UNISON National Delegate Conference: Liverpool 2025

Today I travelled by train to Liverpool to take part in the UNISON National Delegate Conference as a NEC representative for Community (80,000 Housing Associations and Charities members) with my colleague Denise Thomas. 

I always know I am back in Liverpool when I see the statues of Ken Dodd and Bessie Braddock MP in Lime Street Station. I was born and raised in nearby North Wales and have many fond memories of visiting Liverpool. 

Around 2000 delegates and visitors will be attending the annual conference of the largest trade union in the UK. 

This evening I attended the Greater London Regional briefing for all our delegates. The elected regional delegates, Yvonne and Andrew, the Regional Secretary Sara and our Standing orders Committee representative Jim, advised delegates and answered questions on what to expect and how conference is likely to be run during the next 4 days.  

As a NEC delegate and London member I mentioned the National Labour Link fringe on the Employment Rights Bill and invited delegates to attend. 

There was a number of great questions by delegates about various aspects of conference business and also in my view, some rather unwise suggestions. I gently reminded delegates on the personal dangers and wider risks of not following legal advice during debates at conference.  

Nuf said. But Beware! Beware!

Labour Party Conference 2024: Saturday

Back home after 5 days away at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. This year I went as a Labour Councillor (self funded apart from the conference fee which is paid out of our ALC subs). Which meant that unlike delegates I could go and see the debates, speeches and fringes that interested me. Mostly about pensions and housing. I did not miss the early morning pre conference delegation meetings either. 

I travelled down with my UNISON and work colleague, Joseph Ogundemuren who is also a Labour Councillor in Hackney but he was part of the UNISON delegation. We travelled by train to Liverpool on the Saturday, to go to the London Labour reception that evening. At the station I passed the statue, once again, of "Battling Bessie Braddock". 

The London Reception was in a huge room in the ACC centre, Albert Docks. The PA was pretty awful but it was well chaired by Dawn Butler MP and I enjoyed the speeches by Prime Minister Keir Starmer (I am still in some way shocked that Labour is in power), London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and others (many others!).  Keir (A London MP of course) seemed in a particularly good mood and was clearly excited and pleased to be there. 

It was good to meet and chat (aka gossip) with various London Labour Party members, some of which I have known for many years but usually only meet at Conference. 

Saturday had also been Labour Women's Conference which apparently went well. The official Labour conference opened 11am Sunday. I will try and post on my personal Conference experience during the next few days. 

Labour Party theme song 'Let's Go With Labour' 1964

Love it - Hat tip @LondonNurse2015

"The Labour Party's 'new theme song' entitled 'Let's Go With Labour' released ahead of the 1964 general election. The 45 rpm disc says the lyrics are by Dave Carey from an idea by Bessie Braddock".