CONFERENCE SPECIAL
CAMERON KNEADS THE CONSERVATIVES INTO SHAPE
STORY OF THE DAY
WE HEAR THAT… Absent friends: a third of the Parliamentary Conservative Party did not attend Conference this year. Excuses ranged from cost to being on their honeymoon. In a devolved nations debate, Welsh MP Alun Cairns introduced Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers MP as the Secretary of State for Scotland. Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow: International Development Secretary Justine Greening MP chillaxed last night ahead of the Prime Minister’s speech by attending the Fleetwood Mac concert in the Manchester Arena.
“Profit is not a dirty word, says Cameron”. Today the Guardian, Times, and Telegraph all lead with the same headline as the Prime Minister gives an unashamedly probusiness closing speech to Conference, promising to turn the UK into a “land of opportunity”. An improving economy has undoubtedly made Conference easier for the Conservative leadership. Similar to the Lib Dems, there has been less tension between the leadership and activists, and far less personality politics. Whether it was intentional or just a poor performance, Boris’s speech yesterday definitely succeeded in not overshadowing Cameron. However, the ongoing spat between the Daily Mail and Ed Miliband has meant the Conservatives have had to battle for media attention. But ahead of Cameron’s speech the mood among MPs is quietly optimistic whilst being realistic. The Party will hope that targeting a budget surplus by 2020 can provide the rationale to voters to return a Conservative majority in 2015. The challenge will be selling it outside the business community and Westminster bubble.
TODAY’S KEY EVENT As mentioned above, the Prime Minister’s closing speech to Conference at around 11am is today’s headline event. Aiming to regain the front foot following Ed Miliband’s populist energy price freeze, Cameron challenged the Labour leader’s interventionist policy. He argued that while responsible business should be encouraged, particularly among the 'Big Six', there is "no quick fix".
Daily Bulletin 2013
TWEET OF THE DAY @David_Cameron1 I enjoyed my morning media round, it covered all sorts of subjects including talking to @NickFerrariLBC on @lbc973 about making bread!
A GOOD DAY FOR...
Jeremy Hunt MP. The Health Secretary's announcement of a pilot scheme to extend GP opening hours was always going to be popular, but it was an intelligent move to give the Care Quality Commission statutory independence. Placing the CQC outside Government intervention will mount pressure on Labour for allegedly “leaning on” the regulator to cover up poor care.
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A BAD DAY FOR…
The Daily Mail. The newspaper is suffering the frosty glare of the political class after it refused to apologise for an article about Ed Miliband's father headlined “The Man Who Hated Britain”. Instead, the Mail printed two strongly-worded leaders in response, prompting the Prime Minister to back Miliband’s stance. With Lord Leveson’s recommendations on press regulation before the Privy Council on Wednesday, the Daily Mail is in a tricky situation.
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