Armed with several sandwiches, a flask of tea and several cunningly concealed devices for strapping himself to his chair Mr Webbings, 83, speaking outside the Brighton conference centre said, ‘I’m well up for it’.

Margaret Beckett expressed disappointment that ‘he was back and hell bent on causing trouble’, and hinted that if he succeeded in disrupting proceeding the conference may have to be held behind closed doors without an audience. ‘And that would be a huge let down for each and every one of the fourteen delegates who’ve bought tickets,’ she added.