The tight security cordon for the Tories’ Spring Conference in Blackpool is already causing one local charity problems. The ring of steel around the Winter Gardens means the His Provision foodbank cannot pick up donated food from M&S.
The party wants its first conference in the North West resort for 15 years to be a metaphor – “illuminating” their Levelling Up agenda. But, sometimes, metaphors write themselves.
“You only need to look three or four streets along from the conference to see the deprivation here,” says Mandy Hudson, 48, His Provision’s director. “The question is – will they see it?”
