This article was originally published in the Transport Times

For many, it seems to be fair game to be critical of the party conferences. Complaints are made about the take-over of the conferences by professional campaigners, lobbyists and journalists. But this misses the point of the conferences and underestimates their value.

The party conferences represent one of the few times that the parties come together in one place – councillors, members, delegates, MPs, advisers etc.

The view of the conferences obtained by watching them on the TV and that from actually being there, are often different. It was easy to note the more financially sceptical line taken by Ed Balls towards HS2 from his speech and the briefings given to the media but what was clear from attending fringe meetings was that there remains large support for the scheme. Issues such as greater local control over rail and devolution were mentioned around the conference hall and hotels time and again so it becomes easier to understand why Maria Eagle featured these heavily in her speech to conference.

For the Conservatives, this conference was all about being seen to be four-square behind HS2 but the rumblings from amongst the local associations continues. What was also noticeable from across all the parties was that transport did not feature on the fringe as heavily as in previous years.

Attending the party conferences provides insight and understanding that would not otherwise be available. Not everyone finds themselves in London all the time and conferences offer the prospect of bumping into those that you are trying to work with. It is generally a more informal space and so even the most fleeting discussion can at least mean that a follow-up is possible. The connection may never otherwise have been made. Those that claim that more can be done in London are missing the point and are taking a very London and Westminster centric view of the world.

Attending the fringe meetings organised around the conferences offers the prospect of not only hearing about policy and ideas from the politicians but also from other stakeholders. The discussions often provide an insight into future policy development and provide a welcome insight into some of the personalities involved as well.


Each conference has its own way of behaving and each party its own way of policy making some involving the conferences more than others. The Labour conference used to be considered the 'parliament of the party' but it is a long time since it played that role. The main role of the Conservative conference is for party members to show their support for the leadership. The Conservative Party understood the meaning of discipline and unity long before Labour had it imposed on them by an unforgiving electorate and media. The Lib Dem conference is probably the closest there now is to democracy at a conference but being in government appears to be providing more certainty to the leadership about the behaviour, and votes, of the membership.

It is very difficult to understand the parties properly if you do not attend the conferences. Too often the emphasis is solely on Government but if organisations are to plan properly and manage risk effectively then a wider view is required.
That does not mean that organisations should always spend huge sums of money organising events, holding exhibitions or sponsoring party events but instead a carefully built and targeting conference campaign can prove useful. Participation is important but requires planning.

Participation at the conferences offers the prospect of engaging with more people and, if properly organised, building a wider basis of support. The party conferences are not just about politicians and their advisers but party members, local councillors, trade unions, the media and other campaigning groups. These could all be stakeholders that are important in a campaign or development of a policy.

So for a number of reasons the party conferences remain important. Their death has long been foretold but to any organisation serious about working on policy and project development they remain essential.

See you at the party conferences in 2014 the last ones before the next General Election. Dr Stuart Thomson

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