In Liverpool last week, the Labour Party’s annual conference took an unexpected turn when a protester was forcibly removed after disrupting a keynote speech by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The incident, captured on camera, raised questions about the state of political discourse within the party as well as its response to dissenting voices.
The protest, led by activists from the campaign group Climate Resistance, occurred during Reeves’ speech on Monday. The protester, shouting about arms sales to Israel and the urgency of climate breakdown, was swiftly ejected from the conference hall. Footage shows the man being tackled to the ground, with security staff appearing to choke him as he was dragged away. As chaos briefly unfolded, Reeves tried to regain control, declaring, “This is a changed Labour Party. A party that represents working people, not a party of protest.”
Starmer’s Response Raises Eyebrows
The atmosphere turned even more uncomfortable during Labour leader Keir Starmer’s address. Another protester, this time calling attention to the plight of Palestinian children, was similarly removed. Starmer responded with dismissive humor, quipping that the protester must have gotten their pass for the 2019 conference. The light-hearted remark, accompanied by a moment of ill-timed laughter, left some attendees feeling uneasy about the tone adopted by the leadership.
Dissatisfaction Among Labour’s Grassroots
The two disruptions underscored the friction between Labour’s leadership and its grassroots supporters. Many in the party have long championed causes related to social justice, environmental action, and human rights. The response from Starmer and Reeves, however, seemed to send a message that such protests were no longer welcome in the “new” Labour Party.
The Liverpool conference, dubbed by some as “Davos on the Mersey,” also highlighted the growing influence of corporate interests. While meaningful discussions took place in the background, the conference’s main stage was dominated by speeches that felt disconnected from the concerns of ordinary citizens. The visual of cabinet ministers sitting in rows, forcing smiles and applauding in unison, only added to the sense that the event was more about pageantry than policy.
A Party Drifting from Its Roots?
The protests, though brief, injected a dose of raw emotion into an otherwise sterile affair. For a moment, the staged façade of the modern political conference gave way to a glimpse of the real-world concerns many Labour members continue to grapple with. Yet, the leadership’s rigid responses to dissent pointed to a shift away from the party’s roots in grassroots activism.
This departure is particularly striking when viewed through the lens of Labour’s history. Starmer himself once edited a left-wing magazine and championed causes of environmental justice as a lawyer. Yet, the Labour Party he now leads seems eager to shed its past connections to protests and civil disobedience, replacing them with a focus on order and electoral pragmatism. For some, this transition marks a loss of the party’s soul.
The Conference’s Subdued Atmosphere
As the conference drew to a close, the atmosphere was described as subdued, with attendees likening it to an outdated wedding reception, where the bride and groom depart before the celebration has even started. For Labour, this sense of disconnection comes at a critical time. With an election looming and the party trailing in some polls, Labour’s leadership is under pressure to connect with a broader electorate. But in doing so, it risks alienating the very activists and supporters who have long sustained it.
A Similar Challenge Awaits the Conservatives
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party conference kicks off this week in Birmingham. While leadership tensions might add a dash of drama to the event, it seems unlikely that the Tories will face the kind of vocal protests that punctuated Labour’s gathering. With a focus on traditional values and a dwindling base of support, the Conservatives may find themselves facing their own existential questions.
Conclusion: Out of Step with a Changing World
Both major parties, it seems, are struggling to reconcile their past identities with the demands of a rapidly changing political landscape. The old rituals, the carefully choreographed speeches, and the corporate-sponsored conference halls no longer resonate in an age of rising cynicism and political disengagement. As Labour and the Conservatives gather in their respective conference cities, the question remains: have they noticed that the world outside their conference rooms has moved on?
