When it started, a funeral was taking place outside, between security and the Ferris wheel. Four men in black appeared in the square outside the entrance to the conference center at the start of the Labor Party conference in Liverpool on Sunday. They were carrying a coffin, which they set down somewhat awkwardly. Flowers were placed on it in honor of those who died: the Labor Party. It is no longer, or at least that is how the demonstrators dressed as mourners see it, “Labour is Dead”, Labor is dead, they have even established a hashtag for it. Murdered by a man who is walking around Liverpool in a particularly happy mood these days: Keir Starmer. Starmer has been party leader for three and a half years. And, if the impression in Liverpool is correct, the next British Prime Minister.
Inside, in the “Parliamentary Lounge” in the conference center, sits Meg Hillier, 54, a friendly Labor MP who likes to wear floral dresses and therefore often seems in a good mood. Labor is dead? When you talk to Hillier, who has been in the House of Commons for 18 years, you get the impression that Labor is more vibrant than it has been in years. Protesters, well, says Meg Hillier, are part of a democratic country and they happen every year. Liverpool 2023 is their 17th party conference.
Demonstrators in the squares in front of the conference centers are actually a common sight at party conferences in the United Kingdom. Only, among the Conservatives it is Tory opponents who shout “Tories out”, guarded by the police. In Labour, it is the Labor left who believe their party is too far to the right, ignored by the party. As they perform their funeral show on Sunday, a handful of people watch. Otherwise, most party members did not come here to mourn. On the contrary. Labor is consistently leading in the polls, usually around 20 percent ahead of the Tories, and this is the last party conference before next year’s elections. At the conference center in Liverpool, Labor wants to present itself as the future government after 13 years in opposition.
Supporters of his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn are not allowed to stand for election
The conference center in Liverpool is located on the river docks. It’s beautiful there, the docks have become a presentable part of the city in recent years. Liverpool is a vibrant city, but also one full of anarchy. Beyond the docks lie the areas called “rough areas”. About a 20-minute walk from the pretty Labor World on the docks is the Black-E, a cathedral-like 19th-century church that has been an arts and community center since the 1960s. Since 2016, a parallel event has been taking place here during the party conference: “The World Transformed”, a left-wing festival. Young people, colorfully dressed, sit on the steps; the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. It’s Monday afternoon and a protest march is about to begin from the Black-E down to the docks.
A few participants gather in front of the steps and shout slogans like “No one will be deported” or “No one is illegal.” On the steps stands John McDonnell, the former shadow finance minister under Starmer’s predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, a long-time Labor MP who stands out here because he is the only one wearing a suit. Then the march begins, which looks more like a walk among friends, with self-painted flags and strollers.
Labor is no longer the party of the left since Keir Starmer took over. The 61-year-old former public prosecutor has made the party his own, there is not the slightest doubt about that during these four days in Liverpool. Starmer has rigorously eradicated the party left that took over under his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. He kicked Corbyn out of the parliamentary group and banned Corbyn-affiliated MPs from running for the next election, including John McDonnell.
He addresses topics that conservatives otherwise claim as their own
Meg Hillier says it is important to have MPs “who could theoretically also hold ministerial office.” But, rigorous eradication of political opponents? There are now clear rules in the party again, says Meg Hillier diplomatically, and discipline is important if you want to govern a country. She thinks you have to listen to John McDonnell and the others on the left wing, but as for Jeremy Corbyn: “He had his chance.”
Another day in the belly of the conference center, Josh Simons sits in front of room 19. He says there is no alternative to Starmer trying to firmly anchor the party in the political center. Josh Simons is the head of the think tank “Labour Together”. He also worked as a political advisor for Jeremy Corbyn for a few months seven years ago, but quit the job because he did not agree with Corbyn’s path. Simons says there are two goals in Labor’s election campaign: “Firstly, to bring back the voters who switched from Labor to the Tories in 2019, and secondly, to allow core Tory voters to choose not to vote at all.” This also means addressing issues that the conservatives otherwise claim as their own, such as migration, the economy, crime.
In his speech on Tuesday afternoon, Starmer says the country is wounded, Labor will heal the wounds, Starmer says: “We are the healers.” He talks about what he has planned, about investments, about a strategy in several steps. But before he can begin, a man storms onto the stage, showers him with confetti and screams. Starmer takes off his soiled jacket and rolls up his sleeves as the man is led away.
“Protest or Power,” Keir Starmer then shouts into the hall: “That’s exactly why we changed the party!” The people in the hall jump up, cheer and applaud for almost a minute. The glitter sticks to his shirt, his hands, his hair for the entire speech, but no one in Liverpool cares.