The conference season : Do party conferences still matter?
Whether it’s a warm glass of white wine or a curly sandwich, the delights of party conference season have never been culinary. But are party conferences, food and drink aside, worth the time and effort? Why should we bother? Do they really make a difference?
For public affairs and communication professionals, party conferences do continue to play an important role for five broad reasons.
The first is obvious. For those long autumnal days each year, party conferences are the centre of British politics. This is the time when parties frame their offering or set out new, or more fully formed policy positions. In the case of Labour and the Liberal Democrats, conferences are also a key formal part of the policy formulation process – conference motions matter.
Secondly, party conferences are a useful temperature test on how a party’s membership is feeling. Not something that can be viewed from TV images of conference speeches, but from attending fringe events, hearing what questions members are raising and what discussions are being had.
Often issues less important to the public at large can be a key focus for activists – issues that may later become party political priorities. At party conferences, everything is magnified – from minute policy differences, to personality clashes and perceived leadership challenges. Being there helps to understand how a party, and therefore its elected members, tick.
Thirdly, party conferences offer an opportunity to engage with elected members and parties more broadly. This matters at difference stages of a political cycle – a new leader, a looming election, a party weakened post-election and desperate for ideas.
As a public affairs professional this may mean holding a fringe event, sponsoring a reception, or staffing a stand. This may be about profile, or it could be about leading and shaping a debate. Either way, party conferences offer opportunities.
Fourthly, party conferences offer a chance to increase your reach across new stakeholders and within new policy areas. Even the best laid meeting programmes are subject to the vagaries of political diaries, so for this, I’d include stakeholders as well. Sometimes a chat with a new face over a glass of wine or coffee can spark new ways of looking at things, a new coalition, more opportunities to come.
And lastly, conferences help you to understand and benchmark. What organisations are operating in your space? How active are your competitors and partners? This of course feeds into another activity public affairs professionals love – stakeholder mapping.
Party conferences 2022: What to look out for
Predictions in politics are hard. But party conferences will be pored over to judge three things – policies, personalities and vision.
Party conferences throw up policies - the good, the bad, and the downright dangerous. Some more fully formed than others, and some with the totemic significance to move from party conference floor to the statute book.
As much as parties often like to make policies front and centre, personalities also matter. This may manifest itself as party division, as rival camps battle and potentially heal after a bruising contest (how will the Conservatives fair after a bruising leadership contest, and the deposing of an undoubtedly big personality?)
The final judgement is around vision. It may be a fundamental discussion around what a party believes, on tax and public spending, on public ownership, on what they are for and what Britain they want to create.
To paraphrase Tony Benn, it’s politicians as signposts, rather than weathercocks. Parties will vie to put forward a compelling vision of the future that only they can deliver.
Although it’s hard to predict what the few weeks this autumn will bring, it’s safe to say that they will be significant in shaping the politics to come.
So, public affairs professionals, get ready for the late nights, warm wine (red is always the better option) and beige food – Party Conference season is upon us!
David Boot is a member of the CIPR Public Affairs committee.