Rumours were everywhere that this was going to be a poorly attended loss-making venture for the Party. But how did the first day go and what does day two hold in store?

The first thing that you notice is the lack of businesses attending this year’s event. The exhibition hall is a third of what it usually is. The main hotel bar is busy but not packed to the rafters. Even the blue ribbon 1922 party hosted by ConservativeHome felt thin on the ground by comparison to previous years.

But at the same time there are more members attending than ever, all decked out in campaign merch from one of the four leadership campaigns currently parading around the conference centre.

There are tote bags galore. Water bottles from Tom Tugendhat’s campaign which say “A bottle for Labour’s tears when Tom is elected leader” are widespread. And there are more pin badges and lanyards than you can count. In each regional reception, all four candidates will appear surrounded by supporters and their advisors, do a lap of the room, and then disappear on to the next one. With the party currently leaderless, they are the main stars of the show now.

Sunak appeared only twice before evacuating back to London, unheard of for a Party Leader at their own conference. Insiders in the National Convention meeting say that he just read out the introduction page of the fringe guide while members who lined up for over an hour to see Rishi at the Welcome Reception were bitterly disappointed by a lacklustre and apologetic leader.

One man who isn’t shying away from events is Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. In a packed out reception hosted by the CPS, Hunt was keen to hit back at the claims from Labour that he left a country in decline. A man clearly proud of his time in Number 11 and his record in clearing up the economic damage inflicted by Truss’ short tenure. For other Shadow Secretaries of State speaking at events, the reality of opposition still isn’t sinking in. Referring to each other as Secretaries and not shadows. Uncertain if they will still be in their positions in a month’s time. All coming to terms with Labour’s new grip on power.

Today is going to be a tough day for Kemi Badenoch, who yesterday (apparently accidentally) sort of declared war on maternity pay and will be having to clarify her remarks to members and the media, all while accusing Team Jenrick of deliberately encouraging misinterpretation.

On the main stage, Jeremy Hunt is in conversation and will again be hammering home his legacy (or how he sees it). We will also see the return of the Members Debates to Party Conference for the first time in many years where we will no doubt get ideas and speeches which will make interesting viewing and will make some of the suggestions from leadership candidates seem almost sensible… Almost.

(Photo by Rishi Sunak on X)