I love it when gay conservatives get together....

I can't wait till the Canadian Conservative Party has the same type of party....

The party on Tuesday night on Manchester's Canal Street was a political one.

The city's famous pink street turned blue, as the Conservatives attempted to reach out to a gay constituency with their first ever gay pride event.

The evening of music and performance drew a colourful crowd, but the traditional Tory "blue rinse" brigade decided to stay away.

Instead at a bustling bar there were Conservative cocktails and Tory tree logos painted in rainbow colours.

The hand of friendship to the gay community follows David Cameron's apology for Section 28, the 1980s law that banned the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools.

Speeches by shadow cabinet ministers Theresa May and Nick Herbert were warmly received.

Mr Herbert, the gay shadow environment secretary, declared that he was "living proof" the party had changed.

He joked that being gay and in the shadow cabinet was not an issue, the problem was staying in it - a reference to his recently demoted colleague, Alan Duncan.

Mr Herbert told his audience "that gay people are not the property of the Labour Party" and that the battleground had moved on.

And, it won't be long, believe me...