In the United Kingdom the party conference season is the period of three weeks in September and October of each year, whilst the House of Commons is in recess, in which the annual political party conferences are held.

The Conservative Party Conference, Labour Party Conference and the twice-per-year Liberal Democrat Conference, representing the three largest UK-wide political parties, in terms of votes cast, hold their main annual conferences in the autumn.

In contrast to its main opponents' conferences,[1][2] the Liberal Democrats grant all party members attending its Conference, either in-person or online,[3] the right to vote on party policy, under a one member, one vote system.[4][5] Among the three largest UK-wide parties, the Liberal Democrat Conference is also unique in providing a ring-fenced Access Fund,[6] which defrays travel and accommodation costs for both disabled and low-income attendees.[7]

UK-wide political party conferences have traditionally taken place in seaside resorts, at places such as the Empress Ballroom at Winter Gardens in Blackpool, the Brighton Centre in Brighton and the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, largely due to there being plenty of cheap accommodation available in such towns at the end of the summer holiday season. However, for the two largest parties, they are increasingly taking place in major cities with modern, purpose-built conference centres, such as the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, the Central Convention Complex in Manchester and the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) in Liverpool.[8]

Conferences for the devolved Scottish and Welsh parties of the UK-wide Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties are held in March, while the Scottish Green Party holds two conferences each year – a one-day policy event alongside the devolved conferences in March and a two or three day main conference during the main conference season.

There is an unofficial agreement between the parties that they will stagger the timing of their conferences such that media attention be undivided, though smaller parties do not always abide by this rule firmly. In 2012, for example, there was an overlap between the Liberal Democrat and United Kingdom Independence Party annual conferences, with the latter concluding on the opening day of the former, and in 2013 the Liberal Democrat and Green Party of England and Wales conferences overlapped by three days.

Television coverage

Between 1992 and 2019, live, uninterrupted coverage of the main three party conferences had been broadcast on BBC Parliament and its predecessor The Parliamentary Channel. However cutbacks at BBC Parliament, which saw it drop all of its political programming to focus solely on live and recorded coverage from Westminster and the devolved chambers.

Prior to 1992, live and mostly uninterrupted coverage had been broadcast on BBC One and BBC Two and until the mid-1980s on ITV and latterly on Channel 4. This coverage had also included the Trades Union Congress and the CBI Conference. However, since the 1990s coverage on the main BBC channels has been significantly cut back with live coverage on BBC Two restricted to the main speeches. ITV and Channel 4's coverage restricted to its scheduled news bulletins.

2024 conference season

The dates for the 2024 conferences are as follows:

2023 conference season

Since last year’s cancellation of the Liberal Democrats Party Conference in Brighton due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the 2023 edition of the Liberal Democrats Party Conference returned to Bournemouth for the first time, the dates for the 2023 conferences were as follows:

2022 conference season

Following the Death of Elizabeth II, the Liberal Democrats cancelled their planned conference whilst Trades Union Congress rescheduled theirs, both as a mark of respect to the Queen. The dates and locations for the 2022 conferences were as follows:

2021 conference season

The Party conferences largely reverted back to physical attendance following their cancellation the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but some parties opted to keep their conferences online and some opted for a mix of both, with the dates and locations as follows:

2020 conference season

The dates and locations of the 2020 conferences were planned to be as follows:

However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic all the physical party conferences were moved online. The Labour conference was replaced by an online event called "Labour Connected" from 19 to 22 September,[22] the Liberal Democrat conference was rescheduled for 25 to 28 September[23] and the Conservative conference for 3 to 6 October.[24] The Scottish National Party conference was the last major party conference of the season, held online from 28 to 30 November.[25]

2019 conference season

The dates and locations of the Autumn 2019 conferences were as follows:

PartyStart dateEnd dateVenueNotes
*Trades Union Congress -Sunday 8 September 2019Wednesday 11 September 2019The Brighton Centre[26]
Liberal DemocratsSaturday 14 September 2019Tuesday 17 September 2019Bournemouth International Centre
LabourSaturday 21 September 2019Wednesday 25 September 2019The Brighton Centre
ConservativesSunday 29 September 2019Wednesday 2 October 2019Manchester Central Convention Complex
Green Party of England and WalesFriday 4 October 2019Sunday 6 October 2019International Convention Centre Wales[27]
Plaid Cymru Friday 4 October 2019 Sunday 6 October 2019 Swansea Grand Theatre
Scottish National PartySunday 13 October 2019Tuesday 15 October 2019The Event Complex Aberdeen[28]
Scottish Green Party Saturday 12 October 2019 Sunday 13 October 2019 Eden Court Inverness [29]

As a result of the defeat for the Government in Miller/Cherry, the September prorogation of Parliament was declared void, and Parliament sat from 25 September. This meant that the Labour conference was cut short and – after failing to win a vote for a recess – that the Conservative conference clashed with the sitting of Parliament for the first time.[30][31]

The dates and locations of other 2019 conferences are as follows:

PartyStart dateEnd dateVenueNotes
Scottish Liberal DemocratsFriday 22 FebruarySaturday 23 FebruaryThe Hamilton Townhouse[32]
Scottish LabourFriday 8 MarchSunday 10 MarchCaird Hall, Dundee[33]
Liberal Democrats Friday 15 March Sunday 17 March Barbican Centre, York [34]
Plaid CymruFriday 22 MarchSaturday 23 MarchPontio Centre, Bangor[35]
Welsh Liberal DemocratsSaturday 6 AprilSunday 7 AprilMarriott Hotel, Cardiff[36]
Scottish National PartySaturday 27 AprilSunday 28 AprilEdinburgh International Conference Centre[37]
Scottish ConservativesFriday 3 MaySaturday 4 MayAberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre[38]
Green Party of England and WalesFriday 7 JuneMonday 10 JuneThe Spa, Scarborough[39]

2018 conference season

The dates and locations of the 2018 conferences were as follows:

2017 conference season

The dates and locations of the 2017 conferences were as follows:

2016 conference season

Labour Conference at ACC Liverpool

The dates and locations of the 2016 conferences were as follows:

2015 conference season

Temporary fences in Manchester during the Conservatives conference

The dates and locations of the 2015 conferences were as follows:

2014 conference season

The dates of the 2014 conferences were as follows:

At their annual conference, the Scottish National Party held a leadership election following Alex Salmond's announcement of resignation. Nicola Sturgeon, formerly Salmond's deputy, was elected as their new leader.

2013 conference season

The dates of the 2013 conferences were as follows:

2012 conference season

The dates of the 2012 conferences were as follows:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Party Conferences". Institute for Government. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Labour Party Rule Book 2020 (Chapter 3 - Party Conference — Clause III - Procedural rules for Party Conference)" (PDF). The Labour Party. April 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Liberal Democrats - Spring Conference Online". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "How is policy decided?". Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Standing orders for Federal Conference - Glossary of terms" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Conference Access Fund". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Why the Conference Access Fund is a good thing". Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Can Blackpool ever win back major political conferences?". Blackpool Gazette. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "TUC Congress 2023". Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Major political party to hold conference in Bournemouth". Bournemouth Echo. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Tory conference: foreign media groups say accreditation fee undermines press freedom". The Guardian. 20 June 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Conference". Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Green Party Autumn Conference 2023". The Green Party. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "Reform UK Conference 2023". eventbrite. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Annual Conference 2023". The Labour Party. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "SNP 89th Annual National Conference 2023". Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Scottish Greens Conference". Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "Annual Conference 2022 - The Labour Party".
  19. ↑ "The Labour Party's Annual Conference". The Labour Party. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  20. ↑ "Autumn Conference". Liberal Democrats. 25 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  21. ↑ "The Conservative Party Conference, Manchester Central Convention Complex, Sunday 29th September - Wednesday 2nd October". conservativepartyconference.com. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  22. ↑ "Connected - The Labour Party". Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  23. ↑ "Autumn Conference - Liberal Democrats". Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  24. ↑ "Conservative Party Conference". Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  25. ↑ "Conference Opportunities". Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  26. ↑ "TUC Congress 2019".
  27. ↑ "Green Party Autumn Conference 2019". www.greenparty.org.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  28. ↑ "Scottish National Party Annual Conference 2019". www.snp.org. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  29. ↑ "Conference". greens.scot. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  30. ↑ "Labour conference cut short after Speaker recalls Parliament". TalkRadio. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  31. ↑ "Brexit: Boris Johnson loses second attempt to trigger early general election". Independent.co.uk. 9 September 2019.
  32. ↑ "Conference". Scottish Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  33. ↑ "Annual Conference 2019". Scottish Labour. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  34. ↑ "2019 Liberal Democrat Spring Federal Conference, York". Mark Pack. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  35. ↑ "Events". The Party of Wales. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  36. ↑ "Spring Conference 2019". Welsh Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  37. ↑ "Conference Opportunities". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  38. ↑ "Conference 2019". Scottish Conservatives. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  39. ↑ "Green Party Spring Conference 2019 - Non Member Registration". Green Party Members' Website. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  40. ↑ "Congress 2018". TUC. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  41. ↑ "Join the Debate Liberty Rising Conference – Libertarian Party". Archived from the original on 22 September 2018.
  42. ↑ "Conference Opportunities".
  43. ↑ "Unleashed: Co-operative Party Annual Conference 2018 – The Co-operative Party". Party.coop. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  44. ↑ "Register for Conference".
  45. ↑ The Labour Party. "Annual Conference - The Labour Party". Labour.org.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  46. ↑ "Torquay - UKIP". Archived from the original on 14 June 2017.
  47. ↑ "The Conservative Party Conference, Birmingham ICC, 30th September - 3rd October 2018". Conservativepartyconference.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  48. ↑ "Green Party Autumn Conference 2018: 5-7 October, Bristol City Hall". Greenparty.org.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  49. ↑ "Conference Opportunities".
  50. ↑ "2017 Annual Conference - The Party of Wales". Archived from the original on 13 August 2017.
  51. ↑ Home Volunteer Exhibitors Submit a Motion Register (20 July 2017). "Conference - Scottish Greens". Greens.scot. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  52. ↑ "Autumn Conference 2016". greenparty.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  53. ↑ "Bournemouth – UKIP". ukip.org. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  54. ↑ "Autumn Conference". libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  55. ↑ "Welcome to Annual Conference". labour.org.uk. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  56. ↑ "The Conservative Party Conference 2016". conservatives.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  57. ↑ "SNP Conference 2016". snp.org. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  58. ↑ "Annual Conference 2016". Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  59. ↑ "Scottish Green Party Autumn Conference 2016". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  60. ↑ "Autumn Conference". libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  61. ↑ "Doncaster – UKIP". ukip.org. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  62. ↑ "Conference". greenparty.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  63. ↑ "Annual Conference". labour.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  64. ↑ "The Conservative Party Conference 2015, Manchester 4-7 October 2015". conservatives.com. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  65. ↑ "RENT: SCOTTISH GREENS CONFERENCE TO DEBATE CONTROLS". Scottish Greens. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  66. ↑ "SNP National Conference". snp.org. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  67. ↑ "2015 Conference". plaid.cymru. Archived from the original on 30 November 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  68. ↑ "Conference". Greenparty.org.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  69. ↑ "Trades Union Congress - TUC Congress 2014". TUC.org.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  70. ↑ Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  71. ↑ "UKIP to hold its biggest ever Annual Conference at Doncaster Racecourse – as the Party goes from strength to strength in South Yorkshire". UKIP. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  72. ↑ Archived 1 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  73. ↑ "Autumn Conference". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  74. ↑ "Conference 2014 Scottish Greens". Scottishgreens.org.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  75. ↑ "Plaid Cymru". Partyofwales.org. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  76. ↑ Archived 1 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  77. ↑ "Members Area". Conservativepartyconference.org.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
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