Welcome to Tory conference 2024. For the next four days, the final quartet of contenders will battle it out, Hunger Games-style, to try and prove to their colleagues that they really stand a chance with the members. To do this, each of the four contenders is projecting an image of competence, confidence and momentum. So what better way to do that than by getting activists to sport some branded merchandise?
Much like a university freshers’ fair, each contender has been given their very own stand to showcase their personality and build a buzz around their campaign. Mr S went along early this morning as each team was setting up and had a quick peak at the branded items that each contender’s team is giving out. Below are the final four…
James Cleverly’s stand
As the name suggests, Cleverly’s stand certainly has some clever wordplay. There are power packs brandishing the slogan ‘Power to our members’ and wallets with ‘Lower taxes’ written on. Water bottles say that there are ‘No leaks here’ while the coffee cups say ‘Caffeinate with Cleverly.’
Tom Tugendhat’s stand
The stand with the most merch, it seems Team Tugendhat has had an absolute whale of a time thinking up things to give out to members. There are ‘tugentarts’, ‘tugentote bags’ and even ‘tugentan’ for any activists feeling a bit pale in the Birmingham rain. But Mr S enjoyed the water bottles the most: ‘For Keir’s tears’, it says ‘When Tom is elected leader.’
Kemi Badenoch’s stand
This stand was still setting up when Mr S paid them a visit. But Mr S enjoyed the ‘principled peppermints’ on offer to delegates based on six principles on which Badenoch is campaigning such as ‘equality under the law’ and ‘personal responsibility’. There are even apples too: talk of healthy goodness!
Robert Jenrick’s stand
This was the stand with perhaps the most consistent colour theme. Lots of blue and lots of pictures of Jenrick staring out from leaflets, photos and even his very own newspaper the Jenrick Post. Steerpike hears that two further editions are planned for the next few days of conference. Lucky delegates!
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