Watching the BBC’s coverage of the Conservative Conference

, they’ve introduced a new innovation from the world of focus groups – a so-called Perceptions Panel, whereby viewers dial a freephone number and use their telephone keypads to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction throughout each of the speeches by the various leadership contenders.

I can’t help but wonder why this interesting innovation has been held back until now though – wouldn’t it have been just as interesting to use it for Kennedy, Blair and others over the last fortnight too?

While we’re on the subject, take a look at the picture montage of the three party leaders on The Daily Politics page – looks like Howard’s been a victim of that special BBC picture selection treatment, again.