• Politics
• Visit Article Link

• BBC Politics
• Mon Oct 6 2025

Bleak reality of opposition sets in for Conservatives

Before us, there is a battalion of unemployed chairs.

For the Conservatives right now, the fight even to be listened to is not easy.

The speech by the shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride is one of the big set-piece moments of this conference.

And yet there were countless empty seats in a modestly sized hall.

Next door, in the exhibition centre, there are swathes of empty blue carpet.

Some of the fringe events exploring the party's future have been standing room only. But not in the main hall.

This party, so often and for so long the dominating force in British politics, is a shrivelled version of its usual self.

They have not had a conference like this in more than a quarter of a century.

Granted, they were in opposition this time last year too.

But many attendees then will have signed up before they knew about that ? the general election could have come after it.

Plus, 12 months ago, there was a survivors' elation vibe about their proceedings: a leadership election was underway and members of any political party tend to revel in a battle of ideas and personalities, almost whatever the circumstances.

This year, the bleak reality of opposition has set in.