Trying to convince a nation that “we are all in this together” – the catch prase of George Osborne’s key conference speech today – is going to be hard work as countless people who were faultless find their lives ruined by today’s economic downturn due to the actions of our banks and government.

The conference hall was packed, so I watched the announcememnt in a lobby outside with Julian Sturdy, the York Outer PPC, and John Galvin, Mayor of York. I spotted public affairs chief Peter Bingle nearby – who I last year recorded on YouTube saying, “Deal with Brown, prepare for Cameron”. I also smiled as I saw the youthful looking Fraser Nelson, Editor of the Spectator, nearby, as well as Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Culture Secretary, with his flicked up fringe.

What is true, however, is that “we have to sort it together,” and never has the saying “no pain, no gain”  been truer.   I believe the freeze on public sector pay for a year for all but those earning less than £18,000 was too harsh, and the threshold should have been nearer £30,000 to help struggling families with mortgages to pay. But then Osborne has pledged to reduce Whitehall costs by a third, and I doubt I could juggle my housekeeping costs to make such a huge saving. I certainly agreed with plans to curb the pay and pensions of highest paid public servants’ – who wouldn’t?

*There are whispers of another MPs expenses story brewing before the general election which will again dominate the press.  This could again detract from the real issues which need to be heard in the run up to an election. Conservatives know they need to win voters over to get a majority and want to work hard to earn it. This is a very tough challenge for David Cameron who has to convince voters of his party’s ability to run government whilst not in office; despite polls showing Labour that has lost the trust and respect of its voters. This is a huge mountain to climb.

*I went to a packed fringe meetng held by the think tank REFORM with John Tate, Director of Policy at the BBC, and the aforementioned Jeremy Hunt. There was a hot debate on the role of the BBC and the internet. This included a discussion about broadband being available on TV from next year, something known in the trade as Project Canvas. It means the internet will be available on the telly in your lounge and the potential for this is immense. I wonder if it could be developed one day to facilitate online voting.

This debate has been held at all the party conferences and afterwards Elizabeth Truss, Deput Director of REFORM, told me only half as many had attended at the Labour conference, and they couldn’t find a Labour activisit in the audience to ask a question – which I was asked to do.

And Labour wonders why its online presence is lagging……