The Guardian view on the Tory conference: history’s revenge on Conservatism | Editorial

<p>Speeches from the conference floor reveal a party out of ideas. Its leadership team is mistaking slogans for policy and nostalgia for purpose</p><p>The opening speeches by the Tory leader, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/oct/05/badenoch-says-tories-could-quit-more-treaties-to-increase-deportations">Kemi Badenoch</a>, and her shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, to their party conference were loud with conviction but thin on substance. They felt like ritual incantations in a world turned upside down. Mr Stride’s pitch – £47bn of <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gzv9j78dyo.amp">savings</a> via welfare cuts and business rebates – is an empty promise given the party’s standing in the opinion polls. But it is a tenet of modern-day Toryism to preach austerity to the poor and indulgence to the wealthy.</p><p>The Tory party faces an existential moment. If an election were held tomorrow, some polls have the Conservatives in <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ad96b6d2-e834-49c1-9032-6025b6d53a73">fourth place</a> in terms of seats – having never finished lower than second in a general election since the 1830s. Their voters are turning away to support Reform UK or just not turning out. But why have we got here? A backward glance offers an explanation.</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20in