Hancock’s holding line sums up the Tory party’s policy problem

So much of this Conservative conference has felt like a holding line from the party leadership, as though having the event in Birmingham has been inconvenient timing and something to survive, rather than enjoy. Mind you, this is the theme of Theresa May’s leadership generally: not only has the Prime Minister survived against the odds over the past year and a half, she has also given the impression that this survival is more important than, say, making decisions on Britain’s future trading relationship with the EU, or pushing ahead with domestic reform.

If you want a domestic example of how cautious the Tories are being at this conference, you need look no further than Matt Hancock’s speech in the hall today. The Health Secretary is an ebullient type, unable to contain his enthusiasm about new technology that he believes can help the health service, and clearly delighted to have such a high-profile Cabinet job.