One Westcountry MP's jaw dropped – literally dropped – when the Western Morning News informed them that David Cameron had made his first Cornish-related gaffe. In unguarded remarks reported in this newspaper yesterday, the normally media-savvy PM described Devon and Cornwall's dividing line as "the Tamar, not the Amazon, for heaven's sake". Clearly he is quite relaxed about the prospect of an MP straddling the two counties. Apparently, it is not the first time Mr Cameron has uttered the sentiment, and MPs of every hue from the region have attempted to convince him otherwise. "Oh, David," said one. "Looks like we've still got a job to do."

Fringe meetings that start at 8am are not known as the hottest tickets in town, especially given the "refreshments" being taken by delegates on most evenings.

So expectations must have been low that a gathering of the Conservatives Against Fox Hunting would elicit much interest. David Cameron, a keen huntsman in his younger days, is indicative of a party not averse to raising the stirrup cups. In their manifesto, the Conservatives promised a free vote on the matter, with David Cameron committed to voting for legalisation.

Yet despite this, sources suggest it was standing room only. Well, with just one seat left empty, very nearly. It seems that the small band in the party who think it would be wrong or foolish to repeal the Hunting Act is growing.

Over at the book stand in the exhibition hall, Lord Ashcroft's eagerly-anticipated book – a 133-page essay on the Conservatives' progress since their election defeat in 2005 – has been the hit of the conference. At around 170 copies, it's the bestseller, perhaps thanks to the outgoing deputy chairman's book signing session. Some bookworms, though, expressed their dissatisfaction at the party's infamous donor after offering a withering critique of the party's election tactics this year. But many still returned before closing to buy a copy.

Not much love for the Westcountry, mind. Just five copies of the collected diaries of irrepressible former Plymouth MP and Tory minister Alan Clark have sold. Oddly, given his left-wing firebrand views, former Labour leader Michael Foot's biography is not far behind, selling three copies.