This year’s Tory Conference sees the return of members’ debates, an old tradition from years passed. This time a party “heavyweight” like a shadow minister will listen to short speeches followed by comments from the floor on a particular topic, before responding to them. Members selected the topics in the weeks before conference kicked off…

It’s a bit of a stilted affair and the very first debate on migration has achieved the expected results. Less than 20 minutes in a delegate has given a short speech from the floor asking when the party will “rehabilitate Enoch Powell” who gave a “highly Conservative speech” for which he was “smeared and kicked out of the party” to a smattering of applause. Predictably Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Holmes ignored that one when he responded to members’ views. This sort of old row is to be expected when giving a voice to the membership…