<Embargoed until 14.00, 5 October 2025>
Today, Stewart Harper will open the Conservative Party Conference as President of the National Convention and Conference Chairman. He will say as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen
Welcome to Manchester.
Welcome to the Conservative Party Conference.
We meet just a few days on from an horrific terrorist attack on the Jewish community in this city, on the most solemn day in the Hebrew calendar.
We stand united with the congregation of the Heaton Park Synagogue, as we condemn this vile and heinous crime.
We stand in solidarity with those who suffer and mourn.
And we commend those who put themselves in harm’s way to prevent an even greater tragedy.
Terrorism can never be allowed to win.
50 years ago: our country was in turmoil. Having lost a General Election the year before, the Conservatives had been replaced by a socialist agenda of managed decline.
By a government that didn’t believe in Britain or the British people
That put this country at the mercy of their union paymasters, at the expense of the economy and of prosperity.
By a government who came to power offering steady leadership and competence, soon exposed for being out of steam and out of control.
Does that sound familiar?
50 years before that, exactly 100 years ago next week, the birth was recorded in Grantham, Lincolnshire of a Margaret Roberts.
And in 1975 that woman became our Party Leader.
She transformed our Party.
She went on to transform our country.
She took Britain from being a country of decline, to one of prosperity
So, Conference, this week, we celebrate the life of Margaret Thatcher.
We remember all that she achieved.
And we refocus ourselves in doing what the Iron Lady did so well - rebuilding our Party and our movement, to rescue Britain again from a shambolic Labour government.
Now, we are Conservatives for a reason. We know what we stand for. And as a united Party, we can make our case to the British people once again. Just like Mrs Thatcher did.
A coherent case based on sound conservative values.
Built around a leader with vision and determination.
Now, I’ve been told in the run up to chairing this year’s conference, how hard it is going to be.
How demotivated people are.
And yes, it is tough to be in opposition – to see the mess that Labour are making of our country. And to see all the things we said would happen come to pass.
But in the bar last night, before Conference even started, there remained a sense of motivation to make things better.
So, Conference - it is up to each and every one of us in Manchester this week to prove the doubters wrong.
THIS is our chance.
This week, we have to recommit to OUR Party.
We have to recommit to driving change.
We have to recommit to positive conservative values, and delivering them through solid conservative policies.
So, as Conference begins I want to pay tribute to Leisa Griffin, Ellie Taylor, Jason Beresford, Craig Conley, Gabrielle Shackleton, and Richard N Jackson for the hard work they have put in to delivering this event. And to the teams from across CCHQ and from Paragon and Blueway who deliver much of the logistics. I also want to thank the Greater Manchester police, ambulance and fire services, G4S who are working hard to keep us safe, and so many teams from across Manchester and beyond who have been working for nearly a year on all that this week entails. To all of you – thank you.
And I also want to pay tribute my predecessor, Michael Winstanley, for his resilience and tenacity in creating a Conference together that I know will offer the most engagement for members in many years.
Conference, the opportunities are there for you.
This is our party, this is our conference.
So from now until Wednesday lunchtime, please don’t waste a single moment. Get engaged in as much as you can. Take the opportunities. Shape our collective future.
Take part in the member debates on this stage on free speech, on housing, and on regulation.
Come and vote on members’ prospective backbench bills.
Visit the exhibition.
Put your questions to shadow ministers.
Join the fringe.
Add your selfie to the Maggie Mosaic.
Try your hand at Labour’s Circus of Despair
Build your networks.
Last year our Conference in Birmingham was fantastic, and this year’s will be too – although, perhaps, with a little less merchandise from leadership contenders!
Put it simply – it’s time to MAKE CONFERENCE GREAT AGAIN.
<PAUSE>
Over the last year, as the members’ representatives on the Party Board, myself and my National Convention colleagues have played our part in reforming the structures and processes of the Party.
Improving our technology.
Looking at ways to enhance our membership offer.
Encouraging real conservative policies.
And driving forward our campaigning activities, and the training available to you.
We certainly don’t accept defeat. And nor should you.
Because the country can’t afford for us to give up.
Just look at the alternatives and you see why it is so important.
A Labour government that sells off British territory, sells out British farmers, bails out its Union paymasters, and checks out of credibility.
Led by a Prime Minister so weak he had to hope his errant deputy resigned, because he lacked the bottle to sack her. Who lost his Transport Secretary after she admitted fraudulent behaviour. Whose Chancellor overstated her experience in her CV. And whose homelessness minister resigned for the way she evicted her tenants.
His father may have been a toolmaker, but Keir Starmer can’t even fix his own cabinet.
The Liberal Democrats are no better.
A party of gimmicks and stunts. Of marching bands, half-truths and of no convictions.
Who take the credit for the work of others locally, and when things get difficult are nowhere to be seen.
And then we have Reform.
Now if anyone in this room is left with any illusions let us be clear.
Reform are NOT a conservative party. They are a big-state, big-spend party.
And they’ll put up your taxes to pay for it.
They offer simple answers to complex problems, and none of them work.
A party that is all about the ego of one man. A man with more front than Clacton-on-Sea. Who doesn’t even remember who bought the house in his constituency he claims to live in.
It’s our job to show them up for the sham that they really are.
So we know we have a job to do.
But, Conference, Kemi Badenoch and her Shadow Cabinet can’t do that alone.
It needs each and every one of us in this room to play our part.
We have to be out on the doorsteps, as often as we can. Not waiting until the elections come around again.
Because the evidence is clear – those that knock on doors win elections.
And we are already winning back seats from Reform, seats that they have only held since May this year. With Jeremy Pert in Staffordshire, and Keith Girling in Nottinghamshire, we are showing that as soon as Reform are tested, they are found wanting.
They don’t know how to govern.
And Britain can’t afford to give them the chance to work it out as they go along.
What we need to do is not rocket science, but it is hard work. And this week’s conference is about recommitting to that hard work and renewal.
We know the heart of our party is its members. And it always will be.
We believe in our Party, so we must fight for it.
We believe in this country, so we have to fight for it.
We believe in the British people, so we will fight for them.
Conference, THIS is our chance.
When we make sure we are part of that renewal, together.
Conference, make the most of the opportunities this week has to offer. Every moment between now and Wednesday lunchtime should be full of spirit.
Then when it is over, we get out, we deliver, and we win again.
We’ve done it before, we’ll do it again — because we believe in Britain
Thank you.
