Parliament returns this week after the break for party conferences, to business as usual.  The global economic storm clouds are gathering, ministers are under fire and the opposition searches for opportunities to land blows.  All of the parties can take some comfort from their party conferences.  The Lib Dems set out to show that they can influence the Coalition and tame the Tories.  Labour sought to move to the next stage of showing what they, and the Leader, stand for.  And the Conservatives were keen to avoid a fall out and show that they are a responsible government.

But in reality all the parties are nervous about the fall-out from the Eurozone crisis which threatens to change the political as well as the economic landscape.  Nevertheless we’re left at the end of the conference season with the feeling that parties and leaders were simply keen to get through.

Conferences have changed.  Venues have changed for a start.  Gone are the slightly shabby seaside resorts of Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth.  In are the regenerated cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham.  It is interesting that in a world where image is crucial the new conference venues are not far from inner city communities where a lot of regeneration is still needed.

But it’s not just venues which have changed.  It’s a long time since conferences made policy and arguments dominated the headlines.  Instead platforms are used to project frontbenchers in carefully managed proceedings.  In the fringes lobbying and sponsorship is important as is the social side of party gatherings.  No longer are delegates sent by their branches to create a policy which is then tested at election time.

Instead multimedia communication, more outwardly looking parties and the dominant view that all politics are local, means that public opinion matters not just in one week every year - but every week.  Even at the cost of making conferences seem less relevant that has to be a good thing.