Should we shift to a long weekend party conference?

sunderkatwala Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 09:08:58 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Douglas Alexander says that a 'long weekend' Labour conference would allow more working people to take part at the Fabian fringe. Should we do next year's conference differently?



Shifting the Labour conference to a 'long weekend' could help the party to reach out and reconnect, the party's election coordinator Douglas Alexander told the Fabian fringe. http://fabians.org.uk/news/alexander-conference-07/ A working week conference made it too difficult for many working people to participate fully in Labour's biggest annual event, unless they are trade union organisers or professionally involved in politics. 'We should at least consider having conference over a long weekend: it is more likely that working people would be able to attend', Alexander told the Labour conference on Campaigning for Change on Sunday. So would it be a better approach?

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Should we shift to a long weekend party conference? | 6 comments (6 topical)

A long weekend party conference? (#1)

by Mike Ion on Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 09:26:08 AM GMT

Yes - this is the type of attention to detail that is needed if we are to truly extend and renew democracy in the party. I also think we should give thought to where we hold conferences. Manchester was a huge success last year and I would hope that cities like Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol etc could be considered in the future.


Re: A long weekend party conference? (#4)

by alexhilton on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 01:20:05 AM GMT

And if we're serious about being a unionist party, there are cities in Scotland and Wales with the capacity to cope with a party conference.

Or has Glasgow had enough of the English  by September?


[ Parent ]

Re: Should we shift to a long weekend (#2)

by NorthernMonkey on Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 03:10:32 PM GMT

Yes I agree, conferences should be held on the weekend. It seems stupid that Brown is giving his speech on a Monday afternoon when everyone is at work - the leader's speech should be held on a Saturday evening when it would be on prime-time TV and everyone could watch it if they wanted to.

Also, I think it's essential that we stop going to these small seaside resorts and start holding conference in the various big cities of Britain. But it can't just be Manchester all the time, it must be other cities too.


Re: Should we shift to a long weekend (#3)

by doctordunc on Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 09:16:19 PM GMT

If it's primarily an opportunity to hear a few speeches from the front bench (which is what the 'reforms' appear to add up to) they might as well do it on a live webcast one evening and save everybody a lot of fuss!


[ Parent ]

Re: Should we shift to a long weekend (#5)

by Parishpumpspin on Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 11:44:45 AM GMT

Ignoring the usual oppositionist stance of DD, my concern about long weekend conferences is the havac it would create, in terms of home life etc, for those who do conference for work reasons, which if truth be told is more Labour Party members on those badges than attend as delegates. Not opposed simply pointing out the flip side.


[ Parent ]

Re: Should we shift to a long weekend (#6)

by doctordunc on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 09:37:19 AM GMT

Oppositionist?

I want to maintain the existence of a Labour Party.  I don't think that's being oppositionist.


[ Parent ]

Should we shift to a long weekend party conference? | 6 comments (6 topical)