Podcast: Labour moping in Manchester

By

Labour is pining for power. Its members are brooding, languishing even, despite their strong performance in the polls.

There is a strange atmosphere among the delegates gathering in Manchester this year. Labour is a party grown accustomed to government after 13 years in government, and now feels like a shadow of its former self. The party's internal tensions have not been resolved, and they seem stuck with a leader who does the job - but does not electrify them. Life in opposition is hard work.

Continuing our series of conference reports, Alex Stevenson has been talking to party delegates to get a sense of the mood. This podcast features interviews with the outgoing TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber; the New Statesman's political editor, Rafael Behr; pollster Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos Mori; and Natan Doror, a senior researcher at the Fabian Society. It also features interviews with party members including Geoff Beacon from York, Ibrar Hussain from Sheffield, Dilys Fletcher from Oldham, David Sandford from Folkestone and Richard Umpleby from Stalybridge.

politics.co.uk's past podcasts are also available on iTunes. 

 

Political news to your inbox

Fill in your details to receive Politics.co.uk's brand of informed, in-depth and independent coverage of Westminster to your inbox

Hot topics

Britain's great energy debate

How the power gets to Britain's homes in the next century remains a matter of deep controversy

As the next general election begins to loom over the horizon, the debate over Britain's future energy policy mix is starting to hot up - and nothing seems guaranteed.

The Heathrow third runway debate

Heathrow's third runway is just one of many options

There won't be a final decision on Britain's long-term aviation strategy until after the 2015 general election - but an aggressive national debate is already underway.

Opinion Former Events

MRSA Action UK Annual Memorial Event

Families will pay tribute and remember those lost to MRSA and healthcare associated infections at Westminster Abbey on Thursday 13th June 2013

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.