I propose a motion – Labour should ditch conference altogether

Following today’s Supreme Court ruling, and tomorrow’s opening of parliament, the whole thing is looking rather overshadowed. And that’s no bad thing at all

This may surprise delegates and members debating rule changes and motions, but most people are not tuning into BBC Parliament Live to watch the Labour Party Annual Conference in Brighton.

Real people are at work, looking after their children, down the gym or doing the shopping and do not have the slightest interest in the internal workings of Labour Party procedure and rules. Come to think of it, most members don’t either. A lot of Labour MPs aren’t even going. Following today’s Supreme Court ruling, and tomorrow’s resumption of business in parliament, the whole thing is looking rather overshadowed. And that’s no bad thing at all.

I was always told by my grandmother never to air my dirty laundry in public. Conferences do just that. Factions compete for control in public view. Rows over procedure erupt, confusing anyone who might be tuning in. Arguments over policy expose disagreements and divisions that we all know exist, but which we normally do our level best to cover up. Opportunities for gaffes, being overheard, and contradicting policy are everywhere. It’s a minefield. All the while, senior figures are guarded by their own bag carriers against the inevitable request for a selfie.

An extraordinary range of eclectic individuals with a peculiar dress sense appear on platforms and espouse their considered view on all matters before the nation. Some of those views, let’s be honest, are mad. We all know the party staffers and insiders flinch the moment the conference floor is opened up to members. Archaic language and terminology from enthusiastic and excited “comrades” baffle the viewers.

The Labour Party has a long history of feisty and sometimes vicious party conferences. Ideologues argue with pragmatists over the best route to socialism, or social democracy, or democratic socialism, or nowadays sometimes even Marxism.

Some have gone down in conference history: Foot’s speech at the conference on Europe, Benn attacking the leadership over its record in government, Kinnock expelling Militant and the Clause IV conference. All provide delightful opportunities for the media to present the Labour Party as composed of people with raised, clenched fists, waving Palestinian flags, and handing out antisemitic cartoons, that is, if they aren’t already protesting outside against their own conference.

There is, of course, a wider debate around the necessity of the entire conference period. For a month of the parliamentary calendar, parliament is suspended while MPs, party and parliamentary staff, councillors and party members head off to the seaside. In this period, there is no parliamentary scrutiny of the executive and no accountability of executive decision making. For one month of the year, we have an elected dictatorship. For one month, our politicians are away from work, self-aggrandizing, building their networks and enjoy drinks parties.

At conferences, politicians and members spend four days at fringe meetings sponsored by lobby groups and special interests. An enormous number of private off-the-record meetings take place between decision makers at all levels of government and those seeking to influence them. No record is kept of agreements that are made.

Selections and appointments of candidates are organised, handshakes secure policy agreements, and rumours become rife. They serve no practical purpose to the effective government and administration of the nation. They are in many respects redundant.

Surely in the 21st century the party conference has become an outdated event. With social media, the internet and digital campaigning reaching new and fantastic heights, do we need an annual conference? The cost of party conferences is amazing and unaffordable to many members and supporters. Big corporations, monopolies and well-funded campaigns love them, as their cheque-book gives them total access to the elite of government. Decisions made at conferences rarely are enacted as political conditions change through time.

Let’s make 2019 the last of this expensive and unnecessary performance. Instead, parties could organise a week of social action: community cleanups, fundraising for charities or other noble causes, combined with online voting to help shape policy. Members and groups are quite capable of pitching ideas with video if so inclined. Let’s keep our MPs in Westminster and in their constituencies, doing their job.

Brendan Chilton is a Labour councillor in Ashford and was head of the Labour Leave campaign during the EU Referendum