By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Speeches don't matter very much. They don't move public opinion in the way that those of us in the political bubble sometimes give the impression of believing. The speech was significant nonetheless. Not because it will win many votes in the short-term but because the Prime Minister attempted to […]
By Harry PhibbsFollow Harry on Twitter Some of Boris Johnson's old journalist colleagues may be feeling a bit jealous of the rock star adulation he enjoys. The Daily Mail columnist Sir Max Hastings is unlikely to provoke whoops of delight in the unlikely event that he should arrive at Birmingham's New Street Station. Sir Max says: […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter One of the themes of Conservative Conference has Boris Johnson being 'on message' – pouring praise on David Cameron's head and the wider government. He was loyal at ConHome's Monday night rally and in yesterday's main stage speech. Again and again he turned his fire on Labour and the […]
10.30am Wednesday update Community sentences to deliver "proper punishment". Legislation to make sure there is a punitive element as part of every community order. Two strikes and you're out. Those who commit the most serious" violent or sexual crimes more than once will face automatic life sentences. Those given two prison terms lasting more than […]
By Harry PhibbsFollow Harry on Twitter So far the Conservative Party Conference is going well. David Cameron has over 100,000 followers on Twitter after only four days. Labour's YouGov poll lead has fallen from 14% on Sunday to 10% this morning. We have the Boris/Cameron saga, of course. Political correspondents have reverted to writing soap operas. […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter The main aim of the party conference planners is to keep their grid undented. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they don't. Last year they did: with the exception of the row about a cat (you remember: whether or not the ownership of one contributed to a deportation decision), everything went […]
Bruce Anderson on David Cameron: Newman said that the essence of religion is authority and obedience. Although that is a bit much to expect from Birmingham next week, authority and leadership would be adequate. The party's leading figures must provide reassurance, to those in the hall and to the wider public. Most voters are realistic. […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter After Andrew Mitchell overshadowed the Lib Dem conference rumours that Conservative strategists were going to ask William Hague to head butt a nurse in order to upstage Ed Miliband's big speech have proven to be unfounded! The best I can offer is the slogan for next week's Tory Conference… […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Boris Johnson will be the headline star of ConservativeHome's biggest ever Party Conference programme this year. We'll publish full details of that programme tomorrow but other speakers include Nicola Blackwood, Graham Brady, Janet Daley, David Davis, Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Fallon, Michael Gove, William Hague, Robert Halfon, Richard Harrington, […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter I'm not sure if it's a sign of the difficult financial position facing the party or a sign of financial responsibility but the Special Advisers to Tory ministers are furious that they are being asked to share hotel rooms at this year's Birmingham party conference. Some have threatened not […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter Returned from a fortnight on the Isle of Wight. The isle is full of noises… Here is the situation as I see it as the conference season comes into view. Miliband's vote is vulnerable… The most striking opinion poll finding about the three main parties since 2010 is the […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Last year ConservativeHome noted that party conference was not what it was. It has become expensive and corporate. We take our hats off to the co-chairmen, Sayeeda Warsi and Andrew Feldman for their efforts to address this. We've already reported the early bird discounts that were introduced this year […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter Read today's political news and you get a clear sense that Liberal Democrats are dominating the political agenda. That is because their spring conference is being held this weekend. Although not entirely positive for them, the free publicity has allowed Lib Dems the chance to own the debate about taxation […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Above and below are clippings from the ConHome Party Conference newspaper. Last year ConservativeHome's Party Conference newspaper highlighted the high cost of attending Tory Conference. Based on a survey of ConHome readers we calculated that the average attendee was spending £722 on conference. We and the many journalists who followed […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter You can read all the ConHome Conference newspapers via the links below; Sunday edition: A plan to win a majority Monday edition: Boris and Osborne preview edition plus fantasy Cabinet of 2020 Tuesday edition: Remembering Thatcher correctly edition Wednesday edition: Previewing Cameron's big speech.