Labour cancels spring conference to save money

LabourMatters has the details of the latest twist in Labour’s financial problems:

Labour’s National Executive Committee has decided to cancel the Spring 2009 conference to help recover from the Party’s current debt-ridden position and prepare for the General Election expected to be held the following year.

In a short press release Chris Lennie, Labour’s Acting General Secretary, explained:

“Today the Labour Party’s NEC has taken the decision to cancel Spring Conference 2009 as part of a range of measures to put the Party on a long term stable financial footing.

“Instead of gathering in one place for a traditional conference with set piece speeches and formal meetings that only a limited number of people can attend, the Party will be seeking to make best use of its resources by engaging with as many members as possible through a combination of both events in your local area and online activities on labour.org.uk and Membersnet [Labour’s member-only website].

“More details will be available nearer the time.”

Not having a group of activists and MPs together in one place where they can mutter their unhappiness with Gordon Brown is of course one other effect of cancellation…