'Conference is serious and fun'

Scottish Conservative Party member, Miles Briggs, says he enjoys attending political conferences because they are a great opportunity to meet like-minded colleagues.

He added that the Ayr gathering would provide the chance for his party to take stock and to move forward.

This conference will be the first I am attending as a candidate for Westminster as well as the first time the Scottish Party has come together since the Holyrood election a year ago.

Scottish Conservative Party member Mike Briggs with Annabel Goldie

Conference is always a great opportunity to meet old friends in the Scottish party as well as making new ones.

I can remember attending my first Scottish conference in Perth and how what I first thought was going to be a very serious event was actually great fun as well with a popular MSP [who will remain nameless] entertaining us into the early hours on his guitar at the conference hotel.

One of the great aspects of conference is the fact that there's lots going on around the fringes.

There's also many opportunities to chat to all our people, from local councillors from across Scotland, right up to David Cameron and Annabel Goldie and I think that's important.

There's a real feeling within the party that we are on the move again in Scotland.

Since the elections last May I believe Scotland has developed a new political culture - a culture where the strength of the argument is more important than strength of numbers. That's what people want their politicians to do in the interest of our nation.

It's clear that in the Scottish Parliament the Scottish Conservatives have made a difference.

As we meet at Ayr it's a great opportunity to take stock and look forward to moving the party forward to a position to win the next General Election.