A lot of other people don't appear to be bothering, according to today's FT:
"Labour has sold a mere 330 tickets for its conference dinner in Brighton next week, in spite of booking a venue with the capacity for 800 paying guests. The low attendance – which compares with 400 last year and 680 in 2002 – comes amid sinking morale within the party. The annual conference dinner serves as a significant fundraiser, with tickets for the event on Tuesday night selling at £500 each. But one lobbyist told the Financial Times. “Our clients certainly don’t want to pay £500 a head for Labour’s last supper.” According to several Labour MPs there is likely to be widespread “absenteeism” at the five-day conference, with many colleagues not bothering to attend the event at all."
My Conference programme is below. I think all the events are outside the secure zone.
Demos: Fair Enough? Has Labour delivered on its equalities agenda?
Monday 28 September 2009, 12.45-14.00
Glyndbourne 2, Holiday Inn, 137 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2JF
Speakers:
- Kitty Ussher MP for Burnley
- David Lammy MP, Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (first half hour only)
- Trevor Phillips, Chair, Equalities and Human Rights Commission
- Phil Bloomer, Director of Campaigns and Policy, Oxfam
- Tim Montgomerie, Editor, ConservativeHome
- Richard Reeves, Director, Demos (Chair)
Fabian Society: Who are the new Conservatives?
Monday 28th September 2009, 18.00 – 19.30
Regency Lounge, Royal Albion Hotel, 35 Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1NT
Currently confirmed speakers:
- Phillip Blond, ResPublica
- Tim Montgomerie, ConservativeHome
- Fraser Nelson, The Spectator
- Tim Horton, Fabian Society
- Chair: Polly Toynbee, the Guardian
Fabian Society: After the crunch - How do we beat poverty?
Tuesday 29th September 2009, 13.00 – 14.30
Regency Lounge, Royal Albion Hotel, 35 Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1NT
Currently confirmed speakers:
- Julian Astle, CentreForum
- Tim Montgomerie, ConservativeHome
- Rt. Hon Yvette Cooper MP
- Kate Green
- Chair: Mike Parker.
