This week from the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, I had a chance to plug Britannia Unchained (a new book co-authored with four of my colleagues). It has served as classic fodder for the lively 'fringe' debates - outside the main hall - that allow new ideas and arguments to be given fresh voice and scrutiny.

I was intrigued to see so many Guardian journalists turn up to listen in - a compliment of sorts although they heartily disagree with our prognosis of the challenges Britain faces in the twenty-first century. In truth, we have been predictably subject to something of a concerted attack by the paper, including a book review by Labour policy supremo John Cruddas. At least, today, the paper gave me an opportunity to rebut the rebuttal, and you can read my article here.