Conservative conference – Manchester

The conference season approached its end in Manchester, with the Tories taking centre stage. Perhaps the most widely anticipated conference of all, given the current state of opinion polls. The atmosphere was definitely more upbeat than in Brighton, and many party members openly stated that this was best conference they had ever attended, it was clear that this party was in a transition to government.

The conference began with a dark cloud over it, with many media commentators expecting infighting over the Lisbon treaty, this did not transpire. The policy heavy speech of the conference was left to George Osborne to deliver; he delivered with honesty the cuts the Tories would make in government. The risky strategy outlined that a Conservative government would raise the pension age to 66, supposedly saving the public purse £13 billion. Public sector pay would be frozen for the first year of parliament and all public sector appointments that exceeded the PMs rate of pay, would have to be directly approved by the Chancellor.

The discipline in the party was ever present at conference, despite the minor gaffe by Chris Grayling, the Tories were trying to show the British public that they are serious and ready to govern.

David Cameron’s closing speech was more subdued than many commentators were expecting. Despite this, he delivered his speech on values and his beliefs extremely well. His anger at Labour was executed with passion, and he spoke at length about the tough times ahead and how the “view from the summit would be worth it”.