Foreign Secretary and South Shields MP David Miliband might have told me when I asked about the Sun switching support to the Tories was a case of the media chasing the media.

But does it represent a change in the direction of the wind - Labour is on the way out?

"The Sun was extremely rattled by the Prime Minister's speech and the attempt to spike it shows it was a very strong speech.

"But Labour has a very clear plan for the future and I am confident we can carry it out with drive and determination," said Mr Miliband.

Chief Whip Nick Brown said: "Obviously, they planned it in advance. I would rather they were supporting us than not supporting us.

"But I think people are perfectly capable of reading a newspaper and deciding their vote on rational grounds and not doing what the paper tells them."

Just been chatting to delegates after the PM's speech to Labour conference. And very interesting it was to.

"Gordon Brown has to be persuaded to even take a headache pill," was the firm reply to the discussion about Andrew Marr's pill question on the BBC on Sunday.

And the speech went down well, apparently giving Labour some material to fight for. But there was an admission that Mr Brown is a good "number two" but not a number one.

Further, there was an acceptance of there being no number 1 at all - meaning the Labour party will have to swing behind the PM.

Northern Night then, time to let the hair down and roll out the parmos.
As is traditional there was a money raising auction, this time led by Blaydon MP Dave Anderson.
And a guest appearance by the Miliband Campaign Trail.

It is grim, really grim if Alistair Darling's face is anything to go by. His face looks like misery beyond comprehension. He could even look suicidal.

Add that to the feeling of "going through the motions" at the Labour conference, it all seems everyone is very half-hearted way.

But on the other hand, it is all smiles for Business Minister Pat McFadden. When I asked him about speculation that the popular car scrappage scheme will be extended, it was a playful shrug of the shoulders and a wide smile. Expect an announcement from Emperor Mandy soon.

It seems it's all change for Labour in the North East. We've already heard from longstanding MPs such as Jim Cousins and Doug Henderson who say they've had enough, thanks for the memories, so long, etc etc.
But could at least three more follow?

SO the latest plan to save the world is to issue us all with compost buckets so that food waste isn't put into landfill. I wonder how many civil servants on what salaries and perks it took to come up with that one!

A scandalous amount of food is wasted these days. Let's try to educate people to cut the waste - and save cash - and not to leave food about. But forcing householders to use compost buckets isn't going to stop the waste. If people actually use the buckets, it is more likely to increase vermin.

After another very impressive display on Saturday night, do you think we have reached the point where we can perhaps consider ourselves to be genuine promotion contenders this season?

A few weeks ago we received an email from Hexham Morrismen inviting us to dance with them , and as many other local teams as possible, before the premier of "Morris: A life with bells on" at the Forum Cinema Hexham. Sadly Tyne Bridge Morris couldn't get a team together. However this afternoon Mrs Quilt drove me over and we watched some dancing before heading off to the cinema with everyone else....

I got really excited this weekend because after three years, I finally turfed out one of the compost bins.

I stood in the back yard with my hands clasped to my face as my husband shook the bin from its resting place; deep down I was worried that instead of the expected nice brown crumbly mixture, we would have some sort of sludge.

As it happens it looked great and I felt extremely proud.
"Wow kids, look at this" I urged two disinterested faces.

Prodding it around with a gardening fork however uncovered some long forgotten remnants from the kitchen.

Here is a list of things that didn't compost:

The sun is shining in lovely Brighton and the gossip is well underway,

A little birdie has told me that the Lib Dems are pouring their money into Newcastle North, Durham City and Berwick for the coming election. They are the target seats.

The claim will raise eyebrows given that Berwick has been held for years by Sir Alan Beith. Could they be worried about a swing to the Tories? An interesting Labour conference is promised.