Last week, Histama told the Labour Conference in Liverpool to embrace the Swagger of Oasis.

We're now an hour down the M62 in Manchester, birthplace of the Kalagabundas, but Swagger is in short supply at the Conservative Conference.

I'm Hannah White, and this is Inside Briefing the podcast from the Institute for Government,

which this week is being recorded in the IFG's events room deep in Manchester Conference Centre.

So, is Kemi Badenock answering her critics? Do new conservative policies stack up? And does any of this really make any

difference at all? I'm joined by IFG Deputy Chief Economist, Tom Pope, who has a pleasure,

given he lives in Manchester, of going home to his own bed every night. How's that? Are you

missing the hotel? Vibe, Tom. I think this week is definitely one where living in Manchester is a true perk. I'm very

pro party commentaries is moving back to Brighton, but I'm not sure I'm going to get my wish.

Alex Thomas is IFG programme director. Unfortunately, not going home to your own bed every night.

No, very much in the ibis in Manchester. But, you know, it's part of the experience, isn't it?

And I am delighted that we're joined by Patrick English, who is Director of Political Analytics at you gov. Hi, Patrick. Hello, how you doing? You must have clocked up a few conference miles over the years. Certainly have. I'm starting to not be able to count them on two hands now, and you know you've been in the game a little bit too long when that's happening, I think. Indeed. Well, the sounds you might be able to hear in the background is our IFG room being prepared

for our next fringe event, but we'll get going, so we can get this recorded before that starts.

We recorded most of this podcast before Kimmy Badenock's speech on Wednesday, but now we've got

the opportunity to hear some reflections from Alex Thomas on what was in that speech.

Yes, it's now early on Wednesday afternoon, and I followed Kemi Badernock's speech on the train back from Manchester.

Tom was also following from his place in Manchester, and it's particularly useful that he's dialed in and we've been able to reconvene,

given there was a big tax surprise in the speech.

A bit of a rabbit from the hat moment there when Kemi Badernock promised to abolish stamp duty.

Tom, were there any clues this was in the works?

I don't think there were, particularly given that lots of the conference to this point,

so much of the emphasis had been on fiscal responsibility, Mel Stride saying, we are the only

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