This years National Women’s Conference was held in Liverpool on the 21st September 2024.
This was to be a joyous event for us delegates attending the Women’s Conference. Joyous
because, after 14 years of Tory control and austerity, we were a Labour Party in Government. And at many times throughout the day we were reminded of this.
But in reality for many of us delegates it wasn’t to be. It was however uplifting to see so many women from across the Labour movement assembled
in one place. Women representing CLPs uniting with delegates from the Trade Unions and
affiliates such as the Social Societies. But several delegates hadn’t received their accreditation passes therefore had to queue up at the Conference office for a replacement pass to be issued. Security was tight, really tight with airport style bag and body scanners whilst heavily armed police officers patrolled everywhere, some with “sniffer” dogs.
The location of our conference wasn’t clearly signposted. Time on arrival was taken up trying to find it’s location. Which wasn’t in the main Liverpool ACC arena but the smaller M & S venue next door. Down in the basement. In an area shrouded off with black curtains, dimly lit with no natural light. Delegates mentioned how claustrophobic it made them feel.
Conference began with Yvette Cooper Secretary of State for Home Affairs, welcoming us.
The WCAC (Women’s Conference Arrangement Committee) report was challenged by good delegate speeches who called for the reinstatement of the 2 day standalone conference. Met by rousing applause and cheers. Bridget Phillipson, the minister for Women and Equalities then took to the rostrum. “The strength of our movement is built by the women of our movement. Labour will seize the opportunity to unite our country by making it fairer for all.”
Next came a panel discussion chaired by Tracy Brabin, former MP and now the Metro Mayor for West Yorkshire. She was joined by Claire Ward, East Midlands Metro Mayor, Nicole Ndiweni-Roberts, Police Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire and Emma Wools, Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales. The topic was Regional Leadership. Or how women can rightfully take their place as equals alongside men in these high-power positions. Each spoke of their personal experiences and their journeys along the way to attaining office. The obstacles and barriers experienced during that journey. The positives moving forward – we need to find allies and get people on side
campaigning for us. Confidence building. Become involved with fundraising.
And if a door is open be prepared to take the steps to go through it. Most of all, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
After a short intermission to “use the facilities” and grab a much needed coffee conference moved on to the policy debates, the motions. This year saw the return of contemporary motions. Meaning the subject of a motion had to have arisen during a specific time period. This being since the day Labour took office, the 5th of July, following the General Election. Any issues raised had to have occurred after that date, with the
cut of date for submissions being the 21st August.
Six motions were tabled. Three from CLPs and three from the Unions & Affiliates.
These were the composites taken of the six which made it through the priorities ballot. Out of 18 possible subjects:
Education and Girls
Women’s Health
Women as Working Parents and Carers
Violence Against Women and Girls
Women in the Workplace
Women in the Economy
There were also two Emergency motions. The subject matter and issues having occurred after the cut-off date for ordinary contemporary motions. All these motions were crammed into a time slot of just two hours. There was barely 20 minutes to move, second and hear delegates speak from the floor, either in favour or against said motion. Even less in fact if you take into account the time to speak to the emergency motions. Also given the titles of these composites there wasn’t anything contentious in them. That is they
didn’t go against the grain of the policies already announced by the new Labour Government. Each motion passed (by show of hands) easily.
NB Women’s Health – Submitted by Cities of London & Westminster, Norwich South and Worcester CLPs. This motion welcomed the commitment set out in the King’s Speech on the 17th July 2024 to an
Employment Rights Bill. – Strengthening workplace protections for working mothers.
With a Menopause Action Plan for those employees who are experiencing the menopause (eg. adequate sick leave, flexible hours), Highlighting the health inequalities which women with protected characteristics experience. Black women are four times as likely to die in pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period than White women. Asian women are nearly twice as likely to die. One speaker spoke of how demoralised the staff working in maternity care had become. They are short staffed because so many have left the profession. How difficult it is keeping.morale up of those who remain in order to remain.
Maternity pay in comparison is lower than in other areas of NHS care. Statutory sick pay is low and not of sufficient length. Meaning staff are forced to return to work before they are fully fit thus exposing them to increasing health risks, both physically and mentally. Burn out. The motion called on Labour to ensure women and girls have access to high quality physical and mental health care. That the Government sets a clear target to end the Black maternal health gap. To train the next generation of health visitors and midwives to ensure that mothers have the necessary support they need to keep themselves and their babies healthy. And to deliver 40,000 additional NHS procedures every week. To double the number of scanners the NHS has to improve access to healthcare.
Emergency motion 1 – Rest in Power Rebecca Cheptagi
Submitted by the FBU (Fire Brigade Union)
Many of us were shocked and very moved when the news broke of the death of Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptagi. Who was set alight by her former abusive boyfriend and tragically died of her horrendous injuries. The motion highlighted that “burn injuries are a global issue that disproportionately affects women and girls”
Therefore “Conference demands that a Labour Government act on Labour’s commitment to create a world of work free from violence”
“Conference sends our heartfelt condolences and solidarity to Rebecca’s family and friends”
Emergency motion 2 – Women and Girls in Afghanistan
Submitted by Lewisham North CLP
Calling for support for the fundamental human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. And called for the Government to condemn the actions of the Taliban and publish support of the statement of the UN’s Women’s Organisation who have denounced their actions which dispossess Afghan women and girls of their fundamental human rights.
Both these motions passed unanimously.
Conference then adjourned for lunch at 1.35pm. There were three workshops to choose from for those delegates who wished to participate further. We then returned to the conference area where Rachel Reeves gave her closing speech.
Labour are “writing back women into the economic story”
Result of the ballot for two motions to go forward to National Conference;
Women’s Health and Women in the Workplace
All in all the Women’s Conference was a bit of a let down. Crammed into just a few hours of a single day. The Labour Party is supposed to be the party of equality and equal opportunities. Us women weren’t even given a pleasant environment to have our day in court so to speak. Being confined to the basement and a dimly lit black shrouded area.
It was a very top down approach. For instance the panel discussion led by Tracey Brabin could just as easily have been held as an optional workshop, thus women having the choice to attend or not. Itself given a longer time slot for more participation & questions from the audience.
It’s quite frankly an insult to our integrity cramming all 6 motions plus emergency motions into a 2 hour slot. No time to properly debate important topics. Then the motions themselves. Four CLPs submitted motions on the 2 child benefit cap but did not get through. Also blocked were any motion which made reference to the Winter Fuel Allowance. We need to keep campaigning for the return of a stand-alone two day conference for us women. Where more policies and motions can be thoroughly discussed, then perhaps these other two issues could’ve been heard.
Surely then Labour the voices of us ordinary women members are worth more than just two hours!