How To Win An Election How To Prevent Party Conference Chaos
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Sep 25, 2025 Danny Finkelstein, a Times columnist and Conservative commentator, joins the panel to unravel the chaos of party conferences. They dissect the impact of leadership challenges and the art of speechwriting, including when humor can help. The discussion turns to Andy Burnham’s 'Manchesterism,' its economic implications, and strategies for Keir Starmer in response to Burnham's maneuvers. The team shares memorable conference moments that shifted political tides and highlights the need for safer environments at these events.
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Bet Probabilistically On Election Timing
- Predict elections probabilistically and expect uncertainty about exact timing.
- Consider going late unless your majority collapses or you can gain clear advantage by going early.
Conferences Shift Party Mood
- Conferences affect party mood and messaging even if national media coverage has shrunk.
- A bad conference performance can still trickle through to MPs, members and the electorate.
Use Conference Votes To Clarify Policy
- Use conference mechanisms to test and formalise policy where your party allows it.
- Expect policy votes to influence party position but not guarantee government action if you're not in power.