John Prescott arrives to great applause (though I think a lot of people on the other side of the packed hall have presumed it's "TB"). But When Tony turns up shortly after JP, The applause is overwhelming.

Canary Wharf is sponsoring the event and the sponsor's speech is usually a dry affair. However, on this occasion we get a true barnstormer from the firm's Community Director Howard Dawber, a long-time Labour man making no pretense at impartiality.

He's followed by the PM, who first clarifies with howard that he's not pitching for the DPM job given his rousing speech. He is not.

The PM's speech is actually very good - though I suspect I shall hear it a few times before the week is out. He thanks the awe-inspiring Hillary Perrin as she has just left the London Regional Director post to take up a promotion at Labour HQ - but essentially the speech is about this, the media, the opposition and various individuals are this week talking about the leadership of the Labour Party - but we should be talking about the future of Britain.

In a nutshell.

It goes down very well indeed. This is a room full of hundreds of Labour people with all sorts of views on the PM - but the man has charisma - he can hold the room with his punctuation and stir it with his words, which is bloody annoying when you're trying to disagree with him.

I networknetworknetwork and realise that with a laptop on my back and camera in my hand - as I shall be for the rest of the week - I look either like a snail or just like a bit of a twat. Or both. Add a crumpled shirt and unshaven chin and I just look like a disreputable jounalist.

It does not however prevent these kind people from letting me take their photos.

Party Members enjoying the revels

Fabian stalwarts Kevin and Emma

The star of the show Howard Dawber with Treasury Minister Stephen Timms and Canary Wharf's Jim Berry

Incoming NEC member Ellie Reeves with her sister Rachel, Labour's Bromley by-election candidate

London Assembly Member Murad Qureshi

Robert Evans MEP with happy eventer

Foreign Affairs Select Committee Chair, Mike Gapes MP with his delegate from Ilford South, Chris Stone and the Ilford North delegate, Brenda Soskin

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty. Why they call him a "bruiser" I just don't know. He's a jolly fellow.

Canapes - In a few days we will feel differently about them, but right now we just enjoy.