It was freezingly cold in Whitehall last night so I was very glad to be warming my cockles at a European Policy Forum event entitled (alluringly) "A special roundtable with John Penrose MP, Shadow Minister for Business, to discuss the Conservative Policy document 'Regulation in a Post-Bureaucratic Age'". Yes. It is Christmas. I like to treat myself. But Penrose is one to watch I think.

He is engaging, passionate and very much on top of his brief. The room was packed with very senior regulators - top brass at Ofwat and CAA and Ofgem, together with some very senior policy people like Sir David Arculus and Stephen Littlechild. Even Lord Whitty was there with his Consumer Focus hat on. There was a very detailed discussion on the future of regulation, which was (ahem) very highbrow, but the point is that Penrose led the debate - not just in listening mode, but listening and engaging. A very impressive turn.

The small powers of Government, the way we are regulated, often have considerable influence over our lives. The Conservatives have recognised this early and are serious about the holy grail of paring back regulation as much as possible, or at least putting more power back into the hands of the public (classic post bureaucratic territory). The fact that the room was packed, the fact that the Conservatives have a very clearly defined narrative on this issue, is significant.