Tories gather for conference (From Borehamwood Times)

Tories gather for conference

7:06am Saturday 27th September 2008

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Tories will start gathering in Birmingham for their annual party conference, buoyed by their continuing opinion poll lead over Labour.

Despite some signs of a "Brown bounce" following Labour's conference last week in Manchester, the Conservatives still enjoy a significant advantage over Gordon Brown's party.

In an eve of conference interview, Tory leader David Cameron promised to present "a strong, clear, united Conservative party that is an alternative to a Government that's failed".

Activists will be far more upbeat than they were a year ago when it was the Conservatives who went into their conference trailing in the polls amid questions over Mr Cameron's leadership and judgment.

As it was, the week saw a remarkable reversal in fortunes with the Tories winning acclaim for a keynote speech by Mr Cameron delivered without a script and a promise to lift thousands of families out of inheritance tax.

In contrast, after weeks of speculation that Mr Brown could capitalise on his popularity since succeeding Tony Blair by calling a snap election, a deflated Prime Minister announced that he would not be going to the country after all. Since then, little has gone right for Labour which has suffered a catastrophic run of local council and by-election defeats as the Government's popularity has slumped.

But while the Tories have benefited from the public disillusionment with Labour, they will be keen to use this week to build up positive support for the party and Mr Cameron's leadership.

Despite their lead in the polls, there are signs that Mr Cameron - branded a "novice" by Mr Brown in his conference speech - is still seen by voters as something of a political lightweight.

A poll on Friday showed that Mr Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling were more trusted to steer the economy through the current downturn than Mr Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne.

The Tories will try to address the issue the directly with a special session on the opening day on Sunday led by Mr Osborne and shadow foreign secretary William Hague looking at how the economic crisis is affecting homeowners, businesses and the cost of living.

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