Tory conference gossip and secrets from day 1 of the annual squabble fest

Every day, the Mirror Politics squad and our service of consenting spies volition bring you the astir vicious infighting, scandalous gossip and intimately guarded secrets

We've each gone to Conservative Party league truthful you don't person to. You're welcome.

Given the enactment is successful the grip of a lengthy and tedious enactment contest, you mightiness beryllium forgiven for reasoning Toryfest 2024 mightiness beryllium a somewhat inconsequential event. There's nary leader, nary policies - and if we're honorable not that galore radical present compared to past year.

But, arsenic always, there's amusive to beryllium had successful the acheronian corners, late-night parties and gin-soaked bars of Conservative Party conference.

Every day, the Mirror Politics squad and our service of consenting spies volition bring you the astir vicious infighting, scandalous gossip and intimately guarded secrets. Stay tuned.

Slow clap for Sunak

Yesterday's antheral Rishi Sunak was greeted with polite applause from a tiny radical of supporters erstwhile helium arrived astatine the league edifice connected Saturday evening. But aft helium got successful the assistance to his room, determination was a 2nd circular of what tin lone beryllium described arsenic “sarcastic” applause from elsewhere successful the edifice lobby.

Unaffordable carousing

You don’t person to beryllium incredibly affluent to travel to Tory conference, but it definite helps. A pint of lager successful a insubstantial cupful from the main league barroom costs an eye-watering £8.20.

And those relaxing successful the barroom aft hours are treated to a 24/7 loop of adverts for companies played connected immense TV screens - including ads for 2 arms manufacturers.

Let Me See That Tom. Baybeee. That Tom T-Tom Tom Tom

Tom Tugendhat’s enactment merchandise is being distributed from basal 22 of the league exhibition. Who’s connected basal 21? The assisted termination foundation Dignity successful Dying.

We couldn’t perchance accidental whether this is simply a deliberate remark connected his chances successful the enactment contest.

If it's XXL, past what the hell?

Rival Robert Jenrick has been giving retired goodie bags to journalists and supporters, which see tubes of Love Hearts, lanyards and faux newsletters with medium-difficulty sudoku puzzles.

They besides incorporate a Jenrick for Leader T-shirt successful specified a ample size it could location a unit of lad scouts connected a camping trip. One wag was overheard wondering whether Mr Jenrick had enactment successful the bid for the shirts “before helium started connected the Ozempic”.

Given Mr Jenrick’s committedness to “bring manufacturing backmost to Britain” - we’re delighted to uncover the T-shirts were made…in Bangladesh.

To headdress it all...

Not satisfied with handing retired bagfuls of stunt merchandise, it’s understood Mr Jenrick volition beryllium distributing shot caps astatine his “rebel” fringe code tomorrow.

Why? “Because you can’t trim migration without a cap”.

Conference highlights connected Monday

2pm - Tom Tugendhat and Kemi Badenoch volition acceptable retired their stall for the enactment successful 1 to 1 interviews connected the main stage