Tonic water is being stockpiled in Deansgate. Gin, too. And beer, for that matter. The M6 is braced for the rumble of Discoveries as the Tory herd makes its biennial migration to the watering holes of Manchester.
Always eventful, the Manchester conference is a bear pit for Tory activists. MPs, staffers, stalwarts and all, must each enter the grand security of the Midland Hotel by walking a gauntlet of snarling, spitting, swearing protesters and provocateurs.
The spite and vitriol hurled outside at anybody who dares enter creates a closeness, a camaraderie, for those on the inside. In Manchester, factions within the Tory Party matter less. If you’ve made it in, you’ve been reminded of who we are united against. We’re all made of stern stuff. We’re all, ultimately, on the same side.
Which makes the circumstances around this year’s conference even more exciting. The choppy path to a Halloween Brexit is producing quite the body count. And the spectre of an election haunts the Tory grassroots probably more than the national strategists. Delivery networks are being woken, chequebooks opened. We’re ready is the solid, stoic message from associations. We’ll help you get ready should be the reassuring message from the centre.
So, beyond the gin inside and the din outside, what can we expect from #CPC2019? Association officers, agents, councillors and campaigners will be briefed on the latest campaign toolkit; on leaflet templates, timetables, social media guides. Policy formulation this year is likely be minimal. Headlines most probably geared around the Johnson government’s clear priorities: fairer funding for schools, making sure the public can see the extra investment in the NHS, 20,000 new police on the streets. And that other thing.
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See Also:
(1) UK: The Push to End Free Speech
(2) Boris Johnson’s new Brexit deal revealed – Peston outlines breakthrough bid
(3) Nigel Farage warns Brexit deal hands ALL power to EU and leaves UK ‘at mercy of Brussels’
(4) Johnson regroups after Supreme Court opening – now Government HITS BACK
(5) Jeremy Corbyn would turn Britain into a basket case like Zimbabwe
