Labour’s conference in Liverpool was a decidedly awkward affair.  For delegates it was akin to a wedding where the dysfunctional extended family feels it must come together; yet groups prefer to remain siloed in their own spaces as far as is possible, save for the big event itself.

The strange enthusiasm and palpable shock at victory which permeated Liverpool 2024 seemed to have been replaced by a new reality.  The difficulty of Government.  Hard choices were clearly more than some in the Labour movement could stomach.  Many had voted with their feed and absented themselves from the annual jamboree where these hard choices would be feted.

For the commercial exhibitor Labour 25 was very reminiscent of Labour 24, not least because it was taking place at the same Liverpool Venue.  Just with notably fewer attendees.  Some fringe events seemed practically empty.  Given the price gouging both for commercial visitor passes and events space this must have been particularly galling for sponsors.

What was most interesting about Labour ‘25 wasn’t so much what happened in the conference, or in the leader’s speech; but in the fringes of the various party groups vying for supremacy.  Each trying to grasp the tiller of what seems to be a rather directionless ship.  Buffered by events, rather than leading them or setting the agenda.  At least the right of the party could pat itself on the back for controlling the conference agenda.  There was very little else to celebrate.  Somewhat of a paradox with its 148-seat majority.

Worst still, an outsider could almost have been fooled into thinking that Labour ‘25 was not a government conference.  Although to the discerning eye, the massed ranks of the suited lobbyists would tell a different story.  The constant reference to Reform’s Nigel Farage gave the impression that he and not Keir Starmer was wielding power in the UK.  Farage was mentioned by name everywhere in the fringes to the Leader’s speech itself.  So much so that the Reform leader garnered more air time than the ‘King over the water’ Andy Burnham.  Indeed, so omnipresent was the irrepressible Reform leader you might think he had been given a special conference pass.  He was certainly living rent free in the heads of the Labour leadership.

Keir Starmer’s speech was more accomplished and surer footed than last year’s with none of the awkward “sausages” gaffs.  Although the Daily Mail wasted no time in locating the voter he referenced on immigration.  She, like many former Labour voters, had long since deserted the party for Reform.  Party conference speeches are seldom the home of great oratory.  However, what was also striking to the seasoned listener were the stock phrases.  At one point he almost seemed to ape David Cameron’s Big Society.  At another, a reference so strikingly similar to the BBC’s House of Cards it left you wondering if it had been inserted as a joke amongst speechwriters.  For surely that is a more palatable explanation than it was harvested via means of Chat GPT?

As has become the norm, there was very little of note in the keynote speech.  The only big announcement not significantly trailed was dropping the Blair era pledge of sending 50% of young people to university.  In its place a new pledge involving sending two this to university or a gold standard apprenticeship.  Not that this didn’t stop delegates applauding with the sort of enthusiasm more commonly associated with North Korea.  Spare a thought for the Conservatives and Kemi Badenoch.  Who she?  Perhaps for the first time in a century a Labour leader felt he need barely comment on the leader of the Conservatives and His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.

There are four more long years of this Government yet.  Unless Keir Starmer knows something, he isn’t telling.  Labour needs to find its feet.  Otherwise, this was a party setting itself up as the future opposition to a future Reform Government.  A very curious position for a party with such an overwhelming majority in the Commons.