The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition may have very different politics, and they are certainly very different politicians and personalities.
Nevertheless, Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch shared the same problem as they went into their respective party conferences. Major questions were being posed about the future of their leadership.
For the PM, the challenge came from Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who had been critical of the government in the lead up to the Labour conference, whilst Badenock has been plagued by persistent rumours, almost since the day she won the Tory leadership, that the man she defeated – Robert Jenrick – was ‘on manoeuvres’ to displace her.
Starmer’s supporters believe Andy Burnham did their man a favour. As popular as the ‘King of the North’ is, not many in the party appreciated a Labour big beast trying to derail the Liverpool conference, particularly following the loss to the government of Angela Rayner and Peter Mandelson.
The Burnham challenge was also said to have galvanised Starmer, put a bit of fire in his belly, and inspired him to deliver what was widely considered to be the best conference speech he has ever made.
He, and Labour, walked away from Merseyside feeling more confident, more optimistic, and much relieved.
In Manchester the following week, a rather quiet Conservative conference, which felt funereal at times, was where the media had come to bury Kemi, only to walk away talking about her buying herself some time – and perhaps a bit more besides.
In an impressive speech, her decision to go for Labour, highlight the governments difficulties, and focus on the economy – including her eye- catching announcement on the abolition of Stamp Duty – left the Tories in a more buoyant state at the week’s end, and I think identified a much better strategy for taking on Nigel Farage and Reform.
On immigration, Badenoch, Jenrick, or any other Tory, will fail to out-Reform Reform. However, on the economy, not only have the government struggled to turn things around, but Farage’s spending plans are more fanciful than those of Liz Truss – opening the opportunity for Kemi to try and reclaim the Conservatives ‘economic competence’ mantle.
So, as the conference season ends, and MPs head back to parliament, the PM and the LOTO can comfort themselves that they live to fight another day.
But in the febrile environment of modern politics, their next fight may only be just around the corner.
