Britain's Conservatives reflect on election loss amid battle for leadership

At the British Conservatives' first annual gathering out of power in 15 years, activists put on a brave face as the party adjusts to life in opposition and grapples over its future.

“It feels to me like a mass therapy session,” party member Peter Young, 60, told AFP of the four-day gathering in Birmingham, central England.

“We’re all getting together and saying, ‘Mea culpa’. It’s not uplifting,” he said, reflecting on the Tories' historic defeat to Labour in July’s general election.

The Conservatives were dumped out of power after 14 years and reduced to just 121 seats in the 650-seat Parliament – the smallest number in their history.

The conference is the Tories' first in opposition since 2009 – and it shows.

Crowds feel on the low side and gone are the masses of lobbyists and corporations who now have more to gain from attending Labour’s version.

“This time, it’s members talking to each other, networking, getting to know each other, supporting each other, discussing policy, discussing ideas, the future of the party,” said Tory member Laura Weldon, 39.

“And that’s really important and really nice. It’s not depressing at all. It’s actually quite a good laugh.”

Injecting life into the event, which ends on Oct 2, is a four-way battle over who will succeed former prime minister Rishi Sunak as party leader.