Iron grip: why can't Tories turn the page on Thatcher?

Visitors to the Conservative Party conference have been struck by the ubiquity of one former Conservative leader - Margaret Thatcher.

- SEAN O'GRADY

The party is celebrating two significant anniversaries: the centennial of her birth, and 50 years since she was elected party leader. They are going all out to revel in their last truly successful leader and prime minister and the Thatcher memorabilia (Thatcherbilia?) is everywhere. Present leader Kemi Badenoch, who welcomes comparisons to Thatcher, has declared she is currently reading an admiring biography of the Iron Lady. Some wonder if this ancestor worship is good for the party...

Is it a millenarian cult?

It feels that way. At this conference in Manchester there is a display of what might be termed holy relics - historical documents, even her clothes so the faithful might perhaps pray to the Blessed Margaret that their One Nation apostasy be forgiven and they can be guided by market forces and shown the Eurosceptic light.