Tories Fight Back: Mel Stride on Business Rates, ECHR, and Economic Credibility

Conservative Conference Vibe

• 📉 The conference atmosphere is described as lackluster, with halls half-filled, reflecting the party's current opposition status and the impact of the 'reform bounce'.
• 📌 Off-record, Tories acknowledge their difficult position, with some expressing relief that more awkward members have left for Reform.

Mel Stride's Policy Announcements

• 🏠 A first jobs bonus is proposed, where the first £5,000 of National Insurance contributions would go into a savings account for a home deposit, targeting younger generations.
• 🏢 Business rates will be scrapped for 250,000 pubs, restaurants, and small businesses, costing £4 billion, to support high streets and local communities.
• 💰 International development aid will be cut to 0.1% of GDP, saving £3 billion, to strengthen the domestic economy and manage national debt.

Stance on the ECHR and Immigration

• 🇪🇺 The Conservative Party plans to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a decision supported by a Lord Wilson study, to gain control over borders.
• 🚫 Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp detailed plans to remove 150,000 illegal immigrants annually, including foreign criminals and those overstaying visas.
• ⚖️ This involves dismantling legal architecture, abolishing judicial review for most immigration matters, and ending immigration legal aid to streamline removals.
• 🌍 Deportations will prioritize return to the country of origin or a safe third country like Rwanda, with visa sanctions used to encourage cooperation.

Leadership and Party Unity

• 🤔 There's discussion about the leadership of Kemi Badenoch, with some suggesting her approach to the ECHR has been a smart way to build consensus.
• 🤝 Despite past divisions, the party is presented as more united on key issues like the ECHR, with current MPs largely supporting the decision.
• 🌟 Katie Lam, a young MP, is highlighted as a potential future leader, emphasizing the need to rebuild trust and focus on the economy.

Economic Credibility and Populism

• 📊 Mel Stride argues that the Conservatives are focused on economic credibility and responsible financial management, contrasting with Reform's less costed proposals.
• ⚠️ The party aims to address the national debt and deficit, acknowledging that serious politics is not always 'sexy' but necessary for long-term stability.
• 🗣️ While addressing populist issues like immigration, the Tories aim to present their policies as well-thought-out and credible, not just slogans.
• 📉 The mini-budget under Liz Truss is acknowledged as a 'colossal mistake', with assurances that the party will not repeat such errors.