At the same time they are able to build up a network of friends and acquaintances."The dinner table chat was about everything and nothing in particular. The Prime Minister was totally relaxed and I found him very easy to talk to."There wasn't much conversation about politics. The fact there aren't that many people mean it's easy to get around and chat to everybody."The atmosphere was pretty informal and it was a very nice, open evening. There was quite a range of people from different walks of life so it was interesting to talk to individuals who I wouldn't meet otherwise."The children were around and about and there was quite a homely feel to the place It was just very normal. There are lots of family pictures on the walls and there were toys in the corner of the living room - as a busy mum, that was really great to see."At the dinner I was sat next to Tony Blair and we talked about sport in general, the Olympic bid and politics."It was very nice because it wasn't a big boozy affair. The food was a very plain and simple three-course meal with apple pie for dessert."After dinner, Cherie took us on a mini-tour of Chequers. Her knowledge of the place is pretty extensive in terms of the history and stories connected with the paintings."She was an excellent host and gave us coffee in the library while talking us through the books.

I got to hold one of Oliver Cromwell's swords so in that way it is rather special."Other visitors...1997: Lord Attenborough (Saturday 11 October); Sinead Cusack and Jeremy Irons (Saturday 15 November); David Furnish and Elton John (Saturday 29 November); Anita Roddick (Saturday 13 December). 1998: Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Salman Rushdie (Saturday 14 February); General Sir Charles Gaulle Guthrie and Delia Smith (Saturday 14 March); Simon Mayo (Saturday 20 June); Stephen Fry (Saturday 18 July); David Bowie and the Archbishop of Canterbury (Saturday 5 September). 1999: Prunella Scales and Timothy West (Saturday 16 January); Richard Branson,

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Sir Simon Rattle and Emma Thompson (Saturday 13 February); Deborah Bull (Saturday 13 March); Andrew Marr (Saturday 19 May); Dame Judi Dench and Sir Jimmy Savile (Saturday 23 October). 2000: Kevin Keegan and Richard Curtis (Saturday 26 February); Cilla Black (Saturday 25 March). 2001: Dawn French, Sting and Phil Redmond (Saturday 3 March); Steven Redgrave and Des O'Connor (Saturday 1 December) 2002: Esther Rantzen and David Yelland (Saturday 23 March). 2003: Richard Madeley, Judy Finnigan and Alan Rickman (Saturday 17 May); Bryan Adams and Jonathan Edwards (Saturday 18 October).

2004: Richard Wilson (Saturday 21 February); Kevin Spacey and Sir John Stevens (Saturday 15 May); Mick Hucknall (Saturday 9 October); John Motson and Sir Anthony Bamford (Saturday 11 December). A former Conservative Party chairman has delivered a thinly veiled attack on the Tory leader Michael Howard for conducting a "Basil Fawlty" election campaign designed not to mention tax cuts. "We have lost our moral and electoral bearings in the fog."He said in four consecutive election victories from 1979 to 1992 the Tories had a 20-point lead on tax cuts. "Incredibly, some Conservatives said it was best to shut up about the subject."He said critics of tax cuts said Tories talking about the economy were seen as "greedy, nasty and only out for your rich friends". He added: "These are the arguments that have held the Conservative Party in its wilderness years."Although he has called his pamphlet for the Centre for Policy Studies How I Lost the Election, Mr Howard's allies said Lord Saatchi appeared to blame the Conservative Party leader for the d?cle."He had an issue with Michael in June and July last year about tax cuts," said a member of the Howard camp.