Sally-Ann Hart: Conference couldn’t have come at a better time for the Conservatives. We must make the most of it

Sally-Ann Hart is the former MP for Hastings and Rye and a former Rother district councillor. 

Conference season has come at an opportune time for the Conservatives. Sir Keir Starmer is under severe pressure largely due to his lack of integrity, judgement and ability to govern. In addition, Angela Rayner’s resignation for not paying her taxes and Lord Mandelson’s sacking have knocked Labour off message when they really need the conference season to project stability, unity and serious government.

It has taken less than two weeks of the new political season for the deep rot in Labour to surface.

Two weeks ago, Rayner resigned, knowing she would be sacked if she did not. Parliament’s ethics adviser found that she had failed to meet the highest standards of conduct, having underpaid stamp duty by £40,000 on her second home. He did not even touch upon the fact that she used her disabled son to get her out of a political hole.

Rayner was always ready to aggressively point the finger at the Conservatives, all of whom remember her calling a Conservative MP “scum” in the Commons Chamber and the vitriol this generated against many Conservative MPs, me included. I do not care how many homes she has – I am a Conservative so believe and support aspiration – but boy, what a hypocrite she is.

Last week, Sir Keir was forced to sack his hand-picked ambassador to Washington. Lord Mandelson really is the Prince of Darkness, and his groupie-like relationship with a sex offender and paedophile, even defending him after his conviction, is very disturbing.

As usual, Sir Keir had ‘full confidence’ in Mandelson before he did a humiliating u-turn once the evidence became undeniable. I find it very difficult to get my head around the fact that this man led our prosecution service. His judgment and integrity, as well as the vetting process at the heart of government, are under serious question.

Two senior figures gone in as many weeks. Rayner’s lies and Mandelson’s disgrace show a typical, rotting socialist government, guilty of double standards.

The lies, nepotism and dishonourable behaviour are not unexpected, because Labour is a party that stands for nothing. However, the extent of their lies and behaviour, including taking the British public for fools, are far worse than I could ever imagine. They have no idea how to lead. They gaslit the British public during the election, promising anything and everything to get their hands on power.

They preach one way and act in another. They tell people to tighten their belts, while building up their own property portfolios. They promise integrity, then descend into backroom deals and factional infighting. Clearly, Labour does not love or understand the British people at all.

Conference season is approaching. Labour should be showcasing unity, competence and delivery. Instead, Starmer is weak. His deputy has gone, his closest adviser is disgraced and his promise of higher standards in political life in utter tatters. His party is distracted by its own crises when it should be gripping the baleful state of the nation – one which they have inflicted upon us.

Conservatives cannot sit back and watch Labour unravel. Conference season is our opportunity. It gives us the chance to highlight Labour’s hypocrisy, sharpen the contrast and show the country that we, not Labour (or Reform), are serious about integrity, competence and have a plan for the UK. If we are serious about rebuilding trust, we must show the country that we do believe in something and that we have the principles, the backbone, and the track record to deliver.

We need to get back to basics and tackle crime, restore order, fix public services, and stop waste. We need to give young people a reason to vote for us and be the party of aspiration again by making home ownership a reality for young people. We need to prove our support for small businesses, and back families to thrive.

People want competence and security, not lectures, so we must show conviction, not calculation, and stand up loud and clear for what we believe in – unapologetic Conservative values of freedom, responsibility, aspiration and opportunity, rather than whatever focus groups tell us.

Labour’s mask has slipped. The public can already see the hypocrisy, the chaos, the arrogance and lack of conviction. Conservatives must seize this moment to prove we are not just an opposition-in-waiting, but a government-in-exile: ready, principled, disciplined, and determined to serve.