Boris Johnson seemed to be the only person enjoying himself when Liam Fox delivered his speech to a half-empty hall
Delegates either napped or decided not to attend when Secretaries of State gave their speeches this afternoon
A HALF-EMPTY hall greeted Liam Fox when he delivered a deathly dull speech on trade but his friend Boris Johnson was there to laugh in all the right places.
There were not many jokes as the International Trade Secretary spoke about how trade in Britain has always been a part of us and been part of how we are great.
With talk of the Corn Laws and a brief history lesson of how the world has changed in the 43 years since we last had responsibility for our own trade it is perhaps little wonder not many delegates chose to listen.
Proving you can always rely on your friends fellow Brexiteer, and Foreign Secretary, Mr Johnson gave the speech a thumbs up.
But even he seemed to having trouble paying attention at some points, and was pictured closing his eyes.
RELATED STORIES
Gems from Mr Fox included: “I have often said that if Francis Fukuyama had called his book “the end of geography” rather than “the end of history” then he would have been more accurate about the world in which we now find ourselves.
“I think the term globalisation could almost have been written with Britain in mind.
“It is an era where we have a tremendous opportunity to help shape the world around us for the benefit of all.”
Sleepiness and boredom were problems felt by many delegates in the conference hall this afternoon.
After a speech by Philip Hammond on the future of the economy in post-Brexit Britain, the other speakers had a similar impact.
It was down to the Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom to supply the jokes, in her first conference speech since her ill-fated attempt to run for Tory leader.
She poked fun at the brevity of her campaign and Labour's bruising leadership contest.
She said: "In contrast to what Labour's up to, we're getting on with the job, putting the country first.
"I don't know about you, but it seemed to me their leadership election dragged on far too long.
“If only they'd come to me for advice on how to keep it short."
And, trying to prove she wasn’t dull led to Culture Secretary Karen Bradley coming across as quite dull.
She started part of her keynote speech with the words “As a chartered accountant” and then continued “I couldn’t help starting this speech with numbers - even though some commentators have said that being one means I must have no interest in the arts.
“Well, I’m really proud I did a maths degree - and I enjoyed working as an accountant.
“But if you think what I wanted to do after a day of looking at spreadsheets was read more spreadsheets…then your grip on reality is as weak as Jeremy Corbyn’s.
“Accountants are – shock horror – people too.
“And so we tend to like TV, music, film, art, and sport just as much as other people.
“I love sport and I’ve been a Manchester City fan all my life – whatever division they were in.
“I’m a regular at the New Vic theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
“And I have paintings by Moorlands artists such as David Hunt on my wall at home.”
Going back to her figures she said tourism is worth more than £60billion and creative industries contribute more than £87billion.
The delegates will be hoping for a better day tomorrow.