'A chance to pick up the gossip'

Scottish Conservative Party member, Stephanie Fraser, is a former Holyrood constituency candidate and head of development at Scottish Ballet.

She said she is looking forward to attending conference and hearing from UK Tory leader David Cameron.

My first big party gathering was during the UK leadership contest in 2005 when I travelled up to Perth to hear David Cameron and David Davis.

I found it so inspiring that the next time I was in Perth it was at my first conference as the candidate for Strathkelvin and Bearsden for last year's Holyrood elections.

Stephanie Fraser is a former Holyrood candidate

During the election campaign I met many talented and intelligent candidates. I shall be particularly interested during this conference to see what has happened to these people since last year's elections.

It is sad that many of these candidates were not successful and I am looking forward to seeing see how we have all moved on. The party's recent results in England and Wales have illustrated that the Conservatives are making significant inroads in areas where we have not been traditionally strong.

I believe that we must now see this progress in Scotland. I know that we have some great candidates and I am looking forward to hearing how they can be supported in their campaigns by the party centrally.

It can often be a lonely road as a candidate and conference provides an ideal time to share ideas and get together with those who are in the same boat.

It is also a time to pick up the gossip - what other constituencies are up to, who's doing something particularly successful or daring, what's working and what's not. There are also some exciting developments such as the Glasgow Business Initiative that I am keen to hear more about.

During the Scottish Conference I look forward to hearing from members of the Shadow Cabinet and of course from David Cameron himself. This is their chance to inspire their loyal supporters north of the border.

Going forward

Part of the reason I go to conference is so that I can come back home to my constituency fired up with enthusiasm and utterly convinced that we can make a difference.

There is often the chance to talk to members of the Shadow Cabinet and MSPs informally and I have no intention of wasting such an opportunity.

It's worth so much more than just a photo opportunity and a great chance to hear what's actually going on in Westminster and Holyrood.

David Cameron is doing great things down south and I am delighted to see Annabel's work in the Scottish Parliament is now being recognised in opinion polls.

From constituency organisation, campaign planning and candidate support and training, many many practical things can be discussed at conference that could really help win elections north of the border.

We have a new Chairman of the Party in Scotland and I will be really interested to hear his plans for taking things forward.

Finally, conference is a chance to hear in what policy direction the party is going and by grabbing any speaking slot going, perhaps even to influence that policy debate.

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