Inside Party Conference: Where next for the Tories?

With dire poll ratings and Reform UK in the ascendancy, Kemi Badenoch’s well-received speech at party conference provided a rare moment of optimism for the Conservatives. But where are they headed next? Host Patrick Baker has been behind-the-scenes of Conservative Party conference in Manchester, on a mission to find out. From the control center – A.K.A. the Politico Pub at the heart of the conference arena – Patrick challenges Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly on whether the party’s new hardline immigration policies represent a shift away from moderate, center-ground conservatism. Members of the old guard, ex-cabinet ministers Penny Mordaunt, Grant Shapps and Robert Buckland, share their views on how the Tories can win back a sceptical electorate. POLITICO’s Annabelle Dickson joins Patrick for a conversation about what Conservatives on the ground are saying about the party’s future. Kemi Badenoch pays a visit to the pub, where her pint-pulling skills are put to the test and assessed in real time by POLITICO’s Emilio Casalicchio. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride sits down with Patrick to explain why he’s confident the Tories can win back trust on the economy and how the party can avoid becoming Reform-lite. Patrick tours the conference gatherings to see how the party faithful are warming to the man many believe wants to succeed Kemi Badenoch next May, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick. And Tory grandee Michael Heseltine expresses fears that his party is paying too much attention to Nigel Farage at the expense of the wider electorate.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices