There was an air around the Labour Party conference this week. The type of air though that seemed to vary with one’s view of Jeremy Corbyn leading the party. Airs of despondency, excitement, jubilation and confidence. There was no doubt that the conference itself was more engaged and there is a genuine belief that the conference will, once again, become central to Labour’s policy-making process. The promise of a leadership that listens, rather than one that dictates, was a central theme of Corbyn’s speech.
So what can we learn from the political news this week?
- Bold. This one word seemed to sum up the Labour Party under Corbyn for all sides. The approach adopted to policy, the challenge to the existing way of doing politics, and approach to the media is bold and shadow ministers explicitly used this word as well.
- Nice. Politics might change and Corbyn would like it to. He wants politics to be nicer and for personal attacks to be removed from the political lexington. Sadly, Corbyn’s opponents, especially in the media, don’t seem to be listening to his calls.
- Near year’s conference. Conference 2016 in Liverpool will be where policy discussions really start to take place. Given the city’s links to the ‘dark days’ for Labour of the 1980s we can already guess where the media will go with their headlines.
- Corbyn’s opponents are waiting. The swift exit, according to tweets, of Chuka and Tristram before Corbyn’s speech to conference was a clear demonstration that no-one wants a confrontation – at least for now. The elections of May 2016 (particularly Scotland, Wales and London) have been suggested as a key point for Corbyn’s leadership but Labour’s failure to win in 2012 didn’t cost Ed the leadership. It also means that the next set of major elections will be for the European Parliament, referendum depending. Chuka’s early departure did mean that he was unable to appear at a scheduled fringe event which was professionally announced.
- Don’t expect much policy anytime soon. With the exception of rail renationalisation, which is really bringing the franchises back under state control when they expire, Shadow Cabinet members did not have much to say at the conference. Until any systems for policy development are put in place and in advance of conference 2016, it is unclear what any policies will be especially with a leader unwilling to impose lines on his team. Conference did include the announcement of an independent study into why home ownership has fallen being led by Peter Redfern, chief executive of house builder Taylor Wimpey. The report will be issued in Summer 2016.