MANCHESTER: The UK’s Conservative Party is set to launch its annual conference on Sunday, aiming to rejuvenate its prospects ahead of an anticipated general election next year, where it currently faces the possibility of losing power.
The four-day event, taking place in Manchester, northwest England, marks Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s first conference since assuming leadership in October last year, and it’s expected to be the final one before the upcoming election.
Despite the Conservative Party’s decade-long hold on power since 2010, it now grapples with mounting economic challenges that originated during the leadership of Sunak’s predecessors, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
In contrast, the main opposition party, Labour, which begins its annual conference in Liverpool the following Sunday, has secured substantial leads in the polls, positioning itself for a potential return to governance.
Prime Minister Sunak, who must call an election by January 2025 at the latest, aims to leverage this conference to breathe new life into his party and outline a more populist policy agenda.
In a welcome message to attendees, he stated, “This week offers us a chance to communicate our values to the British people, commit ourselves to our cause, and prepare for the election next year.” Sunak emphasized the high stakes of the impending election, portraying it as a choice between “two different approaches to politics” and pledging to govern “in the long-term interests of the country.”
Key figures at the conference include Party Chairman Greg Hands, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt, and Interior Minister Suella Braverman. Prime Minister Sunak will conclude the conference with a speech on Wednesday.
Aside from the main agenda, various fringe events will feature ministers, prominent party members, activists, and commentators. Notably, former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who had an underwhelming conference as Conservative leader last year due to a controversial mini-budget, will host a “Great British Growth Rally” to promote her tax-slashing agenda.
Amid concerns about record post-WWII tax levels, numerous senior MPs, including Truss, have pledged not to support Finance Minister Hunt’s November mini-budget if it includes any tax rate increases.
Boris Johnson, a high-profile party figure, is notably absent from the published conference agenda. He stepped down as Prime Minister just over a year ago following a series of scandals and later resigned as a Conservative MP in June after being ousted by lawmakers for deliberately misleading them during the “Partygate” scandal.
In recent weeks, Prime Minister Sunak has shifted his strategy to address Britain’s economic challenges, including a cost-of-living crisis and high inflation. With the Conservative Party trailing Labour in the polls, he has announced various policy changes, from climate action and road policies to infrastructure spending.
He also revealed plans to “support drivers” and resist “anti-car measures” amid growing local authority restrictions on vehicle usage for environmental reasons. Additionally, there are reports of plans to cancel a costly high-speed train line between Birmingham and Manchester and potential changes to education and inheritance tax policies.
“I’ve held this position for nearly a year, taking the time to thoroughly understand the situation,” Sunak told The Sun tabloid in an interview published on Saturday, expressing his intent to bring about meaningful changes to the country.”
