‘Record levels’ of delegates expected to attend Labour conference in Liverpool in October with the economic boost to the city likely to exceed last year’s £20m. Tony McDonough reports
Record levels of delegates and exhibitors at this autumn’s Labour Party conference in Liverpool are expected to generate tens of millions of pounds for the city centre.
ACC Liverpool on the waterfront hosted the event in October 2022 which saw 12,500 delegates attend over the four days. This boosted the city centre economy by an estimated £20m spent at businesses such as bars, restaurants and hotels.
According to LabourList, an independent website that supports the party, delegate numbers are this year expected to be as high as 15,000. The number of exhibitors will also be up and organisers are expected to generate record levels of income.
Members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) were informed of the latest figures in a report from NEC member Luke Akehurst, LabourList reports. This year’s event will take place from Sunday, October 8, to Wednesday, October 11.
It referenced one party source claiming that the expected level of attendance, number of exhibitors and income generated had not been seen since the early 2000s.
LabourList also reported the one-day business forum – described as the “flagship engagement event for business” – had sold out within a day.
Many businesses had stayed away from the party conference during the 2015 to 2019 period when Jeremy Corbyn was leader. However, since Keir Starmer took the helm the party is now perceived to be more business-friendly.
The Labour conference in Liverpool in 2022 was seen as a triumph for the party. Exhibition Centre Liverpool was transformed into a 2,200 seat auditorium for plenary sessions in addition to a 300-stand exhibition.
There were also days of plenary sessions, more than 350 fringe events, keynote speeches and networking opportunities.
Fringe meetings took place in the convention centre, also part of ACC Liverpool, as well as at venues across the city. The venue’s interconnected hotel, Pullman Liverpool, operated as the headquarters hotel for the conference.
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Speaking after last year’s conference, Faye Dyer, managing director of ACC Liverpool Group, said: “A total of 12,500 delegates attended the event which created a fantastic buzz, not only on our campus but across the entire city.
“Through the hundreds of fringe events, the conference provided our local community with a platform to engage directly with Government leaders and MPs. We are really pleased that they have confirmed their return.”