BBK at the party conferences: giving injured people a voice

Over the last few weeks, I have attended both the Labour party conference and the Conservative party conference on behalf of Bolt Burdon Kemp. My attendance was timed with the launch of our second Manifesto for Injured People.

Why does BBK go to a Conference?

At BBK we are passionate about improving the lives of injured people. Our solicitors do a fantastic job of advocating for clients on an individual basis, but we also go further by being a voice for injured people more widely through our campaigning work.

Party conferences are a great opportunity to hear what senior politicians are thinking, to see what policies are being debated, and to ask questions directly to those in power. These events offer a unique chance to access politicians in a way that is not always possible during the rest of the year.

Labour Party Conference

Labour Party Conference was incredibly busy this year. Following their first year in government, it was understandable that the conference was filled with lobbyists and organisations eager to speak with ministers and senior figures in the party.

The conference also took place against the backdrop of the deputy leadership elections and discussions about Keir Starmer’s leadership, reflecting the usual political speculation that surrounds any government.

The justice events were extremely positive following the announcement that the Hillsborough Law would be introduced. There was widespread agreement that this represents a step in the right direction. The announcement was welcomed by the families of those who lost their lives during the Hillsborough disaster and by others affected by national scandals.

However, the campaign group representing Nuclear Test Veterans expressed disappointment that, despite commitments made when in opposition, they have not yet met with the Prime Minister.

Conservative Party Conference

The Conservative Party Conference was noticeably less well attended this year, which is perhaps unsurprising following their recent move into opposition. Last year’s conference was dominated by the leadership election race, so it was interesting to see the contrast in mood this year. There did appear to be a greater number of young people in attendance, and many of the policies discussed focused on attracting younger voters to the party.

After a year of not announcing new policy, Kemi Badenoch MP and her shadow cabinet team used the conference to set out a range of commitments. These included, most notably committing to scrap stamp duty if they were elected.

Among the policy commitments, one announcement generated particular discussion. The proposal was that, if elected, a future Conservative government would consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) following a review by Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson. Organisations such as the Law Society of England and Wales have voiced opposition to such a move, while Conservative politicians argued that it would help address illegal immigration.

To conclude

Attending the party conferences is a great way to connect with our charity partners, campaigning organisations and politicians. While progress has been made in some areas, there is still a lot more work to be done.

We will continue to campaign on issues affecting injured people through our BBK Manifesto for Injured People and work with politicians across all parties and at every level of government who are passionate about, or interested in, issues that impact our clients and the wider community of injured people.