The ghost of Tony walks these halls…

Some old wounds would have been opened for Gordon Brown if he had attended a debate chaired by Sherwood MP Paddy Tipping last night.

As the debate was thrown open to the floor Mr Tipping pointed at the man he had chosen to speak next.

But as the microphone worked its way to him, another delegate sprang up, intercepted the microphone and started talking.

When the next person then came to speak Mr Tipping commented: “You’ll have to make it quick because someone here jumped in before it was their turn.

“But that’s the way it goes, it is the Labour conference after all.”

By Joseph Watts

Parliamentary Correspondent