Reflections on Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool

The cabinet of Ramsay MacDonald's first Labour government, which a century ago laid the foundation stones for the creation of the National Grid

For those who found the boosterism of past governments wearing, Keir Starmer’s speech to Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool had much to offer. Indeed, the whole conference had an atmosphere that was often muted and sober - reflecting the serious circumstances and difficult decisions the new government now faces. In contrast, a huge number of excited attendees frequented a programme of fringe events so vast that the conference brochure was almost too big to lug around.

Climate change, energy and net zero featured more prominently than at any Labour party conference I have attended. It was mentioned in speeches by the Chancellor, Business Secretary, and Prime Minister – not just the Energy Secretary. Ed Miliband toured fringe events touting his not insignificant early achievements and plans for clean power by 2030 and GB Energy.

However, aside from Ed Miliband’s reasons to be cheerful, the overriding message from senior ministers was one of caution. Pat McFadden, who helped run Labour’s general election campaign, was at pains to stress the fragility of the hard-won trust the public had placed in Labour. Meanwhile the Chancellor was careful to emphasise the scale of the hole in the public finances, a resolution for which will have to wait until the spending review and budget on 30th October.

That is fair enough - the inheritance is indeed bad and maintaining trust in government is hard. But I was left wondering if perhaps ministers missed an opportunity amid the gloom to set out their analysis of where the country’s core strengths lie, and on which a better future will be built. There was little discussion of the benefits of clean power to consumers, for example. And no minister mentioned electric vehicles in their speech.

One reason to be optimistic about Britain is our potential future energy resources. Throughout history, Britain’s wealth has been built on the back of energy revolutions. Coal ignited the industrial revolution. North Sea oil was so valuable to a Britain in decline that Labour Prime Minister Jim Callaghan regarded it as a gift from God. Neither of these fuels will help us prosper in the future, yet our reliance on oil stubbornly persists at great cost to motorists and our balance of payments.

It does not have to be this way, thanks to our wealth of electricity network design and nuclear engineering skills, not to mention today’s divine blessing that is the windiness of our islands. A future where cheap domestic clean power heats our homes and powers our transport system is within our grasp. The economic prize is reduced costs for households and businesses, and freedom from the vicissitudes of international fossil fuel prices.

In 1924, the first Labour government recognised electricity’s role in Britain’s economic growth and development. It laid the first plans for a national grid which reduced electricity costs and promoted the electrification of more homes. A century later, we need the same visionary leadership and rigorous focus on solutions to finish the job and electrify the economy. The opportunity is there, let us hope the new government seizes it.