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Much anticipation in the air coming into conference to hear Ed Miliband's first speech as leader.

The Right Honourable Tony Benn, still sprightly at 85, is keen to get inside the hall. He welcomes a comrade selling the Morning Star newspaper.

Labour veteran Tony Benn

"No, I'll take one of yours," he answers, reaching for his wallet.

A few years ago as I queued for two hours for conference in Brighton, he was in front of me. He firmly refused to be jumped to the front and entertained us all with tales of government.

He was not the only one with a spring in his step.

I bump into Kelvin Hopkins, Labour MP for Luton North.

"This is the first leader's speech I've looked forward to in 35 years," he chortles. He orchestrated Diane Abbott's campaign but says he knew she wouldn't win, and Ed Miliband was his second choice.

Others looking forward to their moment in the sun while Ed Miliband delivered his message to the party faithful were the group of hip young things hand-picked to sit beside him on the platform.

Alas, one young pretender's hopes were dashed when a steward who was shepherding "the young ones" barred his way, saying "You're too old".

I imagine there were plenty of others in the hall who felt the same way as Ed the younger
repeatedly declared, Roger Daltry-like, that this was a new generation of Labour.

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