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This Labour Party Conference has been a rollercoaster ride. Saturday's leadership contest should have been the high point of the week, descending into the settled rhythm of takeover.

The reality has been anything but, as Ed Miliband was controversially elected by the smallest of margins, triggering a sequence of events unknown in British politics.

Nerves have been tested to the limit as the new leader tried to make the speech of his life to win over a conference audience that had prefered his older brother - while all the time trying to keep his sibling on board.

The speech seemed to galvanise the hall. His "new generation" break with Blair was the new broom those on the left of the party welcomed.

Chris Mole, the former MP for Ipswich who lost his seat in May, told me he hadn't voted for Ed but he thought he'd made a good start.

"He attacked the Conservatives not the Lib Dems. In fact he could have teased out the praising of people like Lloyd George a little more, appealing to disaffected Lib Dems."

Charles Clarke, the former MP for Norwich South, had listened on the floor as Ed Miliband criticised the erosion of British liberties, condemned "the broad use of anti-terrorism measures" and 90-day detentions. The former MP Home Secretary remained tight-lipped as he walked briskly from the hall.

The white-knuckle ride continued as David kept his younger brother waiting to see if he would serve under him. Now the wait's over and Miliband senior is letting the bandwagon roll on without him in a front bench seat.

He says it is to minimise distractions from his brother's administration but his failure to endorse his brother's ending of the era of New Labour speaks volumes.

The delegates leaving Manchester have had quite an experience this week and will leave exhausted but I doubt if the majority are exhilarated after losing one of the Milibands along the way.

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