A number of Conservative supporters in Singapore were lucky enough to attend a hastily arranged drinks party to welcome the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office during his recent Asian tour. After meeting and talking with all the members assembled, Francis Maude spoke and then answered questions on a range of subjects including the challenges facing the coalition Government and in particular the practical reality of the Sovereign rating downgrade the day before, the progress made on reducing Government spending and the prospects for an export led recovery. Discussion turned to the prospects for an absolute Conservative victory at the next election where Francis Maude was able to draw on his extensive personal experience since the 1980's including a stint as Party Chairman. Finally the Minister gave the audience some very interesting personal reflections based on meetings over the preceding days he had with senior Ministers and Politicians in Singapore, Indonesia and in particular Burma with Aung Sang Suu Kyi. These included lessons the UK Civil Service could learn from the Singapore Civil Service. A photo of Francis Maude with some members present in front of a magnificent oil painting of colonial Singapore.