Starmer vows to ‘rise above challenges’ in conference speech

Unimpressed business leaders have asked for a refund on the £3,000-a-day Labour Conference after failing to get value for their money, reports have suggested.

At least three firms said they would be asking for their money back after they got “minimal time” with ministers.

Labour had boasted it had hundreds of paying executives attending its largest ever business day, in which top corporate figures heard from the prime minister, chancellor and cabinet ministers.

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Attendees at Labour’s conference in Liverpool (Image: Getty)

Speaking to The Times, one executive from a well-known household brand said: “We paid £3,000 to come here and what did we get? A livestream of Rachel’s [Reeves] speech and then to be made to queue in a bleak corridor for a drinks reception where there was no access to ministers.”

Another said: “I’ll be trying to get a refund. The whole thing felt like they’d taken our money, they’re in for five years and it was lip service.

“I’m glad I didn’t waste my CEO’s day by bringing them up.” They said it was the party’s “one chance to show they had changed and that they appreciate private enterprise now, but they clearly don’t, it was a waste of money”.

One chief executive said while they would not be asking for a refund, they were “questioning value for money for next year”. “Last year is was very well organised and structured,” they said. “This year the event didn’t start until 11.30 and we were talked [at] from the stage for four hours.”

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One business chair said they managed to have meetings with certain cabinet ministers and was grateful, but added: “They’ve been on the back foot a bit. They’ve not taken the reins and set out the story they want to tell, so other people are doing it for them. They need to be clear, set out their stall and take us with them.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “This year’s Business Day at Annual Conference was a great success, attended by Labour’s cabinet, 500 business leaders, CEOs. international investors and international ambassadors, as well as leading global figures.”