Oct 16
85567378
Conservative Party Conference Final Thoughts
The Conservative Party Conference in the UK has just ended with the leader’s speech. Alas, this cheerleading session was less than intense this year. IDS gave a very lacklustre speech that would inspire no one, all the while attacking some of the very things that make the party what it is. His denunciation of Thatcherism, following on the heels of Teresa May’s denunciation of Tebbit, managed to unite both aspects of the right. Considering it was these groupings that gave IDS his position in the first place, it smacks of “biting the hands that feed.” It is possible that IDS believes that he has already lost these two groups (classical liberals and traditional right) to David Davis and wants to try to get the middle of the road and the left firmly behind him. This is a high-risk strategy, perhaps a last pathetic act of desperation.
To see IDS sucking up to the CChange (ex-Portillistas) and Mainstream (Tory left) at an event this week was almost too much to bear for some. There have also been rumblings about a possible expulsion of Lord Tebbit from the party for his traditional views. And then there were those who expressed a feeling that it would be necessary to re-assess their position in the party. Many of these expressing this view are more libertarian, the ones who rarely agree with the man currently at the helm. It also seems for some the concept of principles and loyalty are fleeting. It might be pointed out that Iain Duncan Smith was endorsed by Lady Thatcher. One could argue strongly that David Davis was and is a more natural choice for the Lady.
The most worrying thing about the whole right vs modernisers row is that it revolves around minute areas of policy, and is far more about spin than facts. Modernisers believe in giving speeches that play down the capitalist belief of the party to re-assure those who wish to preserve the bloated state. Suggesting a crawl-back on the traditional Tory belief of tax cuts is both unwise and electorally foolish. Even firebrand John Bercow sounded more like Stephen Norris than his old self. His whingeing in the media about Jim Davidson’s joke about asylum seekers was downright pathetic. It would have been far more clever to express an objection to the crude comedian before the conference, not after the fact.
Having May call the Tory Party the “nasty party” merely plays into the hands of the opposition and the media. It shows that May was the wrong choice for such a crucial position in the party. Her speeches at conference, whether to conference as a whole or on the fringe, were not of the standard one would expect for someone in charge of vitalising the grass roots. Her delivery was flat and uninspiring, her speeches filled with cliches and PC-speak. The least IDS should do is sack her as soon as possible, if not sooner.
If anyone came out of this conference smelling of roses it was David Davis. Mostly seen wandering around the conference hall in a casual way, he gave the single best speech of the conference, garnering him a genuine standing ovation. Many were talking about it even the next day. Much of the time Mr Davis was seen going about by himself, with no PAs or assistants. It is possible that he was making a subtle statement about those around IDS and how they have almost sealed him off from party member access. Many delegates were complaining that the launched plan of policies was sent down from above and did not involve the grass-roots who have to go out and about to sell it. David Davis was able to look upon the changes he had made to the format with pride. I heard not one delegate complain about the new format; this after many worried aloud about possible negative reactions of attendees.
The conference as a whole was neither downbeat nor upbeat; almost blah, in fact. There were a great deal fewer fringe events this year; however many of the best ones did remain. The quality of the fringe events was quite high, and a good time was had by all. The entire conference had the feeling of an interim one. Most were resigned to the fact that there would probably be a change of leadership before the next election; either that, or the Conservatives would not be in government for a long time to come. Very few believed there was any chance of Iain Duncan Smith becoming prime minister.
The very cruel were claiming IDS was not another Hague but another Major. The general feeling was that if the Party does not do well in the forthcoming local elections to be held in May then Smith would be no longer. There were, noticeably, those that expressed a desire that the party not wait too long. It is somewhat possible, if unlikely, that Iain Duncan Smith will be encouraged to step down if the conference does not result in an increase in the polls. There are also rumblings that Clarke will stand again should a contest arise. There were some interesting discussions and speculations in the Conference Hotel about who else would throw their hats into the ring of any such contest.
The Tory Party spent the last four days spinning its wheels in the sand of Bournemouth. Will next year in sunny Blackpool be any different? And more importantly who will be the party’s leader?
To sum up the entire conference: we were all summarily ejected from the conference after a fire alarm. The final night of the conference ended with revelers huddling together from the biting wind.
