Emma Bishton’s Conference Diary
– Emma was Labour’s parliamentary candidate for South Suffolk at the general election and a long-time party activist and campaigner in the constituency.
Women’s Conference, Saturday, September 21
Well, women’s conference did not disappoint! There’s nothing like a hall full of Labour women speaking about what they have achieved and why, and the challenges we must next address, for raising the energy and commitment needed to continue campaigning for change. And, as my fellow South Suffolk women’s conference delegate, Melissa Hemmens, put it: “for renewing faith in humanity”.
Women’s conference is inclusive and encouraging, and also has an eye not just to the injustices and challenges faced by women in the UK but the world over. There was no clearer reminder of that than two of the motions debated this morning – on violence against women and girls and the terrible situation facing women and girls in Afghanistan. But Women’s conference is also a helpful reminder of what has been and can be achieved when we pool our strength. Whether that’s the Equalities Act put in place by the last Labour government, our new Labour government putting domestic violence specialists in every 999 control room, or care workers (still mostly women) now being paid the real living wage under Labour in Wales.
Yvette Cooper reminded us when she spoke this morning, that It’s 100 years since Margaret Bondfield was elected as Labour’s first female MP. And that her legacy lives on through the generations of women that have championed a warmer and more collaborative approach to politics and have supported women to use their skills and lived experience to put themselves forward to make a difference to their communities.
Last year when I attended women’s conference, Rachel Reeves spoke of her desire to talk to us this year as the UK’s first female chancellor of the exchequer. This year she closed women’s conference as the U.K.’s first female chancellor – a post that has been held by men for 800 years! She and the other speakers today – including the fabulous Tracy Brabin – reminded us that there are now more Labour women MPs in parliament than there are Tory MPs altogether!
There was time, after Women’s conference, to have a look around some of the stalls set up promoting a huge range of campaigns and organisations. Having received a lot of emails during the election campaign about biodiversity and nature recovery I was really interested to have a discussion with the team from Rewilding Britain. I’m hoping we can invite them to Suffolk!
This evening we did let the men join in! Annual Conference kicked off with the Eastern Region reception, an opportunity to meet some of the 27 – yes 27! – Labour MPs elected in July, and other CLP delegates from across the region.
The speeches and debates start early tomorrow morning. Right now the rain has stopped and it’s time to eat!