Although the next general election may be more than a year away, the main parties are already beginning to outline positions on key issues – a process likely to intensify with the start of conference season this weekend.
The Liberal Democrats are the first to gather on Saturday, with the party faithful converging on Bournemouth, followed by the Conservatives next weekend in Manchester and then Labour and the Scottish National party. Here is what to expect:
The Conservatives
October 1 – 4, Manchester
The narrative they want
A party that has been in government since 2010, but wants to project itself as the agent of change. Rishi Sunak hopes to sell the conference as a reset, and to answer opposition jibes that he is “inaction man”, pointing to this week’s wholesale watering down of the Tories’ green credentials.
With the conference slogan “Long-term decisions for a brighter future”, expect to hear a lot about the long-term vision of the prime minister, whose natural political and economic instincts were tempered by arriving in No 10 at a moment of crisis.
Battles to lookout for
Unease and perhaps even outright rebellion could surface from green-minded Tories alarmed by Sunak’s watering down of net-zero policies. The concerns expressed by major businesses such as Ford may well also filter through. Long-term divisions over HS2 could play out amid impatience with the government’s ambiguous position.
Rising stars to watch
Theresa May’s former chief of staff Nick Timothy is hardly a new face, but as the Tory candidate for the safe seat of West Suffolk, some tip him as a coming force in future battles for the party’s soul. He’s listed to appear in at least eight fringe events. Rupert Harrison, George Osborne’s former special adviser and another would-be MP will also be speaking.
What they’ll be discussing at the fringe
As ever, Brexit – with the Spectator-hosting an event titled “Has Brexit Failed?” Discussions around welfare, an area where the Tories could seek to challenge Labour in an election, will also be interesting. The home secretary, Suella Braverman, will appear at just one event, which will be monitored for any hints of thinly veiled leadership ambitions.
Old flames having an influence
Liz Truss. The former prime minister whose disastrous mini-budget overshadowed last year’s conference returns as part of her campaign to insist that she was right all along. She’ll be an unwelcome presence for Sunak and party strategists, although the reaction of the grassroots faithful, who overwhelmingly elected her as leader in the 2022 contest, could well be very different.
Labour
October 8 – 11, Liverpool
The narrative they want
Labour’s huge poll lead has made its party conference unmissable this year. Business leaders, thinktanks across the political spectrum and high-profile figures are keen to get a taste of what things could be like under a Labour government.
From Sunday 8 October to Wednesday 11 October in Liverpool, Keir…
2023-09-23 02:00:22
Link from www.theguardian.com