Katy Balls Katy Balls

Battle lines drawn ahead of Labour conference

Comrades, Labour conference is here. Today MPs and members descend on Brighton for four days of speeches and discussions on what Labour has to do in order to become a party of government. With the party now leading in the polls, the fringe talks on 21st century socialism, Venezuela and foreign policy at large will be watched with newfound interest from the business community.

Given the trouble the Tories found themselves in last week over Europe, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Labour party by comparison is now the picture of stability and calm. But as the party comes together for the first time since the snap election, a number of battles are being fought behind the scenes.

With the Leader’s Office focusing on members rather than the Parliamentary party, a host of Labour politicians – including Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and shadow housing minister John Healey – have found themselves no platformed at the event.

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