DeHavilland Briefing

Labour 2018 Highlights, rumours and relevant information: Arena and Convention Centre 23-26 September 2018

DeHavilland’s Content Team September 2018

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Introduction Understand the context surrounding the three potential scenarios p. 2

The Rumour Mill Understand the major questions hanging over the conference, the factions, and the key players p. 3

Highlights Take note of the key events taking place at the conference p. 4

What about DeHavilland? A note on our coverage we shall provide for the Labour, Conservative, and SNP conferences p. 5

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Introduction

Labour’s annual party conference certainly cannot be accused of being dull in recent years, and 2018 promises to be no different. Kicking off conference season, Labour grandees and the faithful rank-and-file alike will gather in Liverpool at the end of September to share ideas, vote on policy, and shape the direction that the party heads in over the coming year.

Divisions in the party run as deep as they have done since took the helm in 2015. Despite this, this year’s conference does not look set to be dogged the same speculation about his leadership that the last have been.

Indeed, despite being in their eighth year off opposition, Labour’s draft conference programme even has a number of events with titles such as ‘The Path To 325: Where Does Labour Need To Win?’, ‘Winning A Labour Government. Will Labour Take The Power?’, and ‘Winning the Next General Election’. The chatter in the ACC’s corridors and surrounding bars will give a better indication of whether such optimism is confined to these fringes or whether the buoyant mood runs deeper in the Party.

Tension is more likely to focus on the leadership’s position – or lack thereof – on and ongoing mudslinging about a perceived failure in tackling anti-Semitism and the bullying of Party officials.

The latter will be particularly salient, following the recent elections to the Labour’s ruling body - the National Executive Committee (NEC) – where the full so-called ‘JC9’ slate of Momentum-backed candidates were elected. This included the re-election of Peter Willsman, despite the emergence of a recording of him making anti-Semitic remarks.

Jeremy Corbyn and his inner circle will hope that they can keep the media’s attention focused on policy rather than tales of internal debate.

Whatever happens in Liverpool, DeHavilland will be your definitive source.

This briefing takes you through some of the rumours and predictions that have been doing the rounds in the run-up to conference, as well as picking out some fringe highlights.

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The Rumour Mill One question hangs heavily over Labour conference this year: Brexit. With this being the last obvious moment for policy announcements from Her Majesty’s Opposition before the UK’s official withdrawal from the EU on 29 March 2019 the stake could not be much higher.

According to , over 150 of the 272 motions for debate submitted related to the party’s stance on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. As points out, this includes more than 100 Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) calling for a fresh referendum on the deal that the Government brings back from negotiations in Brussels. Notably, this includes Shadow Brexit Secretary ’s own constituency of Holborn and St Pancras.

This makes it all but certain that a debate on the matter will have to be allotted time, a situation that the party leadership was keen to avoid. Pressure has been building for Jeremy Corbyn, who still seems at great unease whenever he is pressed for his views on Brexit.

This will have been compounded by this month’s Trades Union Congress conference, where a vow was taken to campaign for a second referendum “if the PM’s Brexit deal fails workers”. On the other hand, as noted by LabourList, the National Coordinating Group of influential Momentum group have chosen not to whip affiliated delegates to back a ‘people’s vote’. By the end ofednesday W we will know whether the Labour leadership opt for another fudge or succumb to pressure and decide the time has come to take a more determined position on Brexit.

Though not of national consequence, just as contentious for the party is the issue of deselection. Delegates will be asked to debate and decide on controversial plans which would make it easier for what it calls “mandatory reselection” for MPs wishing to stand again in constituencies they hold, but without the backing of their CLP. reports claims from Corbyn ally Chris Williamson MP that the move has backing from key trade unions.

Aside from the predictable plethora of events on Brexit and the ever-present Labour themes of health and economic inclusion, there are a number of interesting fringes on transport. Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald will be speaking at least two sessions on the Sunday. With troubled private rail franchises prominent in the news, he will be keen to develop and hammer home the message on re-nationalisation.

Who speaks, and when, is always a matter to be jostled over. Party bigwigs want the limelight of the main stage at the right time to maximise their exposure. PoliticsHome ran a story this month that Deputy Leader and Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson would not be given a slot in the conference hall and would instead speak to delegates from the fringes. This would be a significant break from tradition, and add to widely reported disagreements between Messrs Watson and Corbyn.

Latest available conference timings suggest that the Deputy Leader has been given a brief window at the end of business on Monday. Could he have the last word by snubbing the offer?

Away from the politics, there are reports that Jewish MPs have been offered bodyguards. This follows comments from MPs such as Luciana Berger, who said she feels “unwelcome” in parts of her own party and described a video of Jeremy Corbyn making controversial comments about “Zionists” as “inexcusable”. If any MPs are snapped with personal security it is bound to make headlines.

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Briefing

Highlights

HuffPost UK – In conversation with . The Shadow Secretary for Health and Social Care Jonathan Ashworth speaks to HuffPost Executive Political Editor Paul Waugh. Sunday 23 September, 12.45. Concourse Room 2, ACC.

Home Group - Solving The Housing Crisis: How Do We Reach 300,000 New Homes? Siobhain McDonagh MP, Lord Adonis, Shadow Housing Minister and others discuss home building. Sunday 23 September, 19.30. Kings Suite, Pullman Hotel.

Society of Labour Lawyers City Group – Brexit and Financial Services. The future of the UK’s lucrative financial services sector is under discussion here. Speakers are due to include representatives from the law and banking industries, as well as DExEU Select Committee Chair and Alison McGovern, who chairs a Labour campaign to keep the UK in the Single Market. Monday 24 September, 8.00. Suite 3, 4, 5, Jury's Inn.

CBI & BVCA - Building A Global Britain: Equipping The UK To Win On The World Stage. The Director Generals of both the CBI and BVCA get to put their views to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Shadow Education Minister Gordon Marsden. Monday 24 September, 17.30. Meeting Room 4A, ACC.

Momentum – In and against the state. Not strictly part of the conference, but taking place at Momentums rival The World Transformed “politics festival”. John McDonnell and PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka are amongst those talking about the private sector’s impact on public services. Tuesday 25 September, 15.00. Hinterlands Main Space.

Labour Business - Fringe Reception. DeHavilland reckons that this is the reception to be at on the final night. Figures you might spot include Shadow BEIS secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, Shadow Small Business Minister Bill Esterton, and MPs Stephen Kinnock and . Tuesday 25 September, 17.30. Collection Lounge, ACC.

Centre for European Reform – What will be the outcome of Brexit? There are an understandable number of Brexit fringes across conference, but this draws in the biggest players. Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, Hilary Benn, MP, and Momentum Chair Jon Lansman hash out the question hanging over conference. Tuesday 25 September, 18.30. Meeting Room 3A, ACC.

Jeremy Corbyn - Conference speech. The major show in town on Wednesday. Labour’s leader takes to the main stage to close conference. Wednesday 26 September, afternoon, Auditorium, ACC.

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DeHavilland is your definitive source for party conference season.

We will be covering dozens of fringe events from conferences in Liverpool (Labour), (Conservative), and (SNP), as well as producing real-time summaries of all key speeches from the main hall.

To find out more about our conference coverage contact your Monitoring Consultant.

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