‘Our Andy’s’ first conference as leader. Buckle up…
MAIN SPEECHES
Sunday
12:30pm. Deputy Leader Lucy Powell’s speech.
2pm. Policy plenary.
4:45pm. Votes.
Monday
12pm. John Healey’s speech. The grim reality check amidst all the beaming Burnham puppyish optimism…
2pm. Policy plenary.
Tuesday
2pm. Burnham’s speech.
Wednesday
9:45am. Policy plenary.
12:30pm. Close of conference. A relief to all…
WHERE TO GET DRINKS
Saturday
4:30pm is the delegate welcome reception.
7pm. Regional receptions.
9pm is the LGBT+ Labour and YouTube party. The first proper one of the week.
Sunday
4:30pm is the Mayors Reception.
4:30pm is the Socialist Society Reception.
5pm. Young Labour Reception and, separately, the Labour to Win Rally. The two wings, same hour.
5pm is the Annual Trade Union Reception, with Sir John Curtice.
5pm. Prospect Editor’s drinks.
5pm is Northern Night.
5:30pm. Labour Movement for Europe Rally, chaired by Stella Creasy. Speakers to be announced, which tells you something.
6pm is The Rural Reception.
6pm. The Quiz in the North.
6:30pm is The Big Housing Reception… and the New Statesman’s Opening Reception in the Museum of Liverpool.
7pm is Welsh Night. Expect a wake.
7pm. Charity Bingo Reception.
7:30pm is Scots Night. See above.
8pm. IPPR and ThinkLabour drinks.
8:30pm is the Coastal PLP Reception.
9.30pm. The Spectator’s bash. Invites required.
Monday
5:30pm is The Great North Reception.
5:45pm. End the Siege on Cuba: Rally & Social, with the Cuban Ambassador.
6pm. The Labour First Rally.
6pm. The GB News Celebrate Britain Party. Invite only…
6:30pm is the Labour Tech Party.
6:30pm. New Economics Foundation drinks.
7pm is the Annual Palestine Reception.
7pm. Ocean & Coastal Reception.
7:15pm. Amey drinks.
7:30pm is Mainstream’s conference rally.
7.30pm. New Statesman Editor’s drinks. Invite only…
8pm is LabourList Karaoke & DJ Night. Earplugs essential…
8pm. Party with the Co-operative Party.
8:45pm. Humanists UK drinks.
9:30pm. Education Policy Drinks.
9.30pm. LBC’s bash. Invites required.
Tuesday
4:15pm is the Youth Zone Reception.
5pm. Socialist Campaign Group.
6pm is the Labour Business Reception.
7:15pm is the Total Politics Reception.
8pm. Green Groups Reception.
8pm. TikTok and UK Music present the Labour Students disco at Camp and Furnace.
10pm. The Mirror party. The big one, invites needed…
The rest of the information can be read below:
WHERE ARE THE WONKS
The wonks have colonised the programme. Guido has ranked them:
Also lurking: the EU’s own Delegation to the UK is co-hosting a fringe with the Centre for European Reform on Monday, and the Ambassador throws a reception at the Hilton at 1pm.
THE LOBBYISTS HAVE THEIR OWN ROOMS NOW
Five public affairs firms have named venues running more than forty events between them.
Anacta has The Anacta Hub, with twelve.
PLMR has the PLMR Policy Hub, with eleven.
Arden Strategy has two, the Events Lounge and the Insights Hub.
DGA and InHouse have one each.
Anacta is also staging a private screening of Burnham’s speech for delegates who can’t get into the hall, with its “senior counsel team alongside industry leaders“. Quite.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Sinn Féin have a fringe on Monday evening at the DoubleTree, “A Future Beyond The Union”, with Mary Lou McDonald and Pat Cullen. Chaired by the Mirror’s Kevin Maguire.
The Spectator has booked a room for “The War on Fun: Is Government Policy Pricing Britain out of Pleasure & Growth?”
Four separate fringes debate “Manchesterism”. UK Music got there first with the pun and is running “Madchesterism” at the Hilton.
Eight events compete over the same NEET acronym. The Purpose Coalition wins with “From NEETs to PEETs”.
East and South East Asians for Labour are hosting “The Wok Agenda: A Recipe for Growth” at Rosa’s Thai, chaired by business minister Lord Leong. The Port of Dover counters with “Dover Soul”, an evening of live soul music. Royal Mail offers “Signed, Sealed, Sipped”.
Heathrow has built what the brochure calls an “airport-style lounge” in Meeting Room 3B, and taken a full page advertising the third runway.
At 8am each morning, Surfers Against Sewage invite delegates to “Dip at the Docks”.
Darren Jones sits down the the New Statesman’s Ailbhe Rae at 2pm on Sunday. Look out for any Burnham broadsides…
Animal Free Research UK promise you can have your photo taken with a giant beagle.
Realistically, everyone will end up in the Pullman bar…
Guido is making additions. Remember our conference tip box is always open: team@order-order.com
Asked by Lobby hacks about his past comments on Trump (“any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now”) Burnham was blithe:
“Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in.”
Were it so easy…