THIN on policy but big on 'boosterism', the Prime Minister gave a barnstorming performance as he closed the 2021 Party Conference in his own unique style, writes Association secretary Judith Wojtowicz.
Defining his 'levelling up' agenda, Boris Johnson told delegates that boosting the left-behind parts of the country would relieve pressure on the 'over-heating' south east of England.
Addressing a packed audience, many of whom had queued from early morning to ensure a good seat, he said the Government was not afraid to adopt a radical new approach after 'decades of drift and dither'. "The country needs and deserves a high wage, high skill and high productivity economy in which everyone can take pride in their work and the quality of their work," he pledged.
Not surprisingly the audience loved it, including delegates from our own constituency. Among them was Nicolle Moyo, elected to Peterborough City Council (Hargate and Hempsted) a few months previously. She had a small taste of his closing speech at an informal drinks reception hosted for Eastern region delegates. "Boris is so full of energy and positivity it is impossible not to be infected with that same enthusiasm," she said. Reflecting on the Conference, she added: "It was wonderful to be around people who share similar thoughts and values, and to have the chance to hear high-profile presentations from Cabinet members we only know from the media; I found the whole experience exhilarating and inspiring."
Oliver Sainsbury, another Young Conservative also elected to Peterborough City Council (Fletton and Stanground) in May, said: "This was my first Conference and while I didn't really know what to expect, I enjoyed it enormously. I attended several discussion panels including one on housing which gave me several ideas to share with fellow city councillors." Also attending was city councillor Andy Coles (Fletton and Woodston) and Darryl Preston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
As well as a keynote speech from Chancellor Rishi Sunak, personal highlights for me included MP Dehanna Davison 'in conversation' with the ever-elegant and eloquent Jacob Rees-Mogg and a more intimate Q&A session with newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. Sadly we missed Carrie Johnson's surprise appearance at the Pride in Politics reception hosted by Stonewall, part of the LGBTQ+ programme, where by all accounts she went down a storm.
As the excitement dies away, and media commentators analyse and dissect the Conference, it will no doubt focus on the Prime Minister's performance, a showman through and through which for some, indicates he is all style and no substance. For myself, I have always thought he plays up to that image and is in fact a shrewd, intelligent visionary who with the right people around him, will deliver on his pledge. After all, he is the one who brought Rishi Sunak out of the shadows... watch this space!
