Liz Truss’s ‘growth’ rally upstages Jeremy Hunt

It says something about the standing of the current Tory leadership that, away from the party’s half-empty conference hall, some 250 Conservatives packed into a room to attend the ‘Great British Growth Rally’. Headlined by Liz Truss, the former PM was joined on stage by three former cabinet members: Ranil Jayawardena, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Priti Patel.

The reception was a marked contrast with the gloom that many activists in Manchester say they are currently feeling. Jeremy Hunt’s speech later this afternoon is unlikely to garner similar cheers.

The ‘fab four’ delivered speeches along familiar themes: the state is too big, Brits are too taxed, there’s too much borrowing and growth is too low. Rather than dwell on the events of a year ago – when the mini-Budget derailed this very event – all four preferred to discuss policy in broad terms.