Conference circus joined by chamber

Sep 10 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

BETWEEN the silly season and autumn proper comes the strange three-week period called conference season and it is now well upon us.

The fringe parties – Green, UKIP et al – were busy over the weekend and this week began with the annual Trades Union Congress get-together in Brighton.

The headlines have been relatively muted so far, but with the Liberal Democrats hitting the stage in Bournemouth expect to hear more about the major parties’ plans, pitches and, of course, personalities throughout September.

For the second year running the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) is joining the party conference circus.

It’s not a high-profile involvement but an incredibly useful opportunity to make the case for the North East, its businesses and the growing regional economy to politicians and their advisers more informally than through our usual lobbying activity.

It is also a valuable opportunity to check out the fringe programme and read the runes of which policy themes are climbing up the influence scale.

Whether sponsored by industry, a think-tank or a section of the party itself, every conference last year had a strong environmental theme to the fringe.

This year, it’s a combination of energy policy, housing or economic regeneration holding sway.

This is perhaps no surprise with the challenges facing every citizen, business and household in the country.

Equally interesting is spotting which of the conferences is in the ascendancy. Perhaps last year was a blip, but the hopes and expectations of a new Government certainly gave a momentum to the Labour conference and fringe. This year it’s the Conservatives that seem to have the most-packed calendar.

One other notable feature of this year’s conferences is that the two largest parties have both chosen to abandon the usual seaside venue and head for a major regional city – with Manchester hosting Labour and Birmingham the Conservatives. And both these cities and their businesses are taking the opportunity to showcase all they have to offer. Are we any closer here in the North East to playing host ourselves?

Andrew Sugden is NECC director of membership and policy

It’s an opportunity to make the case for the North East to politicians and their advisers informally