Navigating the UK Party Conference Season

The UK’s party conference season is upon us, and this year promises to be particularly turbulent, with every party hoping to define itself in an increasingly volatile political landscape, while tackling internal divisions, global tension and economic pressure.

In our recent webinar, WA Partner Lee Findell was joined by Jennifer Gerber, WA Senior Political Adviser and former Labour Special Adviser and Sascha O’Sullivan, host of Politico’s Westminster Insider podcast – to assess potential policy announcements, the organisations shaping party thinking, the key personalities to watch, and top practical tips for everyone attending.

Labour: damage control mission

Keir Starmer enters the Labour conference in Liverpool with a primary objective: damage control. Jen Gerber, Senior Political Adviser at WA Communications and former Labour Special Adviser, highlighted how Starmer “went from being what many people described as a lucky general, to a prime minister who can’t seem to catch a break.”

With Labour trailing behind Reform despite their landslide victory just over a year ago, conference represents a crucial opportunity for the party to reset its narrative and speak to voters who may be considering Reform. To respond to much of the criticism levelled against him, there will be an expectation that Starmer “does some of the vision stuff”.

MPs have expressed concerns about feeling neglected – reflected in significant policy U-turns on the winter fuel allowance and welfare reforms – and the leader will need to “wrap his arms around” the party. As Jen notes: “conference allows the leader to have a conversation with their own party and The Labour Party more than any party loves talking about itself”.

Sascha O’Sullivan, Westminster Insider podcast host at Politico, noted that the atmosphere would reflect the party’s position: “In Liverpool, you should be thinking, what’s the energy here? Is it people in corners bitching about everyone? I’ve been to some triumphant conferences and chaotic ones. The mood changes overnight when something goes wrong.”

Conservatives: rebuilding after devastation

The Conservative Party faces perhaps an even more challenging conference season. With high profile defections from Nadine Dorries and Danny Kruger, and “Robert Jenrick knocking around very visibly, trying to reassure people that this is the real Party,” while speculation swirls around Kemi Badenoch’s leadership.

The difficulty lies in differentiating themselves from Reform UK, especially when some of their announcements are likely to echo policies already discussed at Reform’s earlier conference in Birmingham.

Reform: the next step

Chris Speight explored some of Reform UK’s developing policies, emerging influencers, party atmosphere, and cautious business engagement in our recent note.

Liberal Democrats: seeking distinction in a crowded field

The party must work harder than ever to maintain relevance in an increasingly fragmented political landscape.

Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats, despite their impressive 72-seat haul, face a unique challenge this conference season. Sascha O’Sullivan identified the key issue: “for a very long time, he’s been able to say, well, we’re not the two main parties,” but “there’s now three other parties who can say they’re not the two main parties” – Reform, the Greens, and a potential new party featuring Jeremy Corbyn. “It’ll be really interesting to see whether Ed Davey tries to make his competition those parties more than Labour and Tory”.

Health policy in the spotlight

Health Secretary Wes Streeting emerges as one of the few Labour ministers with genuine momentum. Having secured budget increases and launched ambitious reforms, including the 10-year NHS plan, Streeting represents a rare bright spot for the government. His conference speech is expected to blend tough reforming messages with traditional Labour values, while potentially launching political attacks on Reform’s approach to healthcare.

Key moments and insider tips

For those attending conferences, Sascha O’Sullivan noted the importance of being present for major speeches to gauge room atmosphere rather than simply watching on television – “it’s always way more interesting seeing how the room responds”.

Conference is also an opportunity to build relationships at every level – “often the PPSs are way more useful because they’re the thoroughfares to the minister, they have a sense of what’s going on, so there’s real value in making those contacts.”

Jen Gerber emphasised the key role of fringe discussions, where “there was always a lot of time to grab the minister, ask questions, and develop a conversation after the event”. While think tanks and Party groups such as Progressive Britain, Labour to Win, Onward, Policy Exchange, and IPPR will shape the agenda, attending regional receptions can also be advantageous: “you’re going to get an awful lot of politicians and advisors there, and it’d be interesting to check on the mood”.

Both fringe events and main hall speeches will highlight the stances in highly factional areas – for example, around foreign policy, or workers’ rights debates.

Finally, if you missed out on a ticket to the hottest evening reception, timing is everything: “For the first hour and a half, anyone who turns up who’s not on the list is getting turned away. An hour or so later, it starts to thin out a little bit, and then it’s come on in”. (Although, as Sascha strictly noted, this definitely doesn’t apply to the Politico Party Conference Pub, where requesting access in advance is essential).

To meet with WA’s team at the Liberal Democrat, Labour, or Conservative Party conference, or discuss our key takeaways from Reform’s conference, please get in touch.