Soundbite of the day
Priti Patel, the home secretary, on whom irony is not lost as she declared: “Here in Manchester, the Conservative party takes its rightful place as the party of law and order in Britain once again.” Just one week ago, the government was found to have unlawfully prorogued parliament and it continues to try to find ways to get around the Benn Act to stop a no-deal Brexit.
Disagreement of the day
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP was sent home in shame by the Conservatives after a dispute with a member of staff working at the conference when he wanted to take a guest into the international lounge who did not have the correct pass. Security were called, then the police and paramedics, resulting in the centre being put on partial lockdown – all before the watchful eyes of hundreds of journalists working in the room next door. The party issued a statement saying his behaviour had been unacceptable.
Joke of the day
Matt Hancock, the health secretary: “Everybody is in favour of cheap drugs. Prescription! Obviously I mean prescription drugs.”
Star of the day
Boris Johnson’s aide Shelley Williams-Walker, who swiped a disposable coffee cup out of the prime minister’s hand in a valiant effort to prove his green credentials for the cameras. She was picked up on mic saying sternly: “No disposable coffee cups”, to which a crestfallen Johnson uttered “oh, oh, oh” as his drink was swiped from under his nose. Later in the day, the prime minister tweeted: “Got my coffee in the end” alongside a picture of him holding a Get Brexit Done mug.
Wednesday’s highlights
All eyes will be on Johnson’s conference speech at 11.40am. No fringe events are scheduled but the uber-keen can watch a session on strengthening the union with the Northern Ireland, Welsh and Scottish secretaries at 10am. The Guardian Politics Weekly podcast will be released on Wednesday afternoon to help makes sense of it all.
