The CBI annual conference, named the 'Fat Cats Conference' by Globalise Resistance, began today (24 November)in Manchester. It was greeted for the first time with a union-organised protest that was joined by anti-capitalist and anti-war demonstrators.

Amicus union was demonstrating in favour of equal pay for men and women. As the BBC news went live to Manchester to get a report on the anti-firefighter conference speeches, up to 100 anti-war protesters broke past a handful of security men and rushed into the building with placards saying 'No blood for oil'.

The BBCs Evan Davis followed this and reportedly said that this was bad news for the CBI. It was a great media coup to have gone in at that moment.

According to BBC online, "a window was broken during the scuffle, but the demonstrators were moved back outside the conference centre. They said they wanted to highlight the link between big business and war."

Over the next few days, speakers will include 'Iron-fist the firefighters' Chancellor Gordon Brown, US War Treasury Chest Secretary Paul O'Neill, Cabinet Ministers Patricia 'i used to be a feminist' Hewitt and Charles 'top-up fees' Clarke, Shadow Chancellor Michael 'something of the night' Howard, Liberal Democrat Leader Charles 'mine's a bottle of whisky' Kennedy and Hewlett-Packard chairman, Carly Fiorina.

The CBI has been crying and moaning about EU legislation to give temporary workers more rights, about tax and 'red tape' - red tape meaning social and employment regulation protecting workers from Victorian-era exploitation.

Its also been crying about the firefighters strike and those 'greedy and selfish' people who want £30,000 a year for risking their lives to pull millionaires out of burning mansions.