Analysis

Labour Conference – future no clearer but we’re in for a fun ride

Jeremy Corbyn

Peter Campbell assess the mood and plans that emerged at this week’s Labour Party Conference including a department of business to run infrastructure.

So there we have it. The dust has now settled on the Labour party’s summer of shenanigans and the first conference of the Corbyn era has now passed. He and his new shadow team have delivered all their speeches, the fried food and curly sandwiches of the fringe events have been consumed, and the conference bandwagon has left Brighton for Manchester and the Conservative Party’s Autumn Conference.

"The temperament of those attending the conference actually seemed to be rather upbeat, all things considered. This might have had something to do with the lifting of the threat of being in government"

But what did we learn from all the chattering by the seaside (not from the seagulls, either)? What was the mood of the delegates who could be forgiven for being rather depressed and anxious after the few months they have had. And what is the tone being set by the new leadership? What clues did we get about the direction Labour will take in the next parliament?

The first thing to say was that the temperament of those attending the conference actually seemed to be rather upbeat, all things considered. This might have had something to do with the lifting of the threat of being in government, a similar experience to that at the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth the week before. The prospect of sacrificing beliefs for the sake of governing never sat well with the Labour grassroots.

Just as likely, however, is that having experienced years of being ignored by the leadership, attendees had high hopes that the future will see conference returned to the policy-making table. Corbyn and his acolytes (Corbnistas? Corbynites? Jeremaniacs?) have already given succour to those supporting this move, only time will tell if it turns out to be another false dawn.

A positive attitude was also in evidence as we saw speaker after speaker offer significant ‘red meat’ to the faithful. First there was new shadow chancellor John McDonnell (a very close ally of Corbyn), who spoke of new taxes on business and the rich, a renewed remit for the Bank of England, and most interestingly a new Department of Business to take responsibility for planning infrastructure.

Corbyn too, did not disappoint the faithful, although pundits were not as impressed with the style and delivery. He spoke of renationalising the railways (always a crowd pleaser) and making solving the housing crisis his "top priority" with a "very large and very active council house building programme".

That is not to say that there were not disappointments for Team Corbyn. Much was made of the decision of the voting delegates not to debate Trident, the abolition of which is a subject close to the new leader’s heart. Questions continued too, about the stability of the Labour party under Corbyn, what might happen to MPs who were less than loyal (much like Corbyn was!), and what might happen to cabinet solidarity if someone objected to any of his wackier ideas.

There is still obviously a long way to go until the next general election and there is no guarantee that Corbyn will be in charge when May 2020 comes around. Events can easily alter the mood of future conferences. We should all buckle up though, as it promises to be a fun ride, one way or another.

Peter Campbell is ACE's senior policy manager