Big business is back in love with the Tories

It seems a long time ago that David Cameron was attacking big business in the name of political triangulation. Gone are the days of criticising WH Smith for selling too much chocolate or Tesco for ravaging Britain's high streets. Instead, both are proudly exhibiting their wares at Tory party conference this year along with a veritable Who's Who of British industry.

Some never went away. Carpetright, owned by party donor Lord Harris, is incongruously hawking rugs to the passing trade. Yet the addition of a "marketplace" section at this year's conference – ostensibly to sell nick-nacks to the delegates, but pointedly right in front of the stage entrance – has brought a host of fresh faces: Marks & Spencer, Microsoft, Sky, Harvey Nichols, Asda, Austin Reed, Blackwells, General Motors, and French construction group Bouygues. Then there are the pressure groups like the British Venture Capital Association – resplendent in matching T-shirts to demonstrate the youthfulness of the private equity industry. Even the Financial Services Authority – seemingly oblivious to Tory plans to strip it of most of its regulatory powers – has taken a prominent stand by the front door. Sir James Dyson has been enlisted to the cause on stage, delivering a talk on boosting science and manufacturing.

But the real action is on the fringe. In meetings across Manchester this week, corporate money and time is supporting a debate which, it is hoped, will usher in a more enterprise-friendly government. General Electric, BT, Boots, Legal & General, John Lewis, Coca-Cola and BAA are there. So are Vodafone, DTZ, Serco, Standard Chartered, Aviva, Morrisons, T-Mobile, Clifford Chance, EADS, BAE and the tobacco manufacturers. Many will no doubt argue they remain officially neutral on matters of politics; almost none were in Brighton for Labour this year.

Only one group are missing: the bankers – who Boris Johnson described as a "leper colony" in need of love. Tellingly, apart from the odd pressure group like the British Bankers Association, the City has had the good sense to keep its distance this year. Nonethless, Lloyds Banking Group, backed by the taxpayer, still has its logo prominently displayed on the fringe website. I wager the banks will be back next year.