Labour conference: Flat as the proverbial ...

Peter Campbell
24 September 2014

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The Labour Party gathered this week for its annual conference in Manchester, its last before the general election. Peter Campbell highlights the five key things that emerged over the course of the four days.

1.     Election? What election? – Walking around the conference centre and attending the fringes, the mood was surprisingly flat, downbeat even. Remember this is meant to be a party on the verge of returning to government if the polls are to be believed, however the excitement of the assembled members was notable in its absence.

"The excitement of the assembled members was notable in its absence"

This was reflected neatly by Ed Miliband’s Leader’s Speech, delivered competently and without notes as has been his habit (impressive for a 65-minute oration), yet missing the fire and shock-value of his 2012 ‘One Nation’ speech or last year’s ‘energy price freeze’ announcement. It was workmanlike but perhaps suffered owing to fatigue from the still warm Scottish referendum campaign, which diverted a lot of resource. Not a speech that will be remembered with the Gettysburg Address or ‘I have a dream’.

2.     Back in, business – Recent years have seen an antipathy towards business among the Labour party, with language like predators deployed in previous conference speeches, and the business community ignored by the main players at the top of the party. Post-financial crash it was just not who the grassroots felt the party should be standing next to.

"Strong emphasis on the importance of business in Miliband’s Leader’s Speech"

This freeze out seems to be thawing, however, with strong emphasis on the importance of business in Miliband’s Leader’s Speech, highlighting the need for government to support them, and talking up the positive impact of the EU. In addition, Labour’s shadow business secretary, Chuka Ummuna has been everywhere during this conference, doing interviews, attending fringes, and word is seeking to arrange more meetings with business leaders. The message was also relayed that the party will make a quick decision on aviation capacity if elected in May. Music to businesses’ ears!

3.     Vote (R)Ed, go green – Remember ‘Hug a huskie’? I am sure David Cameron wishes we would forget, and Mr Miliband took the opportunity to lay into the Prime Minister for his green record and put the Labour party’s case for it to be the environment’s champion. He pledged to decarbonise the UK’s electricity supply by 2030, a Green Investment Bank with powers to borrow and attract investment, and provide government support to insulate 5M homes if they win next year.

"Miliband pledged to decarbonise the UK’s electricity supply by 2030"

Additionally, shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle in her speech to conference reinforced the view that ‘green is good’, with positive comments on air quality and low emission zones. Matthew Farrow, Executive Director of the Environmental Industries Commission, said it is “…encouraging that air quality is seen as a clear priority for Labour”. He went on to say, however, “we would have liked to have seen more recognition that the UK environmental sector can be a major source of new jobs and growth and help rebalance the economy”.

4.     The community is king – In several areas of policy, the Labour party outlined that it believed local communities should play a much more active role in identifying and delivering the infrastructure services it needs. Mary Creagh, the party’s shadow transport secretary, spoke of giving cities and regions around the country London-style powers over bus provision. She also spoke of bringing Network Rail and a new passenger watchdog together to ensure track and train were unequivocal about who they serve.

"New Homes Corporations, set up by city and county councils, would be created "

Some early insight into the conclusions of the Lyons Commission, which is looking into housing, also reinforced this view. Under the proposals New Homes Corporations, set up by city and county councils, would be created to allow development of large sites that cross local boundaries. Infrastructure would then be developed simultaneously to meet the increased demand.

5.     Devolution: Coming to a city-region near you – In contrast to the Prime Minister, who has proposed an ‘English Votes for English Laws’ solution ahead of further devolution to Scotland, Labour plans a constitutional convention to form a national debate. It is hoped that this will culminate in increased fiscal powers and control over services for local government, with early indications being that £30bn over five years could be devolved for skills, infrastructure, and housing spending.

"£30bn over five years could be devolved for skills, infrastructure, and housing spending"

Shadow communities secretary, Hilary Benn, said “I want cities and counties, towns and districts, parishes and neighbourhoods to make more decisions for themselves and to have more control over the money they raise and contribute”. Such moves would be vital in “changing the way decisions are made so that we can free local communities, the people of England, to shape their own destiny”.

Peter Campbell is ACE policy manager.