Conservative Party Conference 2008

1 December 2008

Read all the latest stories from the 2008 Conference: Tories declare 'war' on low school standards, Relationship advice for newlyweds, University places for apprentices, Support for academies scheme, Decentralisation of prisons, pupil wellbeing distracts from teaching, Boris attacks rap music projects, Ex-servicemen to mentor vulnerable teenagers...

Conservative conference: Tories to 'declare war' on low school standards

Success at an election would mean a "declaration of war" on low school standards, the leader of the Conservative Party has said.

Conservative conference: Give projects time, urges Action for Children chief

New initiatives should be given time to "bed down" before decisions are made about their future, the chief executive of Action for Children (formerly NCH) has said.

Conservative conference: Relationship advice for newlyweds

Newly married couples will be urged to take relationship education courses in a bid to prevent marriages from breaking down, under a Conservative government.

Conservative conference: Tories would accelerate academies programme

A Conservative government would accelerate Labour's academies programme, shadow children's secretary Michael Gove has pledged in a conference speech dominated by schools reform.

Conservative conference: Radical plan to decentralise prison system

The Centre for Social Justice, a harbinger of much Tory social policy, is likely to recommend that local authorities take responsibility for the imprisonment of young offenders in its policy...

Conservative conference: Tories must end 'Broken Britain' slur, says children's commissioner

The children's commissioner for England has issued a plea to the Conservative Party to stop branding the country as "Broken Britain".

Conservative Party Conference: MP criticises child poverty pledge

Shadow families minister Maria Miller has poured scorn on Gordon Brown's decision to enshrine the eradication of child poverty in law, saying it deflects attention from the government's struggle to...

Conservative Party Conference: Performance plan for youth prisons

Youth prisons could be funded by the level of their success in reducing reoffending under a Conservative government, shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert has said.

Conservative Party Conference: Pupil wellbeing distracts from teaching

The shadow minister for schools has launched a scathing attack on government reforms to make schools responsible for pupils' wellbeing.

Conservatives will shut down ContactPoint database

The Conservatives would shut down the £224m ContactPoint database if they got into power, it has been reported.

Conservative conference: 20 million pound university scheme for apprentices unveiled

The Conservatives have said they will pump 20 million pounds a year into funding 1,200 apprentices to go on to university and end the "glass ceiling" in vocational skills.

Conservative conference: Boris attacks rap music projects

London Mayor Boris Johnson has pledged to open 10 City Academies during his mayoral term and taken a swipe at rap music projects in a typically wide-ranging and rumbustious address...