Reflections from Labour Party Conference

The Prime Minister and his team will leave Labour Party Conference happy. Today’s front pages carry his message and challenge to the rise of Nigel Farage and Reform. And the party has its marching orders ahead of next May’s elections.

This was a well-produced, crisis-free gathering of the party faithful – in stark contrast to last year, where the pouring rain added to an uneasy atmosphere, despite the thumping majority. The view of many MPs and ministers was that the King of the North had made a strategic blunder in his pre-conference media interventions, with many questioning whether he had fatally damaged his leadership ambitions. 

The deputy leadership contest rarely entered conversations, with both candidates warned against any behaviour which might distract from the PM’s message of patriotic national renewal. Expect to see the battle heat up as the conference truce lifts…

Despite the positive vibes this week, the government still faces considerable challenges. The Prime Minister’s personal poll ratings are worryingly low after just 14 months in office. The Chancellor has tough decisions to make on taxation ahead of the November Budget. And next May’s elections could see considerable losses for Labour, not least in the Wales, where Reform could take control of their first national administration. 

What does this mean for Keir Starmer? The private consensus in Liverpool this week is that the PM will be vulnerable if the polls convert to (significantly fewer) votes next May. 

On the policy front, the government faces a battle to introduce digital IDs, with the delivery being led from No10 by Darren Jones, who will also staff up a new delivery unit. The signals on housebuilding are more positive. New Secretary of State, Steve Reed, had a strong showing this week, hammering home his ‘Build Baby Build’ message. But with the housebuilding market facing serious challenges, the jury will be out until spades hit the ground. There are some positive signs for London, however, with the imminent ‘Accelerator’ package to unlock housing delivery in the capital nearing completion between MHCLG and the GLA.

And when all is said and done, that is the government’s key challenge: delivery. When the party meets next year, the leader will need to boast of tangible achievements. The time for restating vision will be over.