Change begins: 7 top takeaways from the Labour Party Conference

The Labour Party Conference ended today in Liverpool. Here are seven top takeaways from the party’s first conference in government since 2009.

1. The honeymoon is over
The new government’s honeymoon lasted ‘no longer than a dirty weekend in Margate’ quipped one Labour peer, Ayesha Hazarika, following a sharp slump in the party’s poll rating since the election. An Ipsos poll released during the party conference showed 62% of the public are already dissatisfied with the way the Government is running the country. Visitors braved dark clouds and heavy rain in Liverpool – and despite a historic recent election victory, the mood of many visitors matched.

2. Change begins
In Keir Starmer’s speech, as well as in conversations with ministers across fringe events, the message that this Government will deliver change for Britain, was front and centre. The Government declared that while the NHS and public services are 'broken', "better days are ahead". While such commitments were welcomed across Conference, the key question of when exactly the results of this change will be seen remains.

3. The NHS takes top priority
“We’ll be judged by our results”, said Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary. The NHS is Labour’s top priority – hence quick steps to settle a junior doctors’ pay dispute, a pledge to put 1,000 more GPs in place by Christmas and a ban on junk food ads. Ministers believe that if they can make it easier to see a GP and deliver a cut in hospital waiting lists, the public will notice the difference – earning breathing space for ‘tough decisions’ in economic policy areas elsewhere.

4. An industrial strategy by spring
Labour is moving fast on industrial strategy: a green paper will be published alongside the Budget in October, followed by a consultation with business, with a final strategy due in the spring. The strategy will provide clues on the Starmer administration’s path to net zero but will guide inform public investment in other areas – ranging from skills and education to transport, R&D and infrastructure.

Sarah Jones, Minister for Industry, offered a few hints on direction of travel. She told a fringe meeting that three considerations will be paramount: industries in which the UK is already strong, industries important for national security and ‘a very careful look at place’ to determine how individual industries can boost particular regions – steel, for example, in South Wales and Teesside.

5. Full steam ahead on employment rights
Labour’s ‘New Deal for Working People’ will be tabled in parliament next month, strengthening workers’ rights on sick pay and job security, banning zero hours contracts and outlawing ‘fire and rehire’. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, was in no mood to compromise – treating your people better will ultimately mean stronger companies, she told a Labour Business reception.

6. Partnership and innovation
Ministers across DSIT, DESNZ and DBT spoke about their commitment and willingness to partner with businesses to drive investment and innovation for key industries across the country. Now all eyes are on the upcoming October Budget statement to see how these commitments will be supported financially.

7. New Labour MPs – they’re everywhere!
The sheer number of new politicians was all too evident in Liverpool – Labour has 411 MPs, a staggering increase of 209 on its total from the previous election. It was easy to get chatting to a fresh faced, lost looking figure in the corner of a conference room and discover that they were a newly elected MP.

Many are unknown quantities – candidates standing in some southern Tory strongholds never truly expected to win. And in Scotland, Labour’s representation leapt from two to 37 MPs.

The sheer scale of this caucus will pose challenges for Labour to manage – no British leader since Tony Blair has had to find ways to keep such a large group of MPs motivated, on side and rewarded.

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