Richard Fuller’s pre-conference remarks echo others who worry candidates have edged right to combat Reform

The new Conservative leader must make sure the party focuses on its traditional base rather than just chasing voters who defected to the likes of Reform, its chair has said before the Tories’ first conference since their crushing election defeat.

Richard Fuller, the North Bedfordshire MP, who has served as interim chair since the election, will announce details of a review of the loss at the gathering in Birmingham, as well as structural changes to start modernising the party.