Labour Party Conference 2024
Attending the Labour Party Conference 2024, in the first year of Labour in power for 14 years, was a fantastic experience for a lifelong Labour supporter like me. Thank you to the Torridge and Tavistock CLP for providing the opportunity. Conference took the motto ...‘work hard play hard’ seriously, our group did both simultaneously and enjoyed every minute!
From the Labour Training and Party Stand we learnt about the positive approaches we can take to make the most of our CLP, branches and wider engagement with people in our area. As involved Labour members we are encouraged to be flexible- holding meetings at different times and venues to fit in with diverse lifestyles and commitments, and structured- for example with our agendas and minutes recording actions. Holding political conversation in a civil way and listening to a wide cross-section of voices is important too. We are prompted to take opportunities to ask people- would you like to get involved? Would you like to become a member?
The Exhibition Hall showcased a fascinating range of organisations, from Crustacean Compassion- who are campaigning for shelled animals to be included under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (I signed the petition), to the Carbon Capture & Storage Association, the European trade association who have identified the UK seabed in the northwest and the east as rich in potential for carbon capture. The Property Institute is seeking the professionalisation of building managers through regulation to improve building standards for leaseholders. And there were campaigns against the indefinite detention of immigrants waiting for claims to be processed, and to increase the voting rights of residents without citizenship, which can be out of financial reach for some longtime members of our society.
One also thinks of those who don’t have a stand. Some of those people were walking or rolling the halls and avenues of the conference centre. People watching and friendly conversations were enriching and illuminating. The circling journalists rather induced a little anxiety, with opportunity and risk at stake, but our group wasn’t too shy (or outrageous) and offered our points of view briefly and politely on the mic and on camera.
Keir’s speech on Tuesday afternoon, both oratorical and conversational, prompted a tear and a laugh, like the best Labour speeches do. He told us about the decisions to locate Great British Energy headquarters in Aberdeen, and to provide housing for veterans, care home leavers and victims of domestic abuse. We didn’t hear a word of sausages until afterwards; and by that time Isabel, Dan Steel and I were in the car home, putting Conference and the world to rights via the Gloucestershire services. We’ve had our privilege now, let’s do something with it! Looking forward to the upcoming months and years working together to increase the Labour vote in Torridge & Tavistock and make Isabel Saxby our next MP.
Gemma Loving
Vice Chair of Tavistock Branch Labour Party

Labour Central Devon CLP The Labour Party Isabel Saxby Angela Rayner Keir Starmer Bideford Labour Branch North Devon Labour Party Labour Torrington Labour South West Rachel Reeves Tavistock Parish Tavistock Labour @followers

Great charity aiming at keeping everyone warm this winter. If you have any second hand coats going spare please think of donating them to Wrap Up South West

This was my first political conference and it exceeded my expectations. The electric atmosphere and palpable sense of positivity,
inspired in no small part by this summer's general election victory, were energising.

When taking to the stage to deliver her welcoming speech, Deputy... Prime Minister Angela Rayner was greeted with the kind of reception usually reserved for rock stars. Her words were met with a rapturous response.

The following day, Rachel Reeves - Britain's first female Chancellor - didn't shy away from the tough decisions it would take to balance the country's books after 14 years of Tory economic mismanagement.

But the icing on the cake was the hopeful yet pragmatic, and, yes, funny in places, speech by our new Prime Minister. Sir Keir Starmer dismissed the politics of “easy answers” and vowed that the work of change was only just beginning.

Browsing the exhibition hall stands and attending training sessions meant each day brought something new. Socially, there was a packed programme - including Dawn Butler MP's fantastic Jamaica party, where people forged connections and friendships.

All in all, conference instilled in me a hope for the future and a sense of relief that the right people are now in charge.

Ellen: Press Officer Torridge and Tavistock Labour Party

@LabourParty @KeirStarmer @RachelReevesmp @AngelaRayner @DawnButlerBrent

accessibility: the picture is a photo of the Labour Party front bench sat in the conference hall

Introduced by 21 year old PPE student Michael Conroy
@keirstarmer has just addressed a record-breaking, largest ever conference audience. In his first #labourconference speech as PM he told us that “The work of change has begun.”
Confident, composed and self-assured, PM Starmer’s 1st ...pledge was for a #hillsboroughlaw designed to stop state cover-ups
denying victims justice, not just for the #liverpool97 but also in cases like the #postofficescandal and the #grenfelldisaster
“And we’re only just getting started.”
The speech showed that Starmer and the @labourparty have been listening proven by the number of standing ovations. I was up and down so much my knees hurt!
#governmentofservice #nationalrenewal
#changebegins #countryfirstpartysecond #the97 #homesforheroes #justiceforgrenfell
#mandateforchange

Another rockstar reception, this time for @rachelreevesmp as she delivers her inaugural speech as our first ever female #chancelloroftheexchequer
As her introducer said, “Rachel has not only broken the glass ceiling, she’s taken a wrecking ball to it.”
For the @mileycyrus of ...politics a rockstar welcome seems utterly deserved.
#firstfemalechancellor #icameinlikeawreckingball #labourwomensnetwork #glassceilingshattered #changebegins #labourpartyconference2024

A rock star reception for @angelaraynermp at #labourconference24 this morning. Torridge and Tavistock Labour Party have a record number of delegates at conference this year, which is testament to the ground swell of support that has been building through the general election and beyond. No, we ...didn’t win this time but thanks to our voters, canvassers and volunteers we are galvanised and ready to win for you in 2029
#theisabelsaxbyeffect #votelabour2029
#votelabour The Labour Party Angela Rayner