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The week ahead at the Conservative conference
5 Oct 2009
Today: Boris Johnson is guaranteed to boost morale as he kicks the week off. William Hague is drafted in to soothe fury about the Commons expenses scandal.
Andrew Lansley spells out NHS plans, while welfare guru David Freud cracks down on the workshy. On the fringe, the Taxpayers Alliance holds a rally on Europe: The Ticking Time Bomb.
Tuesday: shadow chancellor George Osborne may spell out what cutting the deficit will mean for tax and services. Kenneth Clarke makes his first platform speech as shadow business secretary. On the fringe, the Tories' new Euro-partners Michal Kaminski and Roberts Zile take part in a debate.
Wednesday: Rising star Michael Gove maps out plans for schools standards, while shadow home secretary Chris Grayling talks tough on law and order. Shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May gives more detail of welfare reform. On the fringe, former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey pleads for laws against music copying.
Thursday: David Cameron's keynote speech brings the conference to a close. He is rumoured to be planning to stand at a lectern rather than pace the floor without notes, adopting a gravitas to match the economic crisis. William Hague and shadow defence secretary Liam Fox are morning warm-up acts.
