Politics

Read about the latest political news, views and analysis

Monday

Steerpike

Watch: Liam Fox blasts ‘crazy’ Lib Dems

Liam Fox was once a minister in a Tory-Lib Dem government. But seven years is a long time in politics. Now, Fox has changed his mind about his former coalition partners, branding the Lib Dems 'crazy': 'When we leave the European Union, people will no longer regard themselves as leavers or remainers, a few, mostly crazy Liberal Democrats – is there any other sort? They will be the rejoiners. But in the mainstream of our politics, there will not be many rejoiners.' Fox's comments on the Tory conference fringe seemed to go down well with activists. But given that Dominic Raab has used his speech today to call for 'tolerance' in the Brexit debate, Mr S wonders whether it might be worth Raab having a quick word with his cabinet colleague...

Steerpike

Boris Johnson’s fake field of wheat

Mr S was intrigued by reports that the former foreign secretary had been photographed running through a field of wheat this morning. Was it trolling Theresa May for her infamous “fields of wheat” comments during the snap election? https://twitter.com/danbloom1/status/1046685446145740800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw But on closer inspection, Boris isn’t running through a field of wheat. Indeed, the harvest has been gathered. This looks like either scrubland or a fallow field, on the basis of the plants surrounding him as he trundles along. There are the seedheads of umbellifers such as hogweed, the leaves of what looks like Field bindweed, and the seedheads of grasses, not wheat.  What can all this mean?

Isabel Hardman

Chris Grayling fails to deliver

Chris Grayling opened his conference speech by talking about a 50 year delay. Initially he could have been mistaken for describing a standard train journey in the north of England, but he was actually congratulating the government on reaching a decision on aviation capacity.  Given the number of delays, cancellations and mistakes in his portfolio, the Transport Secretary had a pretty tough gig today. He did apologise for the disastrous changes to the timetable and promised that the same thing wouldn’t happen again. But while he claimed that the rail network did need ‘revolution’ rather than ‘evolution’, he then failed to announce anything that matched up to the noisy promises from the Labour Party.

James Forsyth

Dominic Raab’s conference speech won’t harm his leadership ambitions

Dominic Raab has just given an impressive, grown-up speech to Tory conference that will see his stock rise still further. The Brexit Secretary began his speech by appealing for tolerance, pointing out that there were good arguments—and good people—on both sides of the referendum campaign.  He even acknowledged that some Brexiteers had been too quick to dismiss Remain’s warnings about how difficult leaving would be. It was a reminder of how much easier it is for someone who isn’t trying to prove their Brexit credentials to adopt the emollient tone that’s needed if the country is to be brought back together. Raab walked a tightrope on Chequers, defending the principles of the deal but not ruling out a different approach.

Dominic Raab

Full text: Dominic Raab’s Conservative conference speech

I want to start with an appeal for tolerance. We all know that Brexit is a controversial subject. It excites strong passions. But as a Party and as a country, we also need to keep a sense of proportion. Everybody had a vote. And most people have an opinion. But only a small minority think it's worth fighting over. Except when they're on Twitter. It's important to remember that the person sitting next to you...On the bus into town...At your desk at work...Round the breakfast table...And, yes, here in this hall today... Many have voted the other way to you in the referendum. That’s the genius of our democracy. We express our differences at the ballot box, but afterwards we come together, and respect the result.

Steerpike

Listen: Liz Truss lays into ‘Miliband-esque’ Tory policies

There’s been no short of soul-searching in Birmingham this week, as Conservatives wonder how they can challenge an increasingly threatening looking Labour party. In a speech at an Institute for Economic Affairs bash last night, Treasury minister Liz Truss thought she was able to identify the problem: ‘There are some people in Britain who say we can’t change the political weather. That Britain has become a more tax and spend country, that somehow we have to accept the inevitability of becoming a Miliband-esque, Jeremy Corbyn-esque fudge of a party, and I don’t believe in that for one minute.’ https://soundcloud.

Steerpike

Watch: Philip Hammond rows back on Boris criticism

It's day two of Conservative party conference and the Tory wars are in full swing. This morning it's the turn of Philip Hammond to cause trouble. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the Chancellor repeatedly mocked Boris Johnson, saying that his former cabinet colleague is incapable of grown-up politics. But while Hammond was happy to dish it out, on his morning broadcast round just now he seemed somewhat more shy about repeating his criticism of Boris: https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1046647875713863680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Asked about his criticism of Boris being incapable of grown up politics, Hammond had this to say: 'No I didn't say that at all. I said Boris has his own way of doing things.' Over on the Today programme, Hammond was also fronted up about his remarks.

The Spectator

Conservative party conference, day two: The Spectator guide | 1 October 2018

Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and the Chancellor Philip Hammond are the big draws on day two of the Conservative conference, but there is plenty of action on the fringes too. Here are the highlights to watch out for: Conference listings: 10.00 – 12.30 Symphony Hall AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Secretary of State for Transport Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Chancellor of the ExchequerSession to include contributions from Party members 14.00 – 16.

Sunday

Isabel Hardman

Tories try to reinvigorate their party with money for ‘diverse’ candidates

The Tory conference hall is, so far, struggling to replicate the size and excitement of Labour's gathering last week. This isn't entirely the party's fault: the venue itself might be great for listening to an orchestra, but it tends to dampen what atmosphere there is. But the decline in audience enthusiasm has been taking place over a number of years across a number of venues. The reasons for this are manifold. One is that the Tories simply do not have the grassroots membership that Labour does. Another is the way Conservatives struggle to give rousing speeches about what drives them in the way that Labourites do.

Steerpike

Tory MP: Conservatives resemble ‘the armed wing of Ukip’

It's day one of Tory conference and already the blue-on-blue warfare is rife. Aside from Boris-bashing in the main hall, the fringes have been witness to some choice comments. This afternoon's ‘How Can Conservatives Win Back Under 45s in 2022’ fringe event, saw a panel comprised of Justine Greening, Neil O’Brien, David Willets, George Freeman and the Times’ Rachel Sylvester gather to let off steam about Brexit and Theresa May. Freeman complained (again) that May’s Tories have ‘no vision’. However, the comment that got Mr S's attention was his claim that his party is starting to resemble the ‘armed wing of UKIP'.

Katy Balls

Jeremy Hunt talks tough on Brussels – and stokes leadership talk

The most notable thing about this year's Conservative conference is the disconnect between the leadership and the members. This afternoon the fringes have been ram–packed – particularly those with Brexiteers. Meanwhile, the hall and its ministers has at points seemed rather empty. So, perhaps it makes sense then that rumoured leadership hopeful Jeremy Hunt used a large part ofspeech to play up his Brexit credentials. In his first conference speech as Foreign Secretary, the reformed Remainer covered a wide range of topics – and talked tough on Europe. He compared the EU to the 'prison' of the Soviet Union as it tries to prevent member states from leaving.

Tom Goodenough

Has Priti Patel found the answer to Corbynism? | 30 September 2018

What’s the antidote to Corbyn? Thatcher, according to Priti Patel. Britain’s former PM might be public enemy number one in the eyes of the Corbynistas, but it’s vital the Tories return to Thatcher’s ideas and her way of doing things. That, at least, is the verdict of Patel, the Brexit-backing former international development secretary. Patel said that Britain is now at a crossroads: a similar juncture to the one it faced when Thatcher came to power in the seventies. Back then, she said, regressive socialism was in danger of taking control. The same is happening now, according to the Tory MP, and it’s vital that the Conservatives and the government learns from a prime minister that ‘fought the left very successfully’.

Steerpike

Brandon Lewis fails to draw a crowd

Oh dear. Ahead of Tory conference there had been talk among the European Research Group of plans to 'empty-hall' Theresa May's leader's speech in protest of her Brexit plan. That plot has since been abandoned. But it turns out that some Cabinet ministers are still being 'empty-halled' all on their own accord. This afternoon party chairman Brandon Lewis held a 'Challenge the Chairman' event exclusively for party members in the conference hall. Here they were given the opportunity to ask Lewis anything. Only it seems they didn't have much they wanted to say to him. Only a handful of members could be bothered to show. Mr S's mole has sent a photo of Lewis mid-session: Perhaps they were too busy preparing to get in line for the packed 17.

Steerpike

Watch: Tory conference attendees applaud Boris-bashing in main hall

The Conservative conference has only just begun and already blue-on-blue warfare has broken out on the main stage. Although No. 10 had been nervous that Boris Johnson’s popularity at the annual event could usurp Theresa May’s, there is little sign of Johnson-mania in the conference hall. Lord (Digby) Jones – the ex-CBI chief and Brexiteer – used his turn on the stage to lay into the former foreign secretary. He said that Boris Johnson’s ‘f--- business’ jibe ‘showed him up for the irrelevant and offensive person he really is’. In response, attendees in the hall applauded while the Cabinet – including one Theresa May – looked on awkwardly.

Fraser Nelson

Even now, Theresa May struggles to apologise for Windrush

It’s now six months since the Windrush debacle that ended Amber Rudd’s career – but does Theresa May recognise what went wrong? Andrew Marr sought to find out this morning, saying that a general apology was not enough: ‘There are apologies which say: “I’m sorry something bad happened”, and then there are apologies which say: “Do you know what? My policy – my policy – made these bad things happen, and my policy was wrong and I’m sorry for it.”’ So which was May’s? Here’s what she said:- ‘The point of the policy was to ensure that those people who were here in the United Kingdom illegally were identified, and that appropriate action was taken.

James Forsyth

Message-free May given tough time by Marr

The big Sunday of conference TV interview is a chance for a leader to set the tone for their party’s gathering. But Theresa May failed to seize that opportunity this morning. She was, oddly, bereft of a positive message on either Brexit or domestic policy and the interview ended up being dominated by Tory splits on Brexit and the Windrush scandal. On Brexit, May stuck to the line that she doesn’t know what the EU’s objections to Chequers are. This is really stretching things. We know that the EU doesn’t like the Facilitated Customs Arrangement as it feels that it imposes burdens on them and gives the UK many of the benefits of the customs union while leaving it free to cut tariffs on the EU’s competitors.

Katy Balls

Why Tory conference will be a leadership parade

What does Theresa May want to achieve from this week's conference? No-one seems sure. There are some in No 10 who would be content so long as she survives it without a coughing fit. Others have higher hopes – that she could reset the dial and reinvigorate her flagging premiership. What seems most likely, however, is that the event will descend into a leadership parade that plays a role in deciding who the next Tory prime minister is. This year's conference has already got off to a bad start for the Prime Minister thanks to a massive data breach courtesy of CCHQ's conference app and a bad-tempered appearance by the Maybot on Marr (James has all the gruesome details here). The papers have a few traces of conference announcements.

The Spectator

Conservative party conference, day one: The Spectator guide | 30 September 2018

The Conservatives return to Birmingham and Theresa May has defied some predictions by even making it this far. But can she keep the show on the road? Or will the Tory party conference be as big a disaster as last year's gathering? Here are the highlights to keep an eye out for today: Conference listings: 10.00 – 12.00 Hall 1, ICC Birmingham MEETING OF THE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION 14.00 – 14.45 Symphony Hall WELCOME TO CONFERENCE Chairman of the Conservative Party Mayor of the West Midlands 14.45 – 16.30 Symphony Hall GLOBAL BRITAIN Secretary of State for International Trade Secretary of State for International Development Secretary of State for Defence Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs 16.30 – 17.

Saturday

Steerpike

Angela Rayner rallies against common sense

Conservative conference weekend is here, prompting the usual effort by Labour to mis-cast the Tories as a party of rich toffs. However, this seems to have backfired for Angela Rayner. This morning she posted a widely shared image of the Conference website, which is selling last-minute tickets at inflated prices: https://twitter.com/AngelaRayner/status/1045790543786242056 However, Mr S is delighted to inform Ms Rayner that all is not as it seems. Tickets for the Conservative Party Conference have been on sale since January, at a much-reduced price of £50, and £20 for under 25s. In fact, many students and young professions are sent by their associations with free tickets. The price was doubled on May 1st and raised again close to conference.

Rod Liddle

Why can’t lefties argue properly?

The main problem with lefties is that they can’t decide in their own minds what exactly they want. And sometimes want two paradoxical things simultaneously. So, among the Twitter reactions from Corbynistas to my appearance on Question Time last Thursday was this: 'I hope he dies a long and painful death TONIGHT.' I mean come on mate, make your bleedin’ mind up. At least the injunctions that my wife and daughter should be raped and murdered had a certain internal consistency about them. They’re a lovely bunch, no? https://twitter.com/bbcquestiontime/status/1045438264906338305?