At political party conferences, it’s often the calibre, rather than the quantity, of attendees that makes a significant impact. This year’s Tory party conference taking place in Birmingham witnessed less than 10,000 attendees, but their character was quite noteworthy.
A well-off, elderly couple was heard debating the most appropriate way to wear their lanyards by the entrance. The woman showed a tad of annoyance as she asked if she could just fasten it to her bag, like she does at Ascot, as advised by her companion.
The event at the ICC concludes on Wednesday, reaching its highlight with the four party leadership contenders – Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenock, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat – delivering speeches in the main hall.
In the meantime, die-hard party delegates, undeterred by the Tories’ historic election setback in July, circulated around the vast venue on Monday. The mood appeared surprisingly upbeat for a party that had suffered such a recent defeat.
The conference’s preceding evening had witnessed party elites and a cluster of media personalities indulging in abundant champagne on the Cube tower’s 25th floor, located on the edge of Birmingham. This soirée was orchestrated by the influential 1922 committee of backbenchers in alliance with the Tory digital platform Conservative Home.
The vast majority of the 121 Tory MPs were present, including others like former Northern Ireland state minister Steve Baker, who lost their seats in July. Baker, a leading advocate of Brexit, remained optimistic despite the recent defeat.
As for the leadership aspirants, their immediate focus was on the forthcoming elimination vote in 10 days. They networked diligently within the gathering, mostly targeting MPs who will eventually narrow them down to the final two candidates.
Each attendee was granted only 60 seconds to voice their words to the spectators. Despite receiving disapproval for previous statements regarding maternity pay and enduring a challenging day, Badenoch remained resilient. Following Cleverly’s proclamation of being the superior candidate, Badenoch, with a spark in her eyes, subtly attempted to deflate him.
“James is under the delusion that he’s the best. A fanciful thought, James. If transformation is your desire, cast your vote for an overhaul, vote for Kemi,” Badenoch boldly expressed, apparently unhindered by the happenings of the day.
As Monday dawned, the gathering cast aside the aftereffects of the preceding night’s champagne to participate in an array of Conservative Party fringe debates at the ICC. The spotlight was on ex-cabinet member Michael Gove at the temporary marquee put up by Onward, a think tank leaning towards the centre-right.
Gove, who decided not to participate in the election in July, hinted that Friday would mark his initial day at his newly obtained editor role at The Spectator magazine. True to his nature of never downplaying his capabilities, Gove likened himself to James Hunt, the charismatic F1 driver who claimed the world title in the 1970s, before retiring. “He also recognised when to depart the track,” remarked Gove.
Subsequently, Jenrick, Badenoch’s key competitor in the leadership contest, fortified his strong stance against immigration, catering to the party’s right-wing faction, during a debate organised by the staunch Popular Conservatives. Signs pointed towards Jenrick gathering pace in the contest. Badenoch and potentially even Cleverly might yet have their say.