Global corporates including Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Vodafone and Google will be among a record 200 businesses at the Labour conference in Liverpool, an event worth tens of millions to the city. Tony McDonough reports
Major global corporate names will be among the 200 businesses attending the Labour Party conference in Liverpool in September.
In early September LBN reported how businesses were ‘clamouring’ for a spot at the conference being held from Sunday, October 8, to Wednesday, October 11 at ACC Liverpool on the waterfront
In October 2022 at the same venue, 12,500 delegates attended over the four days. This boosted the Liverpool city centre economy by an estimated £20m, spent at businesses such as bars, restaurants and hotels.
This year’s conference is set to be one of the biggest in the party’s history with around 16,000 delegates expected to attend. The value to city centre bars, restaurants, hotels and shops is expected to well exceed last year’s total spend.
However, it is the number and calibre of the businesses expected to attend that is most catching the eye. With Labour under Sir Keir Starmer consistently polling 20 points or more ahead of the Tories, there is now high expectation of a Labour Government.
According to the latest figures quoted by media outlet Bloomberg, there are 200 businesses expected to have a presence at the conference. A further 200 are reported to be on a waiting list.
Those who will attend include global corporate names such as investment bank Goldman Sachs, Barclays Group Plc, Vodafone and Google. The voice of private equity – the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association – is also paying to back an event.
This is in stark contrast to 2015 to 2019 when the party was led by left winger Jeremy Corbyn and was perceived to be hostile to the business and corporate world.
Bloomberg reports that this will be the first Labour Conference with events sponsored by companies such as pensions specialist Phoenix Group Holdings and Ovo Energy.
It quoted one British businessman, Gareth Quarry, a successful entrepreneur in legal recruitment. He said: “I was an ardent Tory. Margaret Thatcher caused carnage but a lot of the changes were for the good of the country.
“If I thought the Tories were going to win at the next General Election I would be keeping my powder dry. But I wanted to get in at the start of the new Government.”
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Business leaders are particularly keen to get access to Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, as well as Mr Starmer. The Federation of Small Businesses has been holding regular meetings with senior party figures including Ms Reeves.
And Ibrahim Dogus, who leads a network of small businesses, added: “The Labour party neglected many small businesses in the UK for a long time. We now have a party that is committed to small businesses and working people.”