Thatcher and Farage high on Tory conference agenda

Having been virtually invisible during recent fierce arguments between Labour and Reform UK, the Conservatives have an opportunity to remind voters of their existence as their annual conference takes place in Manchester from Sunday.

- SEAN O'GRADY

It might even be entertaining. Kemi Badenoch, party leader, is certainly massaging expectations lower to the point of inducing depression among her followers. She likens her role to “picking up a distressed asset and turning it around”, and it will take time: “To use a corporate analogy, the quarterly returns may not be great, but the long-term strategy will deliver,” she said. “If we’re looking for sugar highs just to get us through the week, get us through the day, we will not win the next election.”

Expect lots of flags, though...

Anyone remember the Conservatives?

That was Keir Starmer’s cruel jibe during his conference speech this week, and a bit cheeky given that public support for Labour is barely ahead of the Conservatives. Both are on around 16 to 20 per cent in the polls - with Nigel Farage’s party at about 30 per cent. Still, it’s worth remembering that the Conservative and Unionist Party has been around since at least 1834, has governed Britain, alone or in coalition, for about 67 of the last 100 years, and is commonly accepted to be the most successful political party in the democratic world.

What could be the conference highlights?

Depends on where you stand. For those loyal to Kemi Badenoch’s leadership it will be the (unusual) two keynote speeches she'll be making: one to open proceedings on Sunday, and another to put fire in the bellies of the activists as they head off on Wednesday.