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| Tory conference at-a-glance | Tory conference at-a-glance |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| CONFERENCE ROUND-UP | |
| The Conservatives have promised that, if they win power, they will abolish plans for a third runway at Heathrow. Instead, transport spokeswoman Theresa Villiers proposed a £20bn high-speed rail link from London St Pancras to Leeds, via Birmingham and Manchester. Meanwhile, shadow chancellor George Osborne has offered to co-operate with the government over framing new laws to encourage financial stability, following the nationalisation of Bradford & Bingley. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley is to outline a "completely different arrangement" for the NHS. And shadow education secretary Michael Gove is to promise free teacher training for former armed forces personnel. | |
| THE BIG ISSUE | THE BIG ISSUE |
| The economy. This must be the week when the Tories answer any nagging doubts in voters' minds that they lack the experience and the know-how to fix Britain's ailing economy. George Osborne helped to revive the party last year with his inheritance tax pledge. But he arguably faces an even tougher task on Monday in convincing voters that the Tories - the free market evangelists of years gone by - are just the people to rein the excesses of the City and design a new financial system to prevent the current meltdown happening again. Mr Osborne is pinning his hopes on a package of measures unveiled at the weekend to ensure future financial stability. But he will face tough questions about how this will work in practice. | The economy. This must be the week when the Tories answer any nagging doubts in voters' minds that they lack the experience and the know-how to fix Britain's ailing economy. George Osborne helped to revive the party last year with his inheritance tax pledge. But he arguably faces an even tougher task on Monday in convincing voters that the Tories - the free market evangelists of years gone by - are just the people to rein the excesses of the City and design a new financial system to prevent the current meltdown happening again. Mr Osborne is pinning his hopes on a package of measures unveiled at the weekend to ensure future financial stability. But he will face tough questions about how this will work in practice. |
| MONDAY AT CONFERENCE | MONDAY AT CONFERENCE |
| From 0915- Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan, shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers and shadow skills secretary David Willetts discuss strategy for enterprise and business success. | From 0915- Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan, shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers and shadow skills secretary David Willetts discuss strategy for enterprise and business success. |
| From 1100- Shadow chief secretary to the treasury Philip Hammond and shadow housing minister Grant Shapps outline their plan for the economy. | From 1100- Shadow chief secretary to the treasury Philip Hammond and shadow housing minister Grant Shapps outline their plan for the economy. |
| - Shadow chancellor George Osborne delivers a keynote speech. | - Shadow chancellor George Osborne delivers a keynote speech. |
| From 1430- Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley and his team outline their plan for services in the NHS. | From 1430- Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley and his team outline their plan for services in the NHS. |
| From 1630- Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley and shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien outline their plan for care for the elderly. | From 1630- Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley and shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien outline their plan for care for the elderly. |
| THE NON-TRIUMPHALISTS | THE NON-TRIUMPHALISTS |
| They may once have made Triumph motorbikes down the road in Coventry, but the T-word is being avoided like the plague this week in Birmingham. There was a real sense of anticipation, excitement even, as the Tory troops gathered on Sunday. There were so many representatives (never "delegates" at a Tory conference) trying to cram into the hall for William Hague, they had to open up an overspill hall, which promptly spilled over. But the one thing they must avoid - at this time of economic crisis - is Triumphalism. David Cameron said as much in his speech. Poor old Boris Johnson - had to beg for permission to list achievements, promising to do it in a "in a non-Triumphalist way". | They may once have made Triumph motorbikes down the road in Coventry, but the T-word is being avoided like the plague this week in Birmingham. There was a real sense of anticipation, excitement even, as the Tory troops gathered on Sunday. There were so many representatives (never "delegates" at a Tory conference) trying to cram into the hall for William Hague, they had to open up an overspill hall, which promptly spilled over. But the one thing they must avoid - at this time of economic crisis - is Triumphalism. David Cameron said as much in his speech. Poor old Boris Johnson - had to beg for permission to list achievements, promising to do it in a "in a non-Triumphalist way". |
| DIVINE INTERVENTION | DIVINE INTERVENTION |
| Hundreds of Conservatives joined regular worshippers for a special church service at Birmingham Town Hall. But was there a special prayer for embattled Tory chairman Caroline Spelman? She was on stage to open proceedings. At the end, and apparently without warning, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, offered a special prayer for those brave souls standing as political candidates. He pointedly included criticism of the media for its, at times, "excessive and intrusive" scrutiny. | Hundreds of Conservatives joined regular worshippers for a special church service at Birmingham Town Hall. But was there a special prayer for embattled Tory chairman Caroline Spelman? She was on stage to open proceedings. At the end, and apparently without warning, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, offered a special prayer for those brave souls standing as political candidates. He pointedly included criticism of the media for its, at times, "excessive and intrusive" scrutiny. |
| MICROWAVE MEALS | MICROWAVE MEALS |
| Irwin Stelzer, the economist and confidant of Rupert Murdoch, questioned Labour's desire to bring in cooking lessons for primary school pupils. He told a fringe meeting that ministers had said they wanted to avoid creating a generation who ate microwave meals. But, he said, in his experience it was people who worked long, hard hours and got home late who ate microwave meals - so a generation of microwave meal eaters might actually be a good sign for economy. | Irwin Stelzer, the economist and confidant of Rupert Murdoch, questioned Labour's desire to bring in cooking lessons for primary school pupils. He told a fringe meeting that ministers had said they wanted to avoid creating a generation who ate microwave meals. But, he said, in his experience it was people who worked long, hard hours and got home late who ate microwave meals - so a generation of microwave meal eaters might actually be a good sign for economy. |