My report on the 2026 Labour Party National Conference in Liverpool.
I would like to begin this report by thanking the South Suffolk CLP for selecting me as their delegate. It is my first time at Conference and I found it both motivational and very enjoyable. I did not attend any fringe events, other than a breakfast hosted by the NFU, as I spent each day in the main arena where I listened to and voted in the debates. The fringe events were covered by Simon and Emma.
I was somewhat surprised by some of the exhibitors in the exhibition as I would not have anticipated them attending. Nonetheless, it was interesting to talk with them. I have brought home leaflets from many of the exhibitors and will bring these along to the next CLP meeting to share with members.
The theme of the Conference was Hope Again and the entire Conference was focused around this. Speakers included Steve Rotheram, Ed Milliband, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner. The virtue of devolution so that local communities had more control over their future was another theme. Policies announced included: changes to social welfare – offering benefits for both pensioners and children; changes to public transport; and nationalisation of the energy and water companies.
The Norwegian PM, Jonas Støre, gave a warm and stimulating speech – one point he made to Andy Burnham was that “winning an election was fun but getting re-elected was better!”. I think I can safely say that the point was taken, not just by Andy Burnham, but by all of us!
Again and again the changing political landscape that Andy Burnham wishes to bring about following the Conservative government’s long austerity policies, the poisonous rhetoric of the far right, and the challenges presented by the economic and social legacy left to us were referred to throughout the whole conference. This might seem very negative if looking at the bare content of my report but, in fact, the mood from all of the speakers was upbeat and enthusiastic.
Each speaker made it clear that they were ready to meet the challenge they were facing in their respective departments both nationally and for their local communities. The focus on the restoration of public services was very clear and sends a strong message, I believe, that this government does want to restore, not just the level of service that we had pre-Thatcher, but in some areas to exceed that, to better it.
I had been unaware that that there was legislation directly from Thatcher’s years in power which specifically prevented the nationalisation of the water companies. We are all aware, of course, of the damage to our rivers and the coasts from raw sewage being released and lack of improvements to the infrastructure of the water companies despite their massive profits which are used to pay immense dividends and bonuses to the shareholders and directors. The announcement that this legislation will be repealed next year was warmly welcomed by us all when this was announced by Andy Burnham. I was interested to read the next day that the value of the water companies’ shares had dropped.
We were also delighted to hear that local authorities will be empowered to requisition rental properties that have been left empty. The housing crisis is a direct result of Tory policy and is a national disgrace. Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner were both emphatic that they will put in measures that will take 30,000 homeless people off the street by Christmas this year. Referring to the theme of hope, they both made the point that trying to survive on the street is a situation of hopelessness whilst having a home and being able to provide for your family is one where you can have hope for the future – not just for yourself but for your children. Angela emphasised that the Labour movement is about supporting each other, that we can and should make a real difference to people, and that we can and will get things done!
Andy Burnham’s speech was, naturally, the highlight of the conference. The hall was packed – there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. I lost mine as I left it too late to sit where I should but was directed to another vacant seat. (Note for next year’s delegate – make sure you get seated at least 20 -30 minutes before the start of the afternoon session when the PM is making his speech!).
I am going to fess up here – I liked Keir Starmer and I felt that he was unfairly treated when he was forced into resigning. I was not a huge fan of Andy Burnham and had reservations on the way he was propelled into the premiership. His speech, however, was motivating and inspiring. I didn’t count them but I believe there were 11 standing ovations. He was emotional and passionate and it was a million miles away from the usual rhetoric that we hear from so many politicians.
We suffer from the popular view -so often expressed – that all politicians are the same and that our vote makes no difference. This culture of indifference, and promotion of accepting the status quo because we are powerless as individuals to change it, is being addressed here. Andy Bunham has committed to putting electoral reform in the next Labour manifesto. This was the subject of a Contemporary Motion that we and many other CLPs had put forward. We were very disappointed that it did not make it as a composite to be debated but relieved to learn there will be a national Commission on Electoral Reform.
We have been presented with a radical and far reaching set of reforms to our social and economic infrastructure – changes that will bring about a real difference to ordinary working people:
- Nationalisation of railways and buses
- Housing reforms in the rental sector
- Returning, to some extent, to social housing being placed under local government control to resolve the housing crisis
- Reinvestment in industry (the building and shipbuilding industry were mentioned more than once)
- Providing work for young people
- Ending the shameful blight of homelessness
- The re-establishment of SureStart (done away with by the Tories)
- Tougher legislation on dealing with violence against women
- Improved employment rights
- Providing better social care (Andy Burnham is being likened to Nye Bevan with his intention to deliver this)
- A commitment to closer ties with Europe
These reforms were all, obviously, received with enthusiasm. It is intended to be – and is – a huge step away from the tired politics and rhetoric that we have been subjected to for so many years. It will certainly be a challenge for the Tories and, importantly, to Farage and the far-right. It a deliberate step away from accepting the status quo with the depressive belief that the status quo cannot be altered. Andy Burnham’s energy and commitment has given rise to hope that we can change things for the better.
The reforms that are being pursued by this government are, it has to be said, ambitious. It was made clear that we will adhere to fiscal discipline which will underwrite every policy that the government makes and for many of us, enthused as we have been, there is a real concern that we may make a commitment that will be hard to meet, leaving us open to criticism. Nonetheless, this was a speech that was passionate and from the heart and I came away very much impressed with Andy Burnham and his vision for the future of Britain, one which will prove a challenge for the Tories and Reform. It was something of an epiphany for me and one, perhaps, that I would not have experienced had I not been the delegate this year.
I want briefly to talk about some of the exhibitors – several unions were there of course. (They always gave a big cheer in the hall whenever a delegate took the stand to speak and said that they were a proud member of their union.) I visited the Rewilding Britain stand which seeks to restore habitats, reversing habitat devastation and climate change. I am committed to such projects. I offered to take their information cards to a breakfast I was going to with the NFU. Sadly it was clear that the NFU have no interest in this at all, their concerns are purely commercial. Given their influence in the farming industry, it’s a shame that they don’t provide support for rewilding.
Finally, should you wish to know more of what was said by the speakers, many of the speeches are on YouTube and can easily be accessed. I have done so just to hear them again and if I (a registered technophobe) can do it then you can!
That’s all folks
Jane Brooker 6-9-26