Concerns grow over Labour conference as security problems continue

Preparations for Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool next month have been hit by the party’s struggles to hire a security company for the five day event.

Insiders warn that unless a security firm is found, there is a serious chance that the conference will not be able to go ahead.

In past years, conference security has been carried out by G4S – but a new rule passed by Labour’s NEC means that the party will no longer work with them. G4S is controversial for a number of reasons, with Ofsted this week alleging bullying at a young offenders’ institute managed by the security giant.

There are also concerns around G4S’s involvement in Israeli prison services, but it has been stressed this is not the official reason for Labour’s refusal to work with the firm, as the party does not have a policy of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) around links to Israel.

The only other company currently found willing to carry out the security is Liverpool-based Showsec – but it is locked in a dispute with Labour-affiliated trade union GMB over union representation of its workforce.

Efforts to find an alternative have so far proved fruitless, leaving the party in the difficult decision of having to contract work to either G4S or Showsec in order for conference to go ahead. Should no deal be struck, the Home Office and police have the power to stop the conference taking place – although it is likelier that Labour would cancel proceedings before it would be shut down.

The problems first came to light last week in an email to Labour General Secretary Iain McNicol which was leaked to the Guido Fawkes website but, while efforts are ongoing, it appears little progress has been made. While the party is still publicly confident the issue can be resolved, privately concerns are growing about what solution can be found.