Always difficult to comment on SDLP Conference. There might seem some special pleading of the “well he would say that….wouldnt he?” if I say that it was pretty good. Of course the whole purpose and stage management of a modern Party Conference is designed to make the faithful happy……and clearly SDLP members will be leaving Armagh City in good heart.

Highlights from yesterday. The passing of a motion on Equal Marriage. Simply…no big deal. People want to get married…….good luck to them. It is after all the 21st Century. Dolores Kelly made an excellent speech opening up what will become a genuine debate on “Opposition”. Hints in other speeches today suggest a line in the sand around Nelson McCausland. Not entirely personal but probably the issue of the future of the Housing Executive.

As Margaret Ritchie pointed out today ……there is a kinda “Back to the Future” aspect to the DUP. It is not just about rolling back to before 1998. The DUP want to go much further. Good speeches also from Conal McDevitt and Alex Attwood. Long serving member Fergus Quinn from Mid Ulster and the entire Strabane Branch won the Dan McAreavey Trophy for contribution to the SDLP.

Which was all a perfect warm up for Alasdair McDonnell’s speech. A certain early relief that he was making a GOOD speech…led into him making what turned out to be a VERY GOOD speech.

The whole point is to send the punters home happy.

But I am not sure how Quintin Oliver (a Change Agent)…….top man at Stratagem……..who was standing at the back of the room made of it all.

….