Well, it will certainly make the other party's conferences look boring. Fireworks abounded at the Reform Party Conference, both in the literal and metaphorical sense.
I was at the Conservative Party Conferences in Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth in the glory days of Thatcher, and the confidence and enthusiasm last weekend easily matched those found then.
Indeed, as I looked at the cheerful and cheering members, packing the hall and absorbed the energy on display, I was momentarily filled with regret for that once great party which has now become such a feeble, ineffective organisation reduced to a laughing stock.
This time also, businesses were exhibiting, which is an important vote of confidence, and there was a full fringe programme.
Jacob Rees-Mogg was speaking at a fringe event, and I met his daughter, who has already joined Reform ( so that is one 16-year-old from whose vote Starmer would not benefit).
He, however, appears not to be for turning, convinced that what we need is a pact between the Tories and Reform, despite the clear evidence of the polls that Reform can win in its own right.
Will Jacob Rees-Mogg finally defect to Reform UK? This is my honest verdict - Ann Widdecombe
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Those wanting to have a go at us were not short of ammunition. First, there was Nigel Farage’s own statement that we could stop the boats within two weeks, followed by his recognition later that the legislation could not be passed within two weeks. No, but the promise was not as wild as it seemed.
First, the Rwanda legislation had reached a stage where Rishi Sunak was being urged to have the General Election later rather than sooner so that the first planeload could be sent before voters had their say. So that could be very quickly picked up.
Secondly, there are provisions for Parliament to pass emergency legislation, and the boat crisis could hardly be considered anything other than an emergency.
Thirdly, Parliament can sit all night, and finally, there is a convention that the Lords do not oppose legislation based on manifesto commitments. It will need determination, but that is one thing Reform is not short of.
Then there is the deterrent effect. My bet is that the instant a Reform government is elected, the boats will begin to fizzle out. Would-be passengers will know that they will not be granted asylum and will be detained ( yes, that can be done fairly quickly). The widely held view that Britain is a soft touch will disappear.
Then there was the performance of Andrea Jenkyns, who came on stage in a sequined catsuit, singing, putting Theresa May’s dancing well and truly in the shade.
I admit the glamorous outfit of Nadine Dorries prompted me to ask a friend if we were auditioning for Bond girls!
Nevertheless, the fact is that both these ladies bring real experience – one as a former whip and one as a former cabinet minister - to the table.
Malholtra was another matter. His overall speech was interesting and thought-provoking, but his comment that the covid vaccines could have caused the Royal Family’s cancers overshadowed it. Only the specialists treating the King and Kate know anything about the causes.
Had I been consulted before the conference, I would have advised a debate between Malholtra and a consultant with an opposing view, just as I am always urging a debate between a climate change sceptic and a true believer because science is never settled, and claim and counterclaim without challenge is never helpful.
The only other big controversy was over Lucy Connolly, who was jailed for a tweet which, bluntly, advocated arson. She received a huge ovation from a hall which believed there was a two-tier justice system to which she was a martyr, but unless she becomes prominent within Reform, that won’t even be remembered by the time the party is fighting a General Election.
As we get nearer that general election, I have no doubt Reform conferences will get more and more serious, as policies are developed and spokesmen appointed, and that speeches will be picked over well in advance for unintended controversy, but I also suspect the physical fireworks and spectacle will continue. It will make a terrific combination.