No politics here please! Labour sets up a 'safe space' for delegates worn out by tribal battles at party conference

  • Labour has created a 'safe space' room yards from the main conference hall 
  • The small space is available to delegates eager for a break from political clashes
  • Heated tribal arguments about the future of Labour are expected in Brighton  

By TIM SCULTHORPE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Labour has offered a 'safe space' to female delegates at its party conference in Brighton.

The refuge, which is just yards from the main conference hall, is available for party activists who want to escape sometimes angry rows at the conference.

Thousands of Labour members have descended on Brighton for the annual party conference with furious policy debates on Brexit and party rules expected.

Angry clashes over anti-Semitism are also likely amid a proposed changes to party rules about criticism of Israel and Zionism. 

Labour has offered a 'safe space' to women delegates at its party conference in Brighton (pictured last night as the conference began) 

Labour has offered a 'safe space' to women delegates at its party conference in Brighton (pictured last night as the conference began) 

Creating so-called 'safe spaces' has become increasingly controversial at university campuses around Britain as critics claims they stifle debate by blocking views that are not mainstream. 

The first clashes of the conference have already happened amid a bitter row about whether London Mayor Sadiq Khan should be given a prime speaking slot.   

Corbynista activists today demanded Labour's most senior elected official is gagged in favour of the party leader's inner circle. 

The chairwoman of the session had to plead for calm after a young Labour member was jeered by the audience as he urged the party to let the London mayor speak.

Tensions between Labour moderates and more radical party activists were laid bare almost immediately after the Brighton conference formally kicked off. 

Organisers of the conference had finally given Mr Khan a slot to speak on Monday after a long-running battle for him to be heard. 

Momentum activist Morgan Hendy called for Labour activists to be given the platform to speak at conference and fro Sadiq Khan to be gagged

Momentum activist Morgan Hendy called for Labour activists to be given the platform to speak at conference and fro Sadiq Khan to be gagged

A Labour delegate was jeered by the crowd at conference today when he pleaded for Sadiq Khan be allowed to speak - pointing out he has the biggest personal mandate of any Labour politician after his mayoral victory this year

A Labour delegate was jeered by the crowd at conference today when he pleaded for Sadiq Khan be allowed to speak - pointing out he has the biggest personal mandate of any Labour politician after his mayoral victory this year

But Morgan Hendy, an activist with the Jeremy Corbyn-backing Momentum group, urged the conference to bin the slot and give the time to activists instead.

Addressing the conference, he heaped praise on the flood of new activists to the party and said Labour must 'use this resource' .

He said: 'No offence, but we see him (Sadiq Khan) on television all the time...

'I want us to give speaking time for members, for volunteers, for activists - for the people who got us so far in the General Election.' 

He said that if the conference does decide to hear from Labour mayors, they should be from cities outside London. 

 

Labour

Most watched News videos