Liam Herbert, a director in the PR and parliamentary affairs agency JBP, rates the performances of the three main party leaders (and Boris) during conference season.
And so with the applause and adulation of the final standing ovation still ringing in our ear that’s it for another year.
As the Conservatives pack up and head home the Party Conference Season draws to a close and it gives us time to sit back and reflect on what we heard, what we learned and what was new from the three main parties.
So, what did we make of Nick, Ed and Dave? After warm ups and stand ups the headline acts for Lib Dems, Labour and Conservatives took to the main stage. Conference speeches have to hit home in two respects – you are playing to the home team in the room but also have to resonate with the public, pundits and media. No mean feat and following the warm up acts of “the other Ed” (Balls) who spent his time essentially Tory baiting; Vince Cable appearing as if he had been sedated and Boris barnstorming Birmingham as only he can – we will never forget the cry of “Boris Boris” as he arrived at New Street station.
First up on the conference platform were the Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dems in Brighton are almost a distant memory – but this was a key performance for Nick Clegg and a speech that had been primed well in advance with a well-timed if much spoofed apology to his party and the electorate.
Of all the leaders Nick Clegg probably had the hardest task – as in coalition he has taken the flak for a lot of the government’s decisions and has both disgruntled colleagues and party members to deal with.
Despite this, Nick Clegg gave by far the shortest speech of the three leaders – clocking in at just over 35 minutes. He proclaimed that “these are difficult times. People are really struggling. Fear and worry are a fact of life for too many”. He was describing the state of the country but many would suggest he rather accurately described the feeling of Lib Dem MPs.
Meanwhile, Ed Miliband adopted the rather brave strategy of mimicking one of David Cameron’s more notable qualities – striding around the stage delivering a speech without notes for over an hour. He confessed afterward that his “notes” in rehearsal ran to some 6,000 words and he delivered 7,200 on stage (I know, who was counting). However, it seemed to pay off – if recent opinion polls are anything to go by – and we now await the development of “One Nation Labour” with interest.
David Cameron had the advantage of hearing what his opponents had to say – hence a few barbed comments to Ed Miliband. Delivering his leader speech to the Tory faithful and speaking from a lectern, for just about an hour, he delivered a speech that was, like Miliband’s, rather light on policy content. Instead he tried to set out his core beliefs by invoking the values he had learnt from his father. Given that this was his 7th speech as Conservative leader it is rather telling that he still feels it necessary to explain what he is all about.
So – winners and losers? Well Boris was on message (for once) and wowed the crowd, but at the end of the day it was all about the leaders.
On balance I guess that Ed Miliband came out ahead – his presentation style played well in the Hall and on TV – he demonstrated a warmth and engagement that has so far being lacking and he clearly made an impact as David Cameron responded directly in his speech – which after Boris was much more low key. Although he couldn’t resist a patronising lecture to Ed on how the tax system works, David Cameron now realises that Miliband is in the game
Did we learn anything new? Well once again many are asking what the purpose of the Party Conference is these days – lots of Tory MPs were absent in Brimingham; the days of bashing out policy for Labour are a very distant memory, even the Liberal Democrats have adopted a stronger approach to stage management.
Still, by the time the party conference season comes around again, there will be only be 18 months until the next General Election. So we can expect asl three leaders’ speeches will need to be rather more enlightening in 2013 as they start to set out the stall to the electorate.
Until then, its back to Westminster and business as usual.