople giving speeches in their portfolios today it does seem that at last the party is a little more comfortable in its own skin.

The only bum note, for me, was the "families forum'' half way through the day, which seemed more the product of a focus group's report on what National should cover off at its conference than any serious attempt to address an issue of substance.

"National trusts families'' said families spokeswoman Judith Collins, sitting in a cosy little fireside arrangement on the stage alongside John Key, Paula Bennett, and Anne Tolley. She also said National supported and believed in families. Well, great. Name a politician or a party that does not support families.

It seemed awfully close to an attempt to grab some of the Family First-style morals campaign vote, although National hastens to claim this is not true.

Besides that, a disciplined, well-structured day that National will be pretty pleased with. And John Key's main speech still to come tomorrow.