Conference chatter reveals Labour’s senior staff are becoming more anxious about the party’s financial position – despite the huge Commons majority enjoyed by Starmer. The Prime Minister’s catastrophic unpopularity means Labour is haemorrhaging members and cash…
Labour’s treasurer Mike Payne (not to be confused with the Labour MP by the same name) published the party’s accounts in the NEC’s report to conference. He said in his shaky speech in Liverpool yesterday: “good financial management is not only about how we raise money, but how we spend it too… you will see in the published accounts we have a reported deficit of £3.7 million for 2024”. Ouch…
A left-wing delegate to the last NEC meeting earlier this month wrote in a note published by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy: “The NEC received a report from the Treasurer, noting various challenges, including delays to the accounts, and a tough few months, which would be further discussed at the Away Day in November. Issues with lower income from reduced donations and lower membership were noted along with the need for tighter expenditure controls. There were discussions about the need for constituencies to become more self-sufficient, reducing reliance on the national Party.”
Meanwhile veteran NEC member Ann Black wrote: “Members asked that in any future reorganisation, staffing levels in regional offices should be protected. It was also suggested that our 400 incumbent Labour MPs should help their local parties to generate their own funds.” It’s not only Labour MPs who are going to lose their jobs thanks to Starmer…