Conservative Party conference attendees shrugged off a few sore heads on Monday morning to debate their future
Leadership contender Kemi Badenoch had a glint in her eye as she tried to put James Cleverly back in his box after he addressed the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesAs with much else, when it comes to crowds at political party conferences, it is the quality and not the quantity that matters. Attendance at this year’s Conservative Party gathering in Birmingham is somewhat diminished at fewer than 10,000 souls. But what souls they are.
In the meantime, party members – the ultras who were not put off coming to Birmingham by the Tories’ historic election defeat in July – on Monday milled around the sprawling venue, where the mood was surprisingly jaunty for a party that had so recently been demolished by Labour.The night before, elite members of the party and a gaggle of media hangers-on had drenched themselves in torrential quantities of champagne on the 25th floor of the Cube tower, on the edge of Birmingham city centre.
Each was given just 60 seconds to address the crowd. Badenoch, who had endured a torrid day after receiving criticism for earlier comments over maternity pay, was trying hard to not let it get her down. After Cleverly had addressed the room to say why he felt he was the best candidate, Badenoch had a glint in her eye as she tried to put him back in his box.
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