Prominent members of the Labour Party have stated that the left-wing presence at this year’s party conference will be significantly reduced. This marks a departure from the tradition of the Jeremy Corbyn-era fringe festival, which will not be held for the first time since 2016.
Delegates from the party’s centrist wing are likely to have a significant impact on the conference in Liverpool. However, there are indications that there will be attempts to push for votes on contentious topics like the two-child benefit cap and the winter fuel allowance.
Groups such as Momentum and other grassroots organisations are fiercely battling to protect their few remaining seats on the party’s governing body. This body currently holds a substantial majority for the centrist faction, known as Labour to Win.
According to a former shadow cabinet minister from the Corbyn era, individuals who are unhappy with Keir Starmer’s leadership, particularly his approach to parliamentary selections and party discipline, are likely to avoid involvement this year. “In the coming years, there will likely be increasing opportunities to exert pressure from the left,” they stated.
Seven well-known leftwing MPs, including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and former shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, have been suspended from the Labour whip for voting against an amendment to abolish the two-child benefit limit.
A representative from Momentum stated that there are still areas where members with left-wing ideologies will be actively involved. “Although the balance of delegates at the conference is expected to favour Starmer, the Labour party is facing significant internal disagreements between the majority of members and trade unionists. The majority supports sensible progressive policies such as the removal of the two-child benefit cap and an end to austerity policies after 14 years of Tory misrule. On the other hand, a small group around the leadership remains overly focused on control and is content with the Treasury dictating economic policy,” the spokesperson explained.
The World Transformed, a leftwing political festival that has been a fringe event to the conference for the past eight years, will not be returning to the conference in Liverpool this year.
Over the past year, it has organised rallies for Corbyn as party leader and featured prominent leftwing figures like Naomi Klein and Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Ever since Starmer took charge, it has become a gathering place for his adversaries to unite and exert influence on the party.
The organisers of The World Transformed described it as a dynamic gathering where numerous activists from trade unions, social movements, campaign groups, Momentum, and other socialist organisations came together to collaborate and plan.
However, they mentioned that the current landscape has undergone significant changes and suggested that the event could become a platform for leftwing politics outside of the Labour Party. They pointed to examples such as the Greens advocating for a progressive policy platform, independent candidates who reject the genocide in Gaza, and Jeremy Corbyn’s victory over a vulture capitalist. The group announced that a new version of the festival is scheduled to make a comeback in spring 2025.
There have been internal divisions within Momentum regarding its future direction, including disagreements over support for Corbyn’s independent candidature. As a result, several prominent figures have departed from both the group and the Labour party. Hilary Schan, who was previously co-chair, stepped down from the party during the summer.
The conference in Liverpool will be a pivotal moment for Starmer, as he enjoys strong delegate support. However, it is unlikely that any major party rule changes will be proposed.
Some individuals argue that now is the opportune time to consider a rule change that would limit the selection of the next Labour leader to only MPs while the party is in government. This proposal aims to avoid the turmoil experienced by the Conservatives when members were involved in the leadership election.
However, senior Labour figures are of the opinion that the proposal would not gain support from trade unions and is too assertive considering the efforts made by party members during the election.