Philip Hammond: Britain can do better than a blank sheet of paper or the Lib Dems

Philip Hammond’s speech to the Conservative conference was accompanied by the set of circumstances that most ministers have bad dreams about after eating too much cheese. First he was interrupted by two men in military clothing, shouting about defence cuts and fusiliers. ‘I’ll come and talk to you later, let me finish my speech,’ the Defence Secretary said, hopefully. The man didn’t stop, and was escorted from the floor, followed by a cloud of journalists scribbling away and enthusiastic photographers.

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Then the giant screens behind Hammond that were beaming two massive shots of his head out across the Manchester Central hall went dead.