Season 2017 Conservative Party Conference You would be forgiven for forgetting that the Conservatives If you could be forgiven for forgetting that the Conservatives just won the largest share of the vote since 1983. ‘Flat’ was won the election, you could also be forgiven for forgetting the adjective of the day in . June’s general that Labour lost it. This was Jeremy Corbyn’s moment and election shook the Conservatives and many of their as his supporters revelled in their pseudo-victory the longstanding beliefs. Many a delegate was making the case moderate wing was noticeably silent. The question for for the need to defend capitalism, in a way not seen or heard moderates now is what to do next; accept their party’s shift for decades. left or bide their time. For now they have chosen the latter, but behind the jubilation there are tensions. There was surprisingly little talk of the divisive Brexit issue as attention turned to reinvigorating their domestic agenda. The party remains bitterly divided over issues like Brexit, There was a feeling among attendees that housing was the Trident and energy policy and, the question now is can the most important domestic issue and Theresa May’s *cough* Corbyn bubble last long enough to take him into Downing mishap laden speech signalled a significant break away from Street or will it burst before the next election? the Thatcherite belief in homeownership towards more pragmatic affordable rental options.

Liberal Democrat Party Conference Conference Lib Dem activists gathered in sunny Bournemouth remarkably united in purpose, despite the party’s 7.4% of the While no SNP conference would be complete without some vote in June and Tim Farron’s subsequent resignation. The discussion of an independent Scotland, Sturgeon dedicated unifying cause was of course Brexit, with the set piece of the only half a dozen lines in her closing conference address to the topic, while there was visible frustration from some conference the party’s pledge to hold another European referendum – as they put it, the first on the facts. The party senior campaigners and delegates at the focus on other senses the argument on Europe is moving towards it, and issues, particularly Brexit. This dissonance was interpreted new leader Vince Cable signalled the party was, for the first by some observers at as an indicator that the SNP time in two years, ready to serve in Government. The first leadership were wounded by the 2017 result. task is to shift the party’s poll numbers, which are still stubbornly hovering in the single digits. After 10 years in Government in Holyrood, with education standards falling and transport networks failing, the SNP leadership feels exposed to the messaging that they should "focus on the day job“. John Swinney's announcements of a £20,000 grant for retraining teachers and a state-owned energy supplier indicate a back-to-basics approach for the SNP.