Whilst the atmosphere at Labour’s Local Government Conference earlier this month was celebratory, the most well-attended fringe events indicated that, under the surface, activists are anxious.
Though the party does have much to celebrate; in 2023 it became the largest party in Local Government for the first time since 2002 and has a stonking Commons majority, using it to make tentative steps towards re-distributing funding to Councils in more deprived (and coincidentally more likely to vote Labour) areas.
The private sector has noticed too. The glitzy gala dinner at which Health Secretary Wes Streeting was the guest speaker was sponsored by property developer Thakeham, robot delivery vehicle manufacturer Starship and, of course, Cavendish. Despite the popularity challenges the Government is facing quite early into its tenure, Labour is still recognised as the party you need to speak to, given their presence in Local Authorities and firm control of the Government until up to 2029.
Banners adorning the Warwick University Conference Centre carried the words “Change Locally Nationally” and, despite being the incumbent government, “Change” was unveiled as the theme for the forthcoming County Council elections later this year.
But what change is Labour offering?
As this was a Local Government Conference much was made of pavement politics issues, particularly potholes, supported with polling showing this among the most important of issues to voters going to the polls in local elections. Though is a promise to fill in more potholes going to counterbalance the national government’s unpopularity arising from its missteps? Probably not.
Speaking frankly, the party didn’t present much of a concrete policy platform that will feel like a notable change for many people. In practice the change that Labour is offering is merely a change of personnel, as the Conservative Party is the incumbent in far more seats than Labour in this round of elections (around 1000 vs. Labour’s 300 or so). It remains to be seen whether voters will differentiate sufficiently between local and national politics to recognise that kicking His Majesty’s Opposition would be a vote for change this year. Even if they do, Labour won’t necessarily be the beneficiary of this. The standing-room-only attendance at a training session on beating Reform indicates this is something that hopeful Labour County Council candidates are alive to also.
Those looking for messages of genuine change at the conference would be best listening to the contribution of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner MP, who repeated her comments from an interview with Laura Kuenssberg broadcast earlier that morning. This related to Labour’s pledge to drive the development of 1.5million homes over the course of this Parliament. Rayner revealed that upon her appointment at MHCLG Civil Servants had pressured her to water down the target as they considered it undeliverable. Naturally, Rayner refused, and proceeded with a refresh of the NPPF, proposals to give Councils extra Planning Officer capacity, redistribute resources to Councils with greater need, provide more money for the affordable homes programme and press forward with devolution which would require strategic planning documents to be developed all over England.
Rayner’s speech to the conference was a refreshing contribution showing that, despite the challenges the government has faced in its first few months, there are still those within it determined not to be knocked off course and to get on with delivery.
