The Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester has laid bare a party tearing itself apart at the seams, with deep internal divisions and the looming threat from Reform UK creating what one despairing MP described as "a party eating itself."
A Gathering Overshadowed by Defeat
As Tory members gathered in Manchester Central, the atmosphere was anything but celebratory. The party faces what appears to be an inevitable electoral massacre, with Labour maintaining a commanding 17-point lead in the polls. This grim reality hung over the conference like a dark cloud, with many attendees openly acknowledging their likely fate.
The Reform UK Threat Looms Large
Perhaps most alarming for Conservative strategists is the growing challenge from their right flank. Reform UK, positioning itself as the true standard-bearer of conservative values, is poised to siphon off crucial votes that could decimate Tory majorities across the country.
One senior Conservative figure admitted privately: "They're going to take enough votes from us to guarantee Labour wins in dozens of seats. We're watching our own coalition collapse in real time."
Manchester Venue Becomes Stage for Internal Warfare
The Manchester conference centre, typically a venue for party unity, instead hosted what resembled a civil war. Different factions within the party held competing events, with each group pushing their own vision for the party's future direction.
Key divisions emerged around:
- Immigration policy and the Rwanda scheme
- Economic strategy and tax cuts
- Environmental commitments and net zero targets
- The party's overall direction and leadership
A Party "Eating Itself"
The most damning assessment came from within Tory ranks itself. One MP, speaking anonymously, captured the mood perfectly: "This isn't a party conference; it's a party eating itself. We're so busy fighting each other that we've forgotten there's an actual election coming."
Another added: "The Manchester gathering should have been about presenting a united front. Instead, it's become a public display of our internal meltdown."
What Comes After Manchester?
As the Manchester conference concludes, the Conservative Party faces its greatest challenge in decades. With the Reform UK threat growing, internal unity shattered, and Labour's lead looking increasingly unassailable, many are wondering whether this Manchester gathering might be the last Conservative conference before a prolonged period in opposition.
The divisions on display in Manchester suggest that even if the Tories do survive the next election, the real battle for the soul of the party is only just beginning.
