Last weekend’s South East Regional Conference in Sussex brought together Conservative colleagues from across the region for a day focused on renewal, rebuilding and the serious work required to prepare our Party for government once again.
Politics rarely pauses. Campaigns, council meetings and the daily pressures of public life often leave little time to step back and reflect on direction and purpose. Conferences like this provide that opportunity. Not to rehearse old arguments, but to strengthen a shared commitment to the task ahead: rebuilding credible foundations so that we can once again steer the country in a hopeful and confident direction.
Under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, that work is rightly focused on substance over slogans. Renewal is not achieved through shortcuts or easy answers. It comes through calm, competent delivery, honest engagement with the public, and a willingness to do the hard work required to earn trust again.
Across the day there was a clear sense of unity around that mission. Conservatives from every part of the South East came together with a shared purpose: to oppose a Labour government already demonstrating the consequences of ideology-driven decision making, rising costs for working families and increasing pressure on businesses and communities.
It was a privilege to help organise the conference as part of an excellent team. Delivering an event of this scale is never the work of one person. From programme development to logistics and speaker coordination, teamwork was essential at every stage. The success of the day reflected the commitment of colleagues who gave significant time and energy behind the scenes to make it happen.
We were fortunate to hear from an outstanding group of speakers whose contributions reinforced the seriousness of the challenges facing the country and the responsibility Conservatives have to meet them.
Claire Coutinho MP set out a clear argument for affordable and reliable energy as the foundation of economic growth and national competitiveness. Mims Davies MP and Dr Ben Spencer MP brought perspectives shaped by ministerial experience and frontline public service, while Clare Hambro and Katie Lam MP spoke compellingly about candidate development, leadership and the future direction of the Party.
Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Conservative mayoral candidate, spoke powerfully about community engagement, public confidence in policing and the importance of visible leadership rooted in local communities - a reminder that effective public service begins with listening, presence and delivery.
For me, one of the most encouraging aspects of the conference was the contribution from colleagues representing different parts of our voluntary Party and professional networks.
Danielle Dunfeld-Prayero spoke eloquently on behalf of Conservatives for Business, making a clear and principled case for backing entrepreneurs and protecting the conditions that allow enterprise to thrive. Lizzie Hacking brought the perspective of the Conservative Rural Forum, highlighting the importance of supporting rural communities and safeguarding the farmers, landscapes and industries that underpin them. Cllr Andrew Kennedy, Kent Area Chairman, offered valuable campaigning insight and practical observations on how we can better support local economies and improve the environment in which businesses operate.
Those contributions reflect something important. Renewal does not come solely from Westminster. It comes from councillors, activists and community leaders who understand first-hand the pressures facing high streets, employers and families across the country.
Events like this also strengthen relationships across associations and regions. In a Party built on voluntary commitment and public service, those connections matter enormously. They allow experience to be shared, ideas to be tested and confidence to grow.
My thanks go to everyone who attended and contributed, and especially to the sponsors, volunteers and organisers whose hard work ensured the conference ran smoothly from start to finish.
There is still much to do. But the determination, professionalism and unity on display in Sussex were a strong reminder that Conservatives across the South East are ready for the work ahead.
Same time next year?
