The Conservatives arrived in Birmingham to a predictably warm welcome.

“TORY SCUM GET OUT OF BRUM,” read one placard.

“CULL THE TORIES, NOT THE BADGERS,” read another.

“THE ONLY CUTS WE NEED ARE TORIES ON THE GUILLOTINE,” proclaimed a third.

“THATCHER NEVER DIED – THAT EVIL WITCH ONLY WENT AND REGENERATED,” declared a fourth, above a picture of Theresa May.

To mark the opening of the Conservative party conference, thousands of Left-wing protesters had gathered to participate in an anti-Tory march through the city centre.

“Let in every refugee/ Throw the Tories in the sea!” chanted one group. “Make the bonfire, make the bonfire, put the Tories on the top,” chanted another. “Put the Blairites in the middle, and we’ll burn the f------ lot!”

A woman strode past clutching yet another placard. It read: “THE NASTY PARTY IS BACK IN TOWN.”

Clearly so .