PM says Big Society talk is not a meaningless slogan
David Cameron extols the virtues of the Big Society.
It wasn't quite the Glasgow Empire, but his audience were that seen-it-all, heard -it-all type. Political journalists can be a pretty tough crowd to please, especially when they are en-masse waiting for the top billing. The venue was one of the magnificent long rooms inside 10 Downing Street.
David Cameron had one of those open-house get-togethers to get to know the neighbours better. On this occasion, it was for the political journalists from the regional press and broadcasting who cover the Westminster beat. I was among them.
Before the Prime Minister arrived, we speculated on the timing of the reception; why on a cold winter's night and not in the Number 10 garden on a balmy summer's evening, as in past years? Were we to get a collective rap on the knuckles for our stories? Could it be that our coverage of the cuts failed to put the government's reasoning in context?
After circulating through the crowd - itself a fleeting tour of the regions - the Prime Minister took to the microphone. Behind him, a full length portrait of the first Queen Elizabeth in all her Tudor radiance defending her realm... and in another painting, a less than triumphant Prince James Stuart, the Old Pretender, who lost a throne. As the Prime Minister made references to both paintings, we wondered what sort of speech we were in for.
First, there was his early lesson learnt in being a Prime Minister after nine months in the job. So was this to be the big message on cuts and deficit reduction?
No, not right away. David Cameron gave us few tips on what to do when the official invitations arrive at Downing Street. If it's from the Queen, just say yes; if it's from Silvio Berlusconi, forget the diplomatic niceties, say NO. Absolutely not.
It was a good warm up gag before he moved onto his theme. The Prime Minister flatters and praises his captive audience... and then comes the big message of the night: his vision of the Big Society.
All Prime Ministers hope to leave their mark with a catch-phrase or quote that sums up their premiership. David Cameron told us that his Big Society thinking is not just a meaningless slogan.
He says it's about people deciding and shaping their own decisions for their communities, in their localities, without the heavy hand of central government telling them what to do. Without telling journalists what to write, the Prime Minister told us we were uniquely placed to tell that "Big Society" story. Message over.
He accepts that the cuts agenda - and its impact on local services - is likely to dominate the news agenda for the rest of this parliament. The Big Society is going to be the big narrative for this Prime Minister. I expect it's a message he'll be fine-tuning at Downing Street receptions to come and to the wider country.
It got a round of applause from the journalists, but how will it go down at the Glasgow Empire?
Hello. My name is John Hess. I'm the BBC's Political Editor for the East Midlands and this blog will offer my musings on the political scene from Westminster to closer to home. 
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