Labour cancels party conference amid coronavirus pandemic
The Labour Party has shelved its annual gathering.
1 min read
Labour has cancelled Keir Starmer’s first annual conference as leader amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The party had been due to hold its yearly gathering of members in Liverpool from September 19 to 23.
But, in a statement, a Labour Party spokeserson said: “Our priority is the safety of members, staff and visitors to our events and the need to protect the public’s health.
“In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we have therefore decided to postpone this year’s annual and women’s conferences.”
The move is the latest in a string of high-profile political events that have been shelved because of the crisis.
The party was forced to cancel a special leadership conference to unveil Sir Keir as the successor to Jeremy earlier this year, while the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and the SNP axed their own spring conferences.
Writing for the LabourList website, Alice Perry, who sits on the party’s National Executive Committee, said the gathering may be replaced by an online-only version.
“The NEC regretfully has had to cancel annual conference,” she said.
“A policy conference can take place online instead. This is a shame but necessary.
“Hopefully life will be back to normal in 2021.”
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