David Cameron has got off to a charmed start as leader of the Conservative party. In the nine months since his election, this open and affable 39-year-old has revitalised the party of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill. Since 1997, the Conservatives have lost threesuccessive general elections after seeking to win votes with brashly rightwing policies. Now Mr Cameron is taking the party back to the moderate centre ground of politics. He has already secured for the Conservatives their clearest poll lead over the Labour party in two decades. As he prepares for his first party conference as leader this weekend, the chance to consolidate his reputation is immense.

Mr Cameron will address the conference in the seaside resort of Bournemouth against the most favourable political backdrop for a Conservative leader in years. Last week, Tony Blair, the charismatic prime minister, made a poignant farewell speech to his party's conference. Next week, Mr Cameron - the Tories' most charismatic leader since Mrs Thatcher - makes his first. For weeks, Labour has been plagued by a bitter feud over whether Gordon Brown, chancellor of the exchequer, should succeed Mr Blair when he steps down next year. Next week, the entire Conservative leadership will unite round their new leader.