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Conservative Party conferences of old were packed out events bustling with ministers, MPs, lobbyists and members.
Roll on just over a year after their biggest defeat ever, and the Tories’ gathering in Manchester, from 5-8 October, will be a more sober affair.
Despite their recent loss, last year’s conference was anything but subdued as it was turned into a hustings for their new leader to replace Rishi Sunak. Cue: a bit of a bun fight.
A month later, Kemi Badenoch was crowned leader. So this conference not only marks a year after that abysmal result but also nearly a year of Ms Badenoch in charge.
A series of policy announcements are expected throughout the conference, with the first today being an eye-catching vow to create an ICE-style “removals force” to tackle illegal immigration to the UK, which follows her pledge to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
“Stronger borders” is one of the two key themes of this conference, along with “stronger economy” – slogans set to feature on banners throughout the conference venue.
It is part of her bid to scrape back her party’s position in the polls as Nigel Farage’s continues to lead in the national polls.
Just three weeks before this year’s gathering, one of her ministers, Danny Kruger, became the first serving Tory MP to defect to Reform.
Eleven former Conservative cabinet members, ministers and MPs had switched to Reform this year ahead of Mr Kruger. Ex-health minister Maria Caulfield defected after Mr Kruger.
Sub-optimal for Badenoch, but an issue she has brushed off, accusing them of “running away rather than solving problems”.
The threat of Reform, which has led the polls for weeks, dominated the Lib Dem and Labour conferences but, if PMQs is anything to go by, there is no guarantee Ms Badenoch will put Mr Farage’s party at the…
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