The Annual Labour Party Conference takes place every autumn, with delegates and visitors taking part in debates to shape Labour’s vision for Britain.  Over 13,000 people attend the event every year for both the politics and the 450 wider fringe experiences available.

Second year politics student Jack Theaker was one of them.  He attended as both a delegate for North East Hampshire and a Labour party member.  I caught up with him after the event to chat about the experience as a whole - which included a gruelling six hour ‘compositing meeting’ to decide on a single motion regarding whether there should be a second referendum on Brexit.  After he finished the compositing meeting, Jack attended a handful of fringe events.  One was a discussion on whether the Labour party should recognise Palestine as a sovereign state (once they were in government) and how this would assist in reducing the anti-semitism spectre that has been haunting the party recently.

Jack also participated in a session on the music industry and music education - which, as a musician, was of particular interest to him.  The focus was about how proposed changes to freedom of movement would greatly increase the difficulty for touring ensembles such as bands and orchestras to travel and play around Europe.  This would be an enormous loss to both youth and professional ensembles alike, as the increased difficulty would mean many tours would cease to exist.  

Summarising the Labour Party Conference as a whole, Jack advised anyone who is interested in politics to attend in the future.  He said it was great to challenge yourself to be independent and meet other like-minded young people - which ultimately enriches you as a person.

Written by Tim Marsh, second year student