The Action Network’s Post

As conference season comes to a close, we have pulled together key insights and reflections from this year’s Labour Party conference. This year’s Labour conference was markedly less celebratory than you’d expect from a party that just won a historic landslide, a stark contrast to the Lib Dem’s victory lap in Brighton. At times, the conference atmosphere felt somewhat lacklustre, as both the Government machine and the wider party adjust to their new role. Despite the conference being light on policy announcements with ministers tactfully dodging answering questions about future plans ahead of the budget in any great detail, there were some hints as to where the Government’s priorities lie: - Housing - Reeves’s fiscal rules - Industrial Stratgey - Worker’s rights - Committment to devolution Yet, amidst often bleak discussions at fringe events, there was an underlying sense of optimism among delegates. Both panellists and attendees welcomed the new Government’s plan and noted a “serious political will” within Parliament to effect meaningful change. The overarching sentiment was that the issues are well understood, and the priority must now shift to taking decisive action. All eyes are on the upcoming autumn Budget, where the Government’s commitment to tackling these issues will truly be tested. #Lab24

En route to Liverpool for Labour conference... This will be my 8th conference, some 14 years since I first attended and my first with Labour in power. I'm expecting, hoping for, a jubilant atmosphere. But I'm also interested to see how Labour is going to respond to the many challenges it faces. I'll be discussing some of these key issues with MPs from across the party. Top of the agenda are the role of different sectors in achieving the government's growth plans, the transition to Net Zero and how to ensure everyone, not just the few, are lifted by the party's polices. Check out the New Statesman's programme of events for details or keep your eye on here for updates from me. I'll be wearing three different hats while here: as well as that of chair of New Statesman panel events, I'm also in Liverpool to represent Brussels Labour, and to find opportunities for Agenda clients who we help to create social change by influencing those with power. On the agenda for today: A reception with the EU delegation to the UK, the Labour Movement for Europe rally, the New Statesman reception and Progressive Britain party. If you'll be at any of those events, come find me and say hello 👋 In addition, I'm keen to see what the party's attitude to dissent will be. The Labour party is a broad church, and while message discipline was essential to win the election, it's vital that members are now allowed to air and debate their views, without fear of being penalised. Will that be allowed, or better still, encouraged? Let's see... #Lab24 #LabourConference24

Today's briefing collates the DeHavilland policy team's learnings and analysis from the 2024 Labour party conference. The briefing covers the major announcements and outcomes from the conference and is divided by the following sectors: 🔹 Business 🔹 Culture, media and sport 🔹 Education 🔹 Employment 🔹 Energy 🔹 Financial Services 🔹 Health 🔹 Housing 🔹 Tech 🔹Transport

Having returned from a Labour Conference marked by pathetic fallacy that would make the Bronte’s blush, the DeHavilland policy team has compiled our thoughts. Generally, it was a muted affair as the Government operated under the shadow of negative stories and attendees were left with few new policy announcements. 🌟 On employment, the New Deal for Working People represented a source of optimism. Reiterating the Government’s pro-worker, pro-business narrative, Angela Rayner indicated an imminent First Reading of the Employment Rights Bill. Policy experts and union leaders repeatedly stressed that the proposals enjoy widespread popular support, perhaps an attempt to discourage any watering down. 🌟 Somewhat surprisingly the PM announced a crackdown on benefit fraud, prompting alarm amongst those worried about the enduring tough rhetoric on welfare and the invasion of individual privacy. 🌟 Continuing a theme from last year, economic inactivity and public health were presented as inextricable. Liz Kendall declared the issues “two sides of the same coin” and praised the IPPR’s Commission on Health and Prosperity report. 🌟 She also identified child poverty as a “personal priority” and urged experts to “push” the Department to deliver on its objectives. Speaking in more hushed tones, Andrew Western hinted at reforms to the healthy start scheme. 🌟 Poverty emerged as a top priority amongst stakeholders, with many rooms crowded with standing delegates. This was remarked upon by new MP Joshua Fenton-Glynn, whose extensive experience within the charity and union sectors would contribute an informed perspective to committee corridor. Ultimately, ministers nimbly side-stepped contentious questions around the two-child limit, winter fuel payment and potential clashes between businesses and unions on employment rights. Whilst there was very little that was new, ministers seemed genuinely keen to engage with sector experts to develop informed, comprehensive and meaningful policy. The remit within which these discussions can occur will be indicated by the Budget, whilst the fruits of this work will become evident in the spring.

A few initial reflections from attending today’s Labour Party conference here in Liverpool... 1.     It’s packed – the conference is near overwhelming in size and activity. It’s Labour’s first conference in government in 15 years and there was a real sense of eagerness to see how ‘change begins’. But what this change will look like remains unclear. 2.     It’s also stacked – every session is rich with expertise and insight. The quality of discussion was impressive (and inspiring). The challenge for the Labour government will be how to channel this, be strategic and yet not lose sight of the bigger picture of ensuring that change is felt out there. 3.     Conference is a marketplace of ideas, but is it sufficiently bold? Discussion was deep and detailed on the issues that Labour wants to focus on: growth, housing, net zero and skills. But there was also recognition that there were real barriers to securing change, from funding and investment to vested interests. We can recognise that change is hard, but have Labour demonstrated that they will be sufficiently radical in government to meet the level of challenge? 4.     Now Labour are in charge, will they really let go? Being radical isn’t just about ideas, it’s about governing differently. After securing power after such a long period out of government, will Labour really want to cede and share it? This question came up time and again in different ways – will government get out of the way to allow innovation to flourish and localities thrive, will devolution mean more than a delegation of responsibilities, will communities be supported to build power on their own terms? 5.     ‘Ordinary people’ were everywhere (and nowhere). Despite the celebrations, the undertone of today’s conference was the opportunity and fragility of Labour’s mandate. More is at stake than just another term if Labour are unable to and deliver change in the lives of ‘ordinary people’. This isn’t just a question of competence and delivery but also one of connection and of social and economic justice. ‘Ordinary people’ are front and centre rhetorically, but are they present in the conversation? Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves today promised that the ‘sights and sounds of the future’ will soon become visible. Conference showed the depth of passion and commitment to deliver upon that, but many questions remain, and the clock is ticking. 

Good morning Folks,   There is a threat of a potential rail strike looming over from 22nd May 2024.   Train conductors, engineers, yard workers, and rail traffic controllers under Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) voted in favor of a strike mandate last week as negotiations reached an impasse over rest periods.   A possible strike or lockout on May 22, would affect Canada’s major railways — Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). Thousands of Canada’s rail workers have a strike mandate. What happens now? | Globalnews.ca Paul Boucher, president of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, said a combined 98% of votes cast were in favor of a strike, with a participation rate of 93%. The main issues for union bargaining teams are rest periods and the ability of employees to book time off to ensure they are not working while fatigued. “The strike would disrupt essential supply chains throughout North America, and significantly constrain trade between Canada and the US and Mexico,” Canadian Pacific said in a statement last week. Passenger rail services on its network in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver will also be “unable to operate.” North America Supply Chains Imperiled by Canada Rail Strike Vote - Bloomberg As per JOC - The West Coast ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert would be most negatively impacted by a potential strike, given their dependence on rail. CN singly serves Prince Rupert with the vast majority of cargo transported to the small port town via rail, and at least half of Vancouver's volumes move via rail. Teamsters Canada vote overwhelmingly to authorize rail strike as soon as May 22 | Journal of Commerce (joc.com)

🚀 The European Labour Mobility Congress 2025 is now official! 🚀 📅 Save the Date: February 17-18, 2025 📍 Location: ICE Kraków Congress Centre Centre, Kraków, Poland We are thrilled to invite you to Europe’s largest event dedicated to labour mobility and services within the European Union. With key speakers from politics, business, and academia, the Congress will provide a platform to discuss the most pressing challenges and opportunities related to the Single Market and workforce mobility. 💡 What to expect: Day 1: The Single Market Forum (SIMFO) in collaboration with the Ministerstwo Rozwoju i Technologii- Ministry of Development and Technology, featuring plenary sessions with EU officials - official event under the #PolishPresidency of the EU Council The day will conclude with a formal banquet and an artistic program 🎶 Day 2: Workshops, expert consultations, and networking – a hands-on day for collaboration and real-world solutions. 👉 Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of the discussion that shapes the future of the EU's labour and services market! 🌟 Visit our website for more details: https://lnkd.in/ev48bBi4 📌 Join the LinkedIn event to stay updated and connect with other participants - link in comments #ELMC2025 #labourmobility #EUservices #SingleMarket #PolishPresidency #EU #Krakow #ICECongressCentre #EuropeanLabourMobilityCongress

Labour Local Government Conference 2024 At our annual Labour Local Government Association Conference. Currently in a packed and lively training session led by Mo Baines, CEO of APSE on "How can a future Labour Government stem the tide of Section. 114?" Mo asks why is local governemt beong treated so differently from other public service? Central government does not have to balance its books every single year? Why can't budgets be managed and spread over the medium term? There are lots of good questions, answers, ideas and comments. Looking forward to rest of conference. Mo Baines #labourlga #LabLocal24 APSE Solutions

Fascinating discussion today at the Britain Renewed Conference about the scale of the challenge facing a future Labour government. Five key takeaways from the session with Peter Mandelson and Andrew Cooper. 1. The expectation of a sweeping Labour victory might be off the mark. Cooper suggests we're not in a 1997 redux; while the appetite for change exists, enthusiasm for Labour under Keir Starmer isn't as robust. 2. Labour's push for more devolution could inadvertently hamper nationwide progress by dispersing decision-making power. More power at a local level is, for example, one of the reasons we can't build enough houses. 3. Mandelson said that Labour's so-called "ming vase" strategy (i.e. not rocking the boat before an election) is more about managing the public's expectations that everything can be fixed immediately - his belief is that achieving Starmer's 5 missions will take 10 years. 4. On missions, Mandelson believed these cannot be delivered through the traditional Whitehall system. They require a disruptive reorganisation of how government operates to give a sense of direction both to the government and the country. 5. Mandelson put Starmer's challenge in context against the last 3 Labour governments. - 1945: revive a country battered by war - 1964: harness technology to revive the economy - 1997: restore public services Starmer, he said, will have to do all three at once... #BritainRenewed

Well worth reading. A review of the progress with the #levellingup programme after 3 years. Well worth a read - update on the government’s progress with the #levellingup programme after 3 plus years. Levelling Up is intended to be about reducing regional inequalities - differences in pay, productivity, living standards and well-being. At the heart of the 12 Levelling Up missions set out in the 2022 White Paper is the important ambition to narrow the economic and social gap between the regions of the United Kingdom by 2030. So where are we?!