Did we learn much about Labour’s policy on the voluntary sector at its annual conference? Probably not, says Kirsty Weakley, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t learn anything. 

After a couple of days attending charity-focused fringe events at the Labour Party Conference I’m still none the wiser as to the party’s policies about the charity sector. 

This is hardly surprising. In all honesty I wasn’t really expecting anyone from Labour to stand up and reveal a radical new vision for the voluntary sector. Labour’s internal strife has been well-documented and charity policy is by no means the only thing that its leadership has neglected thus far. 

It certainly doesn’t help that the party is still without a charity spokesman – Anna Turley, who had held the role since Jeremy Corbyn became the leader of the party, quit along with most of the shadow cabinet in the aftermath of Brexit. She has not been replaced, and initially it appeared that Tom Watson, deputy leader, was covering the brief. 

After the government moved the Office for Civil Society from the Cabinet Office to the Department for Culture Media and Sport, a colleague rang the Labour shadow secretary, Kelvin Hopkins and asked if he was now responsible for charities. His response was “well I suppose I am”, but we’re pretty sure he hadn’t given it a moment’s thought until we called. 

Politicians keen to engage 

But while there’s a notable absence of any thinking about voluntary sector issues from those in charge at Labour, that doesn’t meant that individual MPs, MEPs and councillors are unwilling to engage or unsupportive of the sector. 

Karl Wilding, director of public policy and volunteering at NCVO, noted in his blog that backbench Labour MPs could soon be more influential, saying “there was a sense that in the Commons this is where we should be focusing our influencing work”. 

In fact those that attended fringe events with charities were incredibly supportive and eager to demonstrate their commitment to the sector, particularly when it comes to the sector’s right to campaign. 

This is nothing new, Labour opposed the introduction of the Lobbying Act and pledged to repeal it in its 2015 election manifesto. But continued, vocal opposition should give the sector some comfort that Labour is ‘on its side’ on this one, though a cynic could argue that politicians know the feeling about the act within the charity sector and were simply playing to the room.

Seb Dance, a Labour MEP, urged charities to make sure their voices are heard during Brexit negotiations, saying they have a “crucial role to play”.  

I wonder if his eagerness for charities to make the case in favour of ‘soft Brexit’ could in part be down to the fact that some charities, despite discouragement from the regulator, made a more compelling case for staying in the EU than his own party leader?

Meanwhile Susan Elan Jones, MP for Clywd South and co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Civil Society and Volunteering, reassured the sector that while trust may have taken a battering “to us charities seem very popular indeed” and their input would still be welcomed when forming policy.

Working together 

Speaking at an evening reception to celebrate the work of the voluntary sector, former shadow civil society minister Lisa Nandy, told the sector to be prepared for a “series of attacks on values” such as plans to repeal the Human Rights Act. 

She also praised the sector for how it “knows how to spin gold out of straw” and get on with the job. But also that it was important the “sector should be able to speak out” and in fact has a “duty to do so” because often charities are “at the coal face”

Also at Acevo’s event Stella Creasy spoke about the “mission of this party is to make sure that we get all the kids out of Calais by Christmas”. 

She said this was an example of where the voluntary sector was vital in highlighting an issue to force politicians to do something, but that it needs a “political solution” which is why it is important to work together. 

“Don’t stop challenging us,” she said, but that “we need to work together”. 

Cause for optimism

So while voluntary sector issues have not been a priority for the Labour Party there are signs that could change, especially with the leadership seemingly resolved for the time being we can expect the new shadow cabinet, when it’s confirmed to get down to the business of policy-making and challenging the government.

Even more encouragingly most Labour politicians appear relatively positive about the sector and seem willing to listen, which is a good place to start from. 

Next stop Birmingham to find out what the Conservatives are up to.