Deep in the bowels of the ACC, two factions of Sir Keir Starmer’s loyal support base were at loggerheads.
To the left, literally and perhaps politically, stands Tom Baldwin.
A former journalist and close friend of the Prime Minister, Mr Baldwin served as communications chief for the anti-Brexit People’s Vote campaign before penning the Prime Minister’s biography.
Sir Keir’s former Chief of Staff, Sam White, sits to the right, only separated by polling guru Scarlett Maguire.
The fiery exchange was sparked by a debate around why Labour won the 2024 General Election, with Mr Baldwin seemingly disregarding Sir Keir’s efforts to win back trust in the so-called Red Wall.
“We won those seats because the right was divided, but our votes actually went down amongst that demographic [the white working-class],” Mr Baldwin interrupted Mr White to say.
Ms Maguire was then called in to reduce tensions, pointing to the data on how Labour managed to pull off its victory.
She highlighted that while Labour’s revival in the Red Wall was not particularly strong, it was needed to ensure that Sir Keir entered power.
Mr Baldwin interjected to rubbish the suggestion that Sir Keir had “reunited” Labour with the Red Wall. “I didn’t say that,” Mr White replied.
However, the debate between Sir Keir’s loyal disciples appears to reflect a deeper divide emerging inside No10 and potentially a different political focus going forward.
Insiders believe the “Tom Baldwin coup” is pushing the Prime Minister away from the ideology espoused by his current Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney, and towards the progressive position put forward by his official biographer.
Insiders believe the ‘Tom Baldwin coup’ is pushing the Prime Minister away from the ideology espoused by his current Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney
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PA
While Reform UK was the main talking point of Labour Party Conference, Hope Not Hate was sharing its 25-page report on how to take on Nigel Farage.
The dossier describes Reform UK as “far-right”, criticises Zia Yusuf’s cost-cutting Doge crusade and calls on Labour members to join the campaign to stop Mr Farage’s march to No10.
In its explainer on how to speak to a Reform UK voter, Hope Not Hate says: “A headfirst attempt to convince a hardcore Reform voter they are wrong to dislike immigrants is destined to fail.
“It is also, likely, counter-productive. Identifying the softer Reform voter and the issues that matter to them is much more fruitful.”
Hope Not Hate thinks “local wins” can help turn heads by demonstrating that communities can come together. Let’s wait and see.
Hope Not Hate thinks ‘local wins’ can help turn heads by demonstrating that communities can come together
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GB NEWS
The Mirror party. A last hurrah on the eve of the final proceedings of Labour Party Conference is never something to turn your nose up to.
With booze flowing and the karaoke machine fully operational, it’s an opportunity for the darlings of the Labour Party to sing along to classic anthems.
No, not the Red Flag. Usually, it’s something that even ordinary people can enjoy, like Abba. This year, it was a Labour trio who stole the show. Health Secretary Wes Streeting was locked in arms with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and the extravagantly-clad former Shadow Minister Jonathan Ashworth while belting out a lively rendition of Oasis’s Don’t Look Back in Anger.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed yet again donned his Maga-style “build, baby, build” hat during his performance of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, making his conference just as colourful as perhaps it would have been if Angela Rayner had been in town.
Lisa Nandy and Wes Streeting put their flags down to sing a Britpop anthem
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PA
The decision taken by Labour to strip ex-Guardian journalist Owen Jones of his conference pass caused a bit of a stir in Liverpool.
Dame Emily Thornberry, who happens to be Mr Jones’s local MP, said: “I didn’t see any men being chased by Owen Jones.
“I didn’t see any men with two cameras being chased by Owen Jones. I just think there is an element of misogyny in all of this sometimes.
“Sorry, but I just really genuinely do think that. And, if I had seen Owen again, I would have asked him how many men he had done that to.”
The decision taken by Labour to strip ex-Guardian journalist Owen Jones of his conference pass caused a bit of a stir in Liverpool
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PA
However, it was not just Mr Jones who had his pass revoked. Ex-Labour adviser Matthew Torbitt, left-wing journalist Rivkah Brown and Tory Mayor Paul Bristow all had their passes revoked.
Mr Bristow said: “I don’t really care that the Labour Party revoked my pass for their conference – what do they think I am going to say and do? But this is an insult to the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, I am here to do a job for them.”
Labour’s decision to revoke passes has raised concerns over internal party democracy and free speech.
However, a party spokesman stressed that Labour was entitled to turn anyone it wanted away from a private venue, and said many dissenting voices were admitted to the conference.