After watching the international development debate I stayed in the press balcony to catch up on some emails. The high quality session was, unfortunately, very poorly attended and the hall quickly emptied as people left for lunchtime fringe events. One after another half-a-dozen candidates then trickled into the hall. Each was accompanied by a friend with a digital camera. They all went on to the stage to be photographed giving mock speeches to conference. They punched the air. Another pointed assertively in the direction of the hall. Another clenched his fist as he lent intimately towards the captivated crowd that he imagined before him. I wish I’d taped it all. It really was very funny.