Labour Party Conference 2018 at ACC Liverpool: Key events, schedule, timetable and everything you need to know

Nick Charity25 September 2018
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The Labour Party's annual conference began this weekend in Liverpool - with the party poised for key speeches on Brexit, nationalisation of the railways and a strong commitment to women and equalities.

Eyes turned to the conference as Labour took its first major opportunity to remind the public what it stands for, and leader Jeremy Corbyn hopes to get back to business after a period of internal muck throwing.

There has been relative calm for Labour in the past week, with attention shifting onto Theresa May's crumbling grip on the Conservatives amid the EU's rejection of her Chequers proposals for Brussels.

Now Labour hopes it has a chance to bring back support, with increasing speculation that Mrs May could face a snap election.

So here's everything to expect from the Labour Party Conference, as party members arrived on Saturday afternoon, with events running until Wednesday.

Brexit

Brexit has dominated the party conference season, and pro-EU MPs and activists are likely to use this week's events to drive for support of the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum. Both Jeremy Corbyn and his top ally, shadow chancellor John McDonnell, have resisted the calls - instead hoping a general election is their best hope. But Corbyn has said he will "reluctantly" back another vote if that's what the party decides this week.

The March 29 deadline is fast approaching, and there is likely to be hot debate across the conference. It's understandable, then, that Brexit was the first topic for discussion after the opening speeches on Sunday.

Women and Equalities

Women and Equalities chief Dawn Butler led a special Women's Party Conference from noon on Saturday, promising to put Equalities centre-stage for the party.

She told delegates: "So far we have seen seven different ministers for equality tagged onto four different departments and a budget that's nearly been halved.

"This proves the Tories are not taking equalities seriously. By establishing a Department for Women and Equalities, Labour will ensure equalities is the common thread running through its government. The next Labour government will put equality centre stage."

Corbyn will be hoping this approach puts the dampeners on an anticipated re-run of bad feeling over his handling of anti-semitism allegations which Gordon Brown called a "stain" on Labour, and some Jewish members said they no longer felt secure in the Party. While there's no specific event booked to discuss anti-semitism, the topic is bound to crop up.

Austerity

Mr Corbyn announced before the conference that Labour are going to place a huge focus on anti-austerity measures, aiming to make his “most direct pitch yet to people in post-industrial towns and communities”, with speeches tackling the impact of de-industrialisation and the drop in people's living standards.

New policies will also be announced at the event to “empower local communities” and boost neglected areas, the Guardian reported.

In a statement released by the party Corbyn said cuts and government mismanagement have “left many of our towns and communities hollowed out and without hope”.

“It is Labour’s mission to represent the hopes and aspirations of working-class people in our country," he added. "Our country needs to radically change course and this week we’re going to be laying out our plans to rebuild Britain for the many, not the few.

“We’ll show this week how we’re going to transform our broken economic model, have a rebirth of our great public services and give local communities the control they need to make their towns thrive again.”

De-selection rules

Momentum, the grassroots activists' group which helped to propel Mr Corbyn to the leadership, has pressed for a change to party rules which could make it easier to de-select sitting MPs, prompting fears among moderates of a purge by left-wingers. Momentum was forced to accept a "compromise" ruling on the changes at the National Executive Committee on Saturday, but are likely to continue campaigning.

In-fighting

Deputy leader Tom Watson will not be speaking from the main platform after failing to agree a satisfactory slot, but he may vent his frustrations with the leadership during a series of appearances on the fringe.

"Re-building Britain"

Mr Corbyn spoke at a rally at Pier Head in Liverpool on Saturday, to mark the start of conference, and delivers his main speech on Wednesday, while some polls suggesting his popularity with the wider public is slipping. His slogan for the conference is "Re-building Britain, for the many not the few", incorporating his leadership's staple maxim.

Labour party Conference Timetable

Saturday 22nd September

  • 11:00 Women’s Conference Registration
  • 12:00 Women’s Conference – Auditorium 1A – ACC

Sunday 23rd September

  • 10:30 Opening Formalities; NEC Chair’s Address; CAC Report; General Secretary’s Report; Awards
  • 11:20 Part democracy
  • 12:45 Seminar - Brexit
  • 12:45 Seminar - Environment, Energy, and Culture
  • 12:45 Seminar - Work, Pensions, and Equality
  • 14:15 Party Democracy; Women's Conference Motion; Financial Reports

Monday 24th September

  • 8:15 Seminar - International
  • 8:15 Seminar - Justice and Home Affairs
  • 8:15 Seminar - Health and Social Care
  • 9:30 CAC Report
  • 9:55 Wales Report
  • 10:05 Public investment and ownership
  • 12:15 Shadow Chancellor's speech
  • 14:15 Scotland Report
  • 14:25  Social security and skills

Tuesday 25th September

  • 8:15  Seminar - Early Years, Education, and Skill
  • 8:15  Seminar - Housing, Local Government, and Transport
  • 8:15 Seminar - Economy, Business, and Trade
  • 9:30 NEC and CLP Constitutional Amendments
  • 10:20​ Brexit and the economy
  • 14:50 Security at home and abroad

Wednesday 26th September

  • 9:05  Tackling inequalities
  • 12:15  Leader's Speech

Keep up to speed with politics at the Standard.

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