The Tory Trojan Horse...

Back in a functional hotel room near London's Victoria Station now, quickly blogging before retiring to bed.

The evening meeting was a drinks reception at Westminster with David Cameron and his cabinet.

Very jolly they were too. Only one Tory MP in Birmingham itself, of course, that being Andrew Mitchell of Sutton Coldfield. A busy man trying hard to make a difference in a city of largely Labour MPs (and a large-bellied Liberal Democrat).

Andrew diligently introduced me to David Cameron, and an interesting conversation on the big themes in Birmingham. New Street, now accomplished in terms of the initial £400m Government investment, but also the future of the airport, the Metro, and the fact that the city is on the edge of attracting the attention of London and the business of the world.

Indeed, the Tories themselves are there this Autumn for their annual conference, as well as Labour arriving for its Spring conference this coming weekend.

But Cameron is himself coming to Brum first this week in what will be a real spoiler for Labour's mini conference. He is making the keynote speech at the 150th anniversary of our sister newspaper, The Birmingham Post.

Why the Tory leader, on a weekend when all the top men and women from Government are in the city? Well, according to my info, because he is an opportunist. Labour didn't offer anyone decent to speak, despite everyone decent being in town. The Tories took advantage of the gulf by offering their top man.

A bit of a spoke, you might think. That's politics.

The other word on the Tory grapevine was fascinating. The top grandees reckon Labour stand a chance of winning the next election if they hold it asap... but smirk because Gordon Brown has already ruled out 2008. He "stands a chance" in 2009, but hasn't got a hope in hell if he leaves it til 2010. That's their view, anyway.

The last interesting snippet was re. elected mayors. Mitchell, Cameron and Francis Maude all asked how the petition calling for a referendum on this issue was going (this is opposed by Birmingham City Council's Tory leader, despite cross-party support nationally).

All three were resolute in their opinion that such a poll should happen. Click here for the latest progress.