Tory grassroots plot to ‘take control’

Insurrection was in the air in Bournemouth this weekend as MPs and activists descended on the seaside town for a Tory grassroots jamboree. ‘Take control’ was the aim of the Conservative Democratic Organisation’s inaugural meeet, with 250-odd diehards defying the ‘communist barricades’ of the rail strikes to pitch up at the Bournemouth International Conference.

The venue was the scene of Margaret Thatcher’s final conference and the long shadow of the Iron Lady looms large over her greying party today. Most attendees were middle-aged with fond memories of the Thatcherite heyday: of party conferences by the seaside, Mrs T in her pomp, three election triumphs and nights out celebrating in Blackpool and Brighton. This then, was an attempt to recreate all that: a jolly day out by the beach while venting passions incurred by slights both old and new.

Dressed in resplendent blue, the opera singer turned backbencher Andrea Jenkyns got things off to a patriotic start, delivering a rousing operation rendition of ‘God Save the King’.