Labour's Zombie Apolcalypse: John Crace in the Guardian writes from Labour conference

 When Guardian columnists are describing a Labour conference as a "Zombie Apocalypse" it's a pretty good indication that a government recently elected with a huge majority is nevertheless managing to get itself into such difficulties that even it's own activists are not all happy with it ...

"Ever get the feeling you’ve woken up to the zombie apocalypse? 

When you left the conference on Tuesday afternoon, the place was buzzing. Delegates talking about Keir Starmer’s speech. Trying to get on the guest list to the hottest parties.

Then on Wednesday morning, you find that half the conference has disappeared. Just vanished. And those that remain appear to be wandering round in circles. Hungover, trying to work out what’s going on. In search of some existential meaning. Most striking is the lack of queues for food. Though that could be down to the fact there is no food in the food concessions. Even the conference staff have given up. It’s every man and woman for themselves. Give it a few more hours and people will be eating each other.

All that’s left of the Labour party conference is the after-party conference. Keir and his entourage left on Tuesday. And most of the delegates and media have followed. The official reason for Starmer giving his leader’s speech a day early is that he was off to New York for the UN meeting.

A cast-iron excuse. Until you remember he left early last year when, as leader of the opposition, he had no foreign trips lined up. It feels bonkers. Book the conference for four days and then give up after three. Maybe it’s all part of the prisoner early-release scheme."


(On the speeches by cabinet ministers Bridget Phillipson and Liz Kendall)


"Next up were Bridget Phillipson and Liz Kendall. Bridget is something of a natural. Comfortable in her skin and in her job. Best of all she comes across as a normal human being. No forced grins or amateur theatrics. Just her doing her job. 

Liz … less so. 

Though she did get a standing ovation for saying the government had had no choice but to cut the winter fuel allowance.

How she managed that was a mystery. Maybe she’s a hypnotist. 

She also managed to convince herself that the whole purpose of cutting the WFA had been to increase spending to make sure everyone in need claimed pension credit. Reality is no object to Liz. She has somehow convinced herself she thought up the triple lock. Truly, she moves in mysterious ways."


Extracts from a diary piece on Labour conference by John Crace in the Guardian which you can read in full at

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/25/keir-starmer-gone-half-delegates-with-him-zombie-apocalypse


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