“Five top tips from my first Labour conference”

For the last few weeks, Elen has been working for LabourList. Today is her last day – but before she goes, here are her five crucial lessons for first time conference delegates…

1. Bring your Conference guide with you

It’s still paper guides a-gogo at Labour Conference, and this year’s glossy Conference guide was the trustiest tool this side of Brighton Pier. Conference hasn’t gone online just yet – or at least, not properly. The Conference app only earned 3 stars on Google Play, and was undownloadable on my (admittedly 2 year old) Android phone. Although WiFi is plentiful on Conference floor, lots of networks are run by hotels with passwords, and there’s nowhere to plug in your laptop or phone if it’s running low. Plus, events are not brilliantly signposted – so bring the Conference guide and trusty map with you.

2. Stock up your fridge at the Fringe

The best food I had at Conference was undoubtedly at the Fringe. Fringe events are scheduled around breakfast, lunch and dinner, so go along with an empty stomach (and possibly an empty purse if you’re the sort who tips spare sarnies into handbags).

3. Avoid the Conference cold

Avoid the Conference cold – and avoid friends who catch the Conference cold. Otherwise, you’ll end up crawling home from karaoke, all sad and sniffly, with Kleenex in one hand and Lemsip in the other. It happened in the LabourList house – and trust me, it wasn’t pretty.

4. Get there early

I arrived on Friday evening with a friend, with plenty of time to go before Women’s Conference on Saturday afternoon. Getting there early won me a night on the town, a chance to stock up on sleep, and a realisation that there’s a lot more to Brighton than just the pier. Plus you have a whole morning to work out where you put that pair of socks or who [insert name of shadow cabinet member] even is, anyway. It’s well worth getting there early.

5. Find people you know and talk to them A.K.A. network like crazy

The best thing about Conference for Labour geeks, is that lots of left-leaning people (some more than others) are crammed into one tiny teeny part of the UK. The worst thing about Conference, is that most of these people think they are way too busy and important to talk to you.  People can be vicious! Lots of people push straight past in their bid to talk to an MP, a senior trade unionist or SPAD. So network like crazy – but don’t take yourself too seriously in the process.

And remember, treat each person you meet nicely – whether you know their name or not.