The Labour Party’s annual conference kicks off on Sunday (28 September) in Liverpool, with events at the forum expected to set the tone for the year head for the centre-left government.
Labour officials and ministers will set out their plans for the year and could give us some indication of how the government is approaching issues like international trade, business support and foreign policy.
Change the narrative?
Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade UK public affairs lead, Grace Thompson, said that the release of the Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy and the Small Business Plan had created a new narrative for the Labour government around delivery and growth.
“I'm expecting a lot of talk about 'delivery' at the conference, but the key questions on most business leaders' minds will be how quickly delivery can realistically happen and how much the government wants to engage with industry to make it happen jointly.
“With recent events such as the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-security attack in the background, it's critical that protection of UK industries is prioritised, whether under threat structurally, technologically or geopolitically. This is the challenge of a new era in global trade.”
Events
During the conference, the Chartered Institute will be hosting two events where policymakers and industry figures will discuss how to help businesses import and export.
On Monday (29 September) at 10pm, Chartered Institute director general, Marco Forgione, will be speaking to Labour MP, Sarah Edwards, economics professor, Giuseppe De Feo, and Liverpool City’s deputy cabinet minister for policy reform and resources Carla Thomas on the economics behind the US tariff policy, and how government can help industry navigate the challenges tariffs raise.
Later the same day, at 3pm, Forgione will be in conversation with trade minister, Sir Chris Bryant, Airbus’ UK policy director, Katie Roscoe, and chair of the purpose coalition, Nick Forbes, on the UK’s place in a changing world.
The Chartered Institute will also be hosting a business dinner later on Monday evening, sponsored by Labour MP Mike Reader.
Other organisations will be hosting their own events, including the different party factions. Groups like Blue Labour and Labour Together will be setting out their stalls, pushing the government to move in one direction or the other.
Deputy leader pitches
Both Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell are making their pitches for the deputy leadership position.
Although the ballots close on 23 October, this is the biggest chance for both candidates to speak directly to membership.
Education minister Bridget Phillipson is seen as Dowing Street’s preferred candidate, leaving Powell to present herself as an outsider. Both have made explicit progressive pitches, attempting to appeal to the Labour faithful.
Recent polling conducted by Survation on behalf of LabourList has found that Powell currently leads with 47% of the vote, with Phillipson on 30% and the remainder undecided.
The same polling found that only 25% of members thought the party was going in the right direction.
Games afoot
Also worth keeping an eye on: the activities of Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham.
Burnham told the Telegraph that MPs were privately urging him to challenge Starmer in a leadership contest.
Burmham, who ran for leadership of the Labour party in 2010 and 2015, is planning to offer a “plan for the country and a plan to beat Reform.”
Although he said he was at the “PM’s disposal to help”, the former MP for Leigh has not explicitly ruled anything out. He would first need to enter the House of Commons as an MP before he would be eligible, and Labour’s rules only allow for a leadership challenge prior to party conference.
However, with his more explicit push for a left-wing agenda, it is possible that Starmer and his cabinet could adjust their own message to satisfy restless MPs. There has already been talk of the two-child benefit cap being scrapped, a key request from Labour activists for months.
The set piece speeches
Additionally, Labour activists and other attendees will hear from a series of cabinet ministers, senior party figures and Starmer himself.
Starmer is expected to double down on his attacks against Reform UK, warning that the country is at a “crossroads”, with either progress and unity under Labour or “division and decline” under Reform.
Bond markets will be keeping an eye on the speech of chancellor Rachel Reeves, while other big hitters, like home secretary Shabana Mahmood, trade chief Peter Kyle and foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, will be delivering speeches.
A number of votes will be taken on policy positions. Although the Labour leadership is not required to adopt them, they serve to reveal the mood of party activists.
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