Tory source says conference will still go ahead but may be scaled back

MPs have rejected an attempt by the government to adjourn parliament to allow Tory politicians to attend the Conservative party conference in Manchester.

The event, due to start on Sunday and continue until Wednesday, comes the weekend after Labour held its party conference in Brighton and two weeks after the Liberal Democrats held theirs in Bournemouth.

MPs voted against a government business motion by 306 to 289, a majority of 17. If the motion had succeeded, parliament would have adjourned at the end of the day on Thursday and resumed next Thursday.

In normal circumstances, parliament adjourns to allow MPs to attend their party conferences, but opposition parties have argued that “parliamentary democracy and scrutiny during the current constitutional crisis” should take precedence.

The prime minister’s spokesman said Boris Johnson was disappointed by parliament’s decision. “For many years it has been the case that parliament has been in recess so that parties can hold their party conference,” he said. “As the prime minister has made clear the Conservative party conference will go ahead as planned.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday, Jeremy Corbyn said he would vote against any attempt by the government to introduce a new recess. “I don’t see why Boris Johnson and his team should be able to run away from accountability yet again,” he said.

A senior Tory source said the conference would go ahead anyway, but acknowledged it may have to be “scaled back” in places if MPs had to remain at Westminster.

Following the vote, the Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, announced non-controversial business for when the house sits on Monday and Tuesday next week. The domestic abuse bill, which has cross-party support and risked being dropped when parliament was prorogued, will be debated on Wednesday.

Labour MPs in the north-west had expressed concern that refusing to allow the Conservative party conference to take place would hit Manchester’s economy. Marketing Manchester has estimated that the event, which attracts thousands of delegates, is worth about £32m to the local economy.

Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, raised the issue on Twitter on Tuesday.

Lucy Powell MP (@LucyMPowell) Just been in a pub in Manchester City Centre (for a meeting!). They have huge booking for Tory conference next week and have ordered all the food. One consequence of today might be adverse impact on businesses in Manchester due to no conference next week.

She added: “Obviously fundamentally disagree with their policies and see every day the damage they’ve caused but that doesn’t mean to say I can’t be concerned by a very late cancellation that will have a big impact on people’s livelihoods in the city.”

Ch Supt Wasim Chaudhry, who is in charge of policing the conference, said tens of thousands of people were expected to attend protests against the government during the event.

“Sunday 29 September will likely be a busy day in the city centre, because as well as welcoming delegates to the start of the conference, there will also be a number of demonstrations and rallies in Manchester – with tens of thousands of people expected to attend,” he said.



“As with many events of this nature, emotions can run high and while everyone has the right to peacefully protest, anyone behaving in a manner which is done to intimidate others or crosses into committing criminal offences will be dealt with appropriately.”