One of my enduring memories of 5th May 2005 – the date of last year’s General Election – was watching Justine Greening sweep to victory and being surrounded by the world’s media. She was later to be seen by the side of the former Tory leader Michael Howard when he announced he was stepping down during a visit to her stomping ground in Putney.

So when I found out she was to be a guest speaker at the Cambridge Conservatives today, I simly had to meet her and hear her desribe her successful strategy. We both arrived at the Royal Cambridge Hotel together and I instantly recognised her and introduced myself as the former Eastern Region Press Officer for the Cons Ass for the 2005 election. I told her about how I was developing blogging as a PR tool and she was totally supportive and only too happy to be pictured for my blog.

She naturally extolled the virtures and the X-factor of David Cameron , described the dilemma faced by Labour and the lack of X-factor surrounding Gordon Brown, and the backward step taken by Lib-Dems in selecting Sir Menzies Campbell as their new leader: he also lacked the WOW factor, particularly in the House, and would not appeal to their core young votes, she said.

As for her strategy, it is just plain common sense. Get to know your area, your issues, your constituents and get stuck in being supportive and caring about what matters to people and their lives.