Day 1
Early in the morning, we set off to the Great Liverpool Labour Conference 2022!
Last year, I was at Brighton as a delegate. I had votes, my own seat and open access to all the speeches.
This time, I was a member which allowed me to visit dozens of discussions and speeches.
First speech was from Angela Rayner. Stunning. Using humour to lighten analysis of Labour’s great past and future approaches.
Next it was Wes Streeting, shadow health minister. I was teaching for nine years in Ilford before he became their MP. Great discussion about care.
Then a fabulous two hour session. I was sat a metre away from Angela, Lisa, Preet, Anneliese, Rosina and more. Absolutely brilliant as each shadow minister appeared in turn.
After that it was Education Education Education. Largely about school meals. The Mayor of London appeared with a strong view that school meals should be free for all pupils.
Good team at Education but nowhere near the 1997-2010 crew which brought my Headship into a different world. We had space, new buildings, huge number of parents bringing pupils from many miles away. We had four Outstanding Ofsteds and sent a handful of students to Oxbridge each year. Teachers then had a percentage salary increase each year. Not large but since 2010 only one increase for teachers’ salary in 12 years!
At 7pm we were invited to a reception with Sir Keir. Great to meet up with our CLP. Then to the station for a train back to our Hoylake hotel.
Day 2
The star of the day was Rachel Reeves (shadow chancellor). She was excellent in Brighton, but absolutely superb in Liverpool.
Sterling going down
Costs going up
Tax cuts for the rich
Less help for families
It’s not what anyone wants
Labour will fight every step of the way
Hard work
Public services support
Moral responsibility
Huge numbers of families, the seniors and the disabled
We need a Labour government
We want to support Ukraine
No fracking
Remove the 12 years of Tory pockets
Our first green chancellor. There are signs of hope once Labour is back?
Best discussion was about the EU, led by Joao Vale de Almeida. He’s the EU’s ambassador to the UK. He gave us some hope – but not immediately. As Sir Keir said, we can change what we need to change, e.g. re-enter Erasmus, get back our EU music and more. Stupid decisions, mostly made by BJ and his disciples. Cannot go back.
Stella Creasy (chair of European Movement) spoke well too.
A great discussion with Sir Keir, Lucy Powell and Gary Neville… about football.
Hilarious!
Day 3
The session on Amnesty and human rights was very interesting. I recall some of it from my Masters course, years ago. Sadly there is a pause as they decide what to do.
There was a most interesting chap called Lord Fred Ponsonby. Not sure about him, cannot always tell. However, he is against the Tories ruining NI. A chap called Craig told us a very sad story about a child. Huge concerned about human rights. Then Sacha and Naomi spelled out the danger of the Tories in every respect of our rights.
After a break – lots of biscuits! – found a seat where I could see Sir Keir and stood up after each sentence. It was superb. No yells. No trading. Just the joy we have from his future as PM.
He put Mistrust in her place with regard for her contempt for the poor not the rich (she has spent £500,000 of tax payer’s money on a trip to Australia). He outlined support for businesses, more medics, more techs, less injustice, treatment for NHS workers and much more.
All stood up, clapped and cheered.
To calm down I sang from my seat joining a lovely Ukrainian song, which had the same tune I often play.
Finally, David Lammy, our shadow foreign minister. What a list… slavery… still going on, Putin’s dictatorship, Windrush disgrace, famines across the globe. And much more.
But there are signs of hope now. Labour is back.
