Labour's conference ended with Sir Keir Starmer making his main speech. I could see he attempted to bring his Party back to the centre ground, but it must be remembered that he served Corbyn faithfully during his tenure as leader, showing no independence of mind and happy to run with the pack. That's not a leader in waiting, nor did his speech go anywhere near bringing his Party back from its unaffordable and ruinous tax and spend instincts. There was plenty in the fringe to remind voters just how nasty some parts of Labour are. This hatred of anyone with means is pure vitriol and references to Conservatives as 'scum' and 'vermin' don't exactly help their case. Socialism will never work, has never worked, and only impoverishes the poorest, making them more and more reliant on the welfare state. Our democracy needs an effective Opposition, but the same old swill is unlikely to create one, especially as the world has moved on. Our turn next. I had a most interesting and poignant day in Weymouth. I biked down in windy conditions - still no fuel anywhere - and walked into the new Ebike Cafe just after 1100. It's housed in a former grain and coal store on the quayside, which has been redeveloped by Mickey Jones. I was met by Steve Hoskins, a consultant who works with Mickey, Claire Hoff, from DJ Property, and Peter Claxton and Josephine Parker, who run Ebike. The latter explained how they'd moved down from Dorchester and set up this ebike shop and cafe. The ebikes - ranging from £3,000 to £10,000 - are proving very popular and selling like hotcakes. You have to pedal, but the electrical engine tucked inside the bike takes most of the strain. The bikes are American and certainly look the part. The mechanics are tucked away, ensuring the bike does actually resemble a bike and not a scooter. Above the shop and cafe are five flats on three floors. I was taken up to the biggest flat at the top where we met the new owner Richard Beggs and his partner Gail. They could not have been nicer. Richard's a former Weymouth boy who's done well. The view over the harbour was stunning and the flat spacious and comfortable. The four other flats were smaller, albeit equally well done. This was an imaginative redevelopment of an old building, which has retained its original look. We need a lot more of this in Weymouth. Next up was a farewell event at the Town Council offices. I'd been invited to a party to say farewell to Julie Hursthouse, who's been a very effective and active officer there for some time. I've met her on several occasions and she is, indeed, a remarkable woman, a doer and her skills are many. Cllr Gill Taylor gave a very good and poignant speech, picking up on Julie's can-do attitude and imagination. It was nice to see many councillors, the Mayor, Cllr Colin Huckle, a charming Labour councillor. There were many others, too, all singing Julie's praise. Julie replied, clearly moved, telling us she and her husband - who was there - were taking some time off to travel and see their children. How wise. I then headed to Nautico Lounge in St Thomas Street to meet Portland councillor Sue Cocking. She's a special lady, too, and we met many years ago when I first dropped into her takeaway cafe just off Easton Square to grab a bacon sandwich. She's now on Dorset Council as an Independent and speaks a lot of common sense. We had a good catch-up for an hour, which was most enjoyable. I hoped the fuel shortage was abating but there were still problems with the supply of gas with three more energy suppliers going bust amid the surge in wholesale prices. Enstroga, Igloo Energy and Symbio Energy said they would stop trading on Wednesday. The trio are the latest companies to go under as soaring gas prices have made price promises by suppliers to customers undeliverable. Together, the suppliers represent less than one per cent of the UK market with a total of about 233,000 customers, Ofgem said. Finally, the Old Bailey heard a cry of anguish from the mother of Sarah Everard as she told a court she was "tormented" at the thought of what her daughter endured. The 33-year-old marketing executive was abducted by Met Police officer Wayne Couzens as he falsely arrested her for breaching Covid guidelines. Couzens drove for several hours before raping and strangling her, and setting fire to her body. As a father of two daughters, I shuddered with horror. I hope this unmentionable man rots in hell.