Image: By Source, Fair use,
Over the years and especially this year now I have retired I have taken a great interest in the Labour Party Conference and dipped into the Liberal Democrats gathering on occasion. Watching and writing about the Conservative Party Conference however is a new experience.
In the build up to the Tory gathering there were two issues that seemed to dominate the news and may still prove problematic in the week ahead. Brexit has split the party apart with rumours of Brexiteers joining local Conservative Associations in a not quite "Momentum" style. Then of course there is the continuing question of Theresa May's leadership.
Indeed Boris Johnson has tackled both problems with one very lengthy article in the Friday edition of The Daily Telegraph. Trouble is whilst he remains the darling of large sections of the constituency parties he has to a large extent shown the side of himself that is not ready or fit to take the job. Whilst a very intelligent man which his "acting the buffoon" style hides to a certain extent, insiders say he does have a very "untidy mind".
So whilst Boris was very suitable for a post such as London Mayor (and got my vote to stop the anti-Semitism of Ken Livingstone) he proved somewhat, well useless a s Foreign Secretary and appeared to have no conception of collective responsibility in the cabinet. His blunder over the British woman being held in an Iranian jail was frankly unforgivable. I felt for her and her family when he blurted out complete nonsense.
Theresa May seemed like a good choice when she first became Prime Minister but let herself down badly by not participating in the leadership debates that took place on the television. At this juncture a strong approach could have knocked the Neo-Communist leader of the Labour Party for six. She didn't and partially because of that the Labour Party has turned from being an opposition party into a dangerous entity that as a long term Labour voter I and many, many others cannot countenance.
This week Theresa May will likely pull through as leader of the Tories and continue as Prime Minister. The jury is still out on whether she can do so until the next election. Meanwhile conference has begun.
Always a polite affair the first day certainly turned out to be this afternoon and I couldn't help but notice a fair amount of empty seats. This was in stark contrast the the comrades affair in Liverpool. Nothing much was on the agenda, well nothing was on the agenda. No motions or votes. I missed the beginning but watched as entrepreneurs, ex-army officers and two Ministers delivered st piece speeches.
Photo: By Chris McAndrew
The only thing of importance that struck me was Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson's announcement that both the navy's landing ships will be retained to enable the marines to carry out their necessary operations. One of the new frigates will be named HMS Birmingham. That's good news if this country is to retain it's military credibility. The RAF will cover the Northern Stretches including Iceland and 800 marines a year will get training in Norway.
The there was Jeremy Hunt the new Foreign Secretary. Now he made references to uncombed blonde hair, not a fan of Boris I suppose. I'm still giggling about Radio 4's "spoonerism". He managed a standing ovation though no cheers at the end of the first day of what was a rally rather than a conference. So obviously stage managed and not the greatest of events to watch. Perhaps later in the week it'll "liven up" and a there will be a few more attendees.
Did someone mention Brexit? Nah not yet, that's still to come!
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