It’s the end of a busy season of political party conferences. As Catholics who believe that politics is an integral part of our society – contributing to human flourishing as well as inequality and injustices – this is a good moment to take stock and reflect on the state of politics in England and Wales today.
CSAN remains a non-partisan organisation, meaning that we don’t subscribe to one political party. However, we are committed to challenging any policy and politician, in line with our Christian call to social justice. This overview intends to draw out policies and events relevant to CSAN’s areas of work (poverty, refugees, dignity of work, and social care). As you read, you may have your own party membership or bias but perhaps consider how far the policies encourage us to speak out for justice. As Pope Francis said in Fratelli Tutti:
“The decision to include or exclude those lying wounded along the roadside can serve as a criterion for judging every economic, political, social and religious project” (#69).
We continue to pray for social justice to be at the heart of all our politics, and for constructive dialogue between parties which avoids polarisation.
Reform UK (3-5 September)
Following the Clacton by-election and a summer of scandals in the news, Nigel Farage hoped to strike a ‘very serious tone’ at his party conference. On social media, events were somewhat overshadowed by the release of a Channel 4 News documentary exposing the party’s plans to allegedly obtain illegal foreign donations.
- On poverty, Reform continued to develop their neoliberal line on economics following their declaration that they would cut welfare by £50 billion in August. They described plans to scrap inheritance tax, build 50,000 affordable houses for young British workers and cut household energy bills – all of which would be funded by cutting welfare, healthcare and net-zero costs.
- On migration, Reform continued their hardline stance, building on plans to deport thousands of asylum seekers. Farage’s speech included a commitment to ‘stop the boats’ crossing the Channel in the first 100 days in office.
- On work, Reform proposed to create 600,000 apprenticeship opportunities per year, while removing safety nets from those who are unemployed, if they do not complete community work.
Liberal Democrats (19-22 September)
The Liberal Democrats gathered in Brighton towards the end of the month to start positioning themselves for the next general election. Recent polling has suggested that the party’s values are not well-known despite its fast growth since the 2024 election. Sir Ed Davey’s speech took a stand against the rise of ‘nasty populism’, targeting Reform UK and Elon Musk.
- The cost-of-living crisis was emphasised in commitments to cutting taxes, calling on the government to cut fuel duty and proposed a £2 billion package to pave the way to longer-lasting cuts. Commentators have speculated this is an attempt to attract conservative voters.
Labour Party (27-30 September)
The key tagline of ‘hope’ was the literal and narrative backdrop of this conference which commentators said had a ‘refreshed energy and excitement’.
- Chancellor John Healey emphasised the need for economic growth and supporting the country amidst the cost-of-living crisis, while following fiscal rules. More detail to come in the Autumn Budget (28 October).
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that Afghan women and Palestinians would be prioritised in the re-opened resettlement routh that has been suspended for the past two years. Under this scheme, people will be eligible for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years, instead of having to wait 20 years under the proposed ‘Earned Settlement’ changes. Some charities have celebrated the re-opening of this route whilst highlighting that refugee family reunion routes remain closed. The new named community sponsorship scheme was formally opened, with applications for lead sponsor organisations opening this month.
- The Chancellor announced a new £100 million local apprenticeship service for young people, emphasising the opportunities that will come from a “new age of industrialisation”. He was also committed to Britain “winning in this AI revolution” but that it shouldn’t leave workers behind. He drew on the British history of work, including mining, mentioned union(s) 13 times and announced the “rebirth” of the Union Learning Fund after its abolition by the Conservatives.
- The BBC interviewed Andy Burnham about his progressing social care plans, drawing on his family’s experiences of care. His speech on Tuesday revealed that a National Care Service would be introduced in the next parliament, funded by scrapping the pensions triple lock. Yvette Cooper also announced a new national pension scheme for care workers, which the Social Care Institute for Excellence has said could be ‘transformative’.
Plaid Cymru (2-3 October)
Plaid Cymru held their first conference as the party of government after ending 27 years of Labour governance in May. Notably, First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth wrote a letter to Andy Burnham for a “new deal for Wales” which would expand their devolved powers to that of Scotland.
- Poverty was a central theme in ap Iorwerth’s headline speech, taking aim at the other parties and highlighting that 200,000 children in Wales continue to live in poverty. Shortly before conference, Plaid published new policies in its “blueprint for change” document including a pledge for new homes, a new child poverty plan, renters’ rights and fairer council tax.
- Migration was not addressed directly in the speech, but the figurehead of Plaid’s opposition, Nigel Farage, was criticised multiple times as a man who depends on ‘scapegoating, dividing communities, pitching neighbour against neighbour’.
- The trade union Unite organised a protest outside the conference calling on the government to resolve the dispute with Cwm Taf Morgannwg health visitors, who have been on strike since February. Plaid had committed to doing this in the run-up to the Senedd elections in May.
- The Senedd minister responsible for social care (Delyth Jewell) commented that she had written to Burnham regarding his proposals for the National Care Service, highlighting that “England is just catching up with us in Wales”. The Welsh commitments were outlined in their September pledges, including a dementia strategy, “integrated care” and cutting wait times.
Green Party of England & Wales (2-4 October)
With the highly anticipated approach of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, the Green Party had a busy week hosting their conference at the same time as canvassing for their leader Zack Polanski to get into Parliament. The conference continued to highlight the need for action to end the genocide in Gaza, as well as themes of integral ecology and the need to take the climate emergency seriously, drawing attention to Labour’s reluctance to reject the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields.
- Housing and the cost of living crisis were central policy issues the party calling for a three-year “emergency brake” on private rents to address the affordability crisis, which they said is pushing families out of cities, and forcing young people to chose between between ‘moving out of cities they love or giving up on ever having kids’. In the longer-term, they are calling for a Fair Rents Guarantee and plans to build council homes at. They also reiterated plans to nationalise water and make homes more energy efficient in order to bring down bills.
- Party co-leaders spoke out against the current political power held by American tech companies, when artificial intelligence could instead be nationalised to “serve communities”. Polanski’s headline speech also highlighted the need to protect workers –through getting more young people into work, and through the proposed Maximum Working Temperature Bill to account for the climate crisis.
- The party supported measures to improve the delivery of the National Health Service, making it publicly owned and accountable, and offering free dental, optometry, pharmacy and hearing care.
- Zack Polanski used his speech to push back against ‘anti-migrant laws carving up communities’ and to highlight individuals and organisations standing up to protect their refugee and migrant neighbours in the face of intimidation.
Conservative Party (4-7 October)
Kemi Badenoch published the 95-page pamphlet, “The Right Way” setting out the six principles for a future Tory government, harking back to Margaret Thatcher’s “The Right Approach” document 50 years ago. Alongside this, defence was emphasised including plans to build a £10 billion air defense system to protect military bases. The headline speech heavily criticised rival parties, including rejecting the idea of a coalition government with Reform UK.
- Think tank Green Alliance have highlighted that the ‘Our plan for a stronger economy’ proposal includes a series of environmental measures which would scrap net zero building regulations, abolish Natural England and the Environment Agency and support a third runway at Heathrow. This is claimed to help save the cost of new-build homes by £50,000 but risks exacerbating poverty, inequality and the impacts of climate change.
- Badenoch’s pamphlet pledged to increase indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years, and introduce an annual cap on immigration.
- £2.3 billion was pledged for cutting employer national insurance for young workers, helping thousands of 21–24-year-olds into jobs in response to the “graduate recruitment crisis”. However, under-25s without work for six months would be unable to claim Universal Credit.
- The party announced a new policy to scrap the £100,000 earning limit for childcare, enabling high earning parents to continue to claim 30 hours of free childcare. However, shadow Cabinet ministers suspect that the party will not try to rival Labour’s social care commitments.