In a typically boosterish performance, the Prime Minister peppered his speech with humour, telling delegates that he promised to "get on with the job" of uniting and levelling up the UK. Mr Johnson claimed a high-wage, high-skilled economy was being created in the wake of Brexit and the pandemic. He also defended tax rises to pay for the NHS and vowed to fix social care. The 45-minute speech was his first to a conference since the pandemic began. In it, the PM said the overwhelming Conservative general election victory in 2019 placed an onus on his government to deliver change demanded by voters. With our debt rising and inflation hovering over our shoulder, it really is time to look at where we can make savings. It's no good just spending more and more money in areas that need reform. The NHS springs to mind. And why have we not got rid of all these quangos? Instead, they become more and more powerful and, in that regard, less and less accountable. This is government delegating its elected responsibilities to bureaucrats. I headed to All Saints academy on my bike first thing where I spent a most enjoyable and interesting two hours. After a chat with Headmaster John Cornish, who is doing a superb job, I was introduced to about 16 students who are all standing to be elected to the school council. In turn, they asked for some campaigning tips. John then took me on a tour of the academy, which has had some investment, but needs a lot more. At 1400, I joined a virtual meeting with three members of the Regional Schools Commission, to be briefed on the new special school on Portland. They confirmed the final decision had been made to locate it on Portland and it will occupy the building near Osprey Quay. It will open in September 2023. Very good news. Then to London, to attend a memorial service tomorrow. I was delighted to hear that children across much of Africa were to be vaccinated against malaria in a historic moment in the fight against the deadly disease. Malaria has been one of the biggest scourges on humanity for millennia and mostly kills babies and infants. Having a vaccine - after more than a century of trying - is among medicine's greatest achievements. The vaccine - called RTS,S - was proven effective six years ago. Now, after the success of pilot immunisation programmes in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, the World Health Organization said the vaccine should be rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high malaria transmission. Worse news on the energy front, with UK wholesale gas prices hitting a record high before falling after Russia said it was boosting supplies to Europe. Russia President Vladimir Putin appeared to calm the market after gas prices had risen by 37 per cent in 24 hours to trade at 400p per therm on Wednesday. UK gas was 60p per therm at the start of the year, but high global demand and reduced supply has driven prices up. The high cost of wholesale gas has seen several UK energy firms collapse and halted production across industries.