By: James Matthewson
‘And they’re off’ … To Party Conferences
It’s said all too frequently that politics is a sport, and it’s said all the more too frequently, perhaps, that the sport of politics is indeed a blood sport. Yet no matter how often they are used and overused, these ceaseless sporting analogies are sometimes appropriate.
In terms of some hackneyed comparisons to the blood sport of boxing, for instance, the match has ended in the United Kingdom, with a bit of a knockout by the Labour Party, while in the U.S., Round One will be rung-in just after the Labor Day holiday weekend, and the “for all the marbles” portion of the General Election season will commence, in full, daily, through the first week of November.
The Blue Highway Advisory crew may have a few pearls of wisdom or caution to distribute as that period of time unfolds in America, but for now, we’ll focus during the mid-August summer doldrums on where things are headed in the U.K., now that the new Parliamentary seating map has been revealed.
In jolly old blighty, Blue Highway’s second-but-equal base of operations, the term “They’re Off…” wouldn’t just apply to another sporting analogy because of a fresh parliamentary start, (horseracing, that is, if you missed it), but actually better applies to the fact that politicians here are quite literally, well, off. Very, off in fact. They’ve gone.
(They are in the U.S. as well, having traipsed quickly out of Washington a week earlier than expected, but things will shortly begin anew in the UK, while the U.S. legislative calendar will remain predictably slow once Congress returns in September).
The new Parliament was opened officially by His Majesty King Charles III on Wednesday 17th July, but it went into its summer recess on July 29th, giving hundreds of newly elected members just about 12 days to get themselves figured out in London before heading home to their constituencies for a Summer Recess of several weeks.
In most years, the Summer Recess doesn’t stop much in the U.K. political world, as government continues to function as “normal,” whilst Parliamentary business is somewhat delayed to the Fall.
This year, however, due to the fallout of the high-stakes general election campaign and the many months prior that were expended on all of the preliminary drama that always precedes such a contest, everyone seemed ready for a rest by the end of July. From Members of Parliament to journalists, TV anchors and senior civil servants, everyone seems to have made the maddest sort of dash to their extended holidays.
Indeed, even if some of these figures are just staying at home, they’re trying to wind down, and in the case of hundreds of victorious Labour Party figures, enjoy the fruits of their recent labour (no pun intended there).
In the case of the Conservatives, these first two weeks of August, and the rest of a long, hot summer, are a time for licking wounds and for looking forward to their own imminent party leadership elections, which will likely bring about a great sea change for the Tory party, after 14 years at the top of the political heap. For the Tories, this month is a time for ‘looking inward’ as my Tarot reader would say. Perhaps quite uncomfortably.
Thus, in just about two weeks’ time, the arrival of September will mark the start of ‘Conference season’ – a period of weeks in which each of the U.K. political parties will gather their membership, their elected representatives and officers to host a live, in-person, multi-day conference with the aim of discussing policy ideas, voting on platform changes (in most cases), and taking part in sponsored fringe events.
Whilst Labour’s conference in Liverpool this year will be a large celebration, it won’t be the only one, with the Liberal Democrats, Greens and even new right-wing party Reform UK, likely to be hosting jubilant celebrations reflecting their recent growth at the last election.
Blue Highway Advisory is looking forward to attending the Labour Party Conference, and will be represented amongst the other organisations engaging with the newly elected U.K. Government.
Full conference dates are listed below and for any clients wishing to learn more about the U.K. Party Conference system. Additionally, the association of colleges provides a handy party conference guide that can be viewed here:
· Liberal Democrat conference, 14-17 September, Brighton
· Labour Party conference, 22-25 September, Liverpool
· Conservative Party conference, 29 September–2 October, Birmingham
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