The (slightly-strained) amity was palpable at a Daily Telegraph debate at the Conservative conference which pitted the Government’s policy supremo, Oliver Letwin, and Charles Moore against Dame Fiona and Shaun Spiers, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England – the presumed targets of an accusation made by junior planning minister Bob Neill that “Left-wingers based within the national headquarters of pressure groups” were conducting “a carefully choreographed smear campaign” against the proposals. Abjuring such histrionics, the two sides broadly concurred that more houses should be built, the countryside protected and local people given as much power as possible over developments. The disagreement is over whether the draft document will greatly help or seriously hinder these objectives. But if the ends are truly agreed, the detailed talks now beginning between ministers and their critics should be able to find the means. If not, hostilities will surely break out again.