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Conference to analyse PM's first year in power

George King
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Carl Court/PA Wire A head and shoulders shot of Sir Keir Starmer wearing a black suit jacket over a white shirt and tie. He is looking slightly off to his left.Carl Court/PA Wire
The decisions of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Labour will be examined during a conference in Cambridge

Historians and experts will analyse the decisions and performance of the Labour government as part of an event focusing on Sir Keir Starmer's first year in power.

Starmer: Year One will take place at Anglia Ruskin University's Cambridge campus on Saturday, 14 June, hosted by the university's Labour History Research Unit.

The "first ever conference" to examine the new government's time in Downing Street will scrutinise how the party has so far handled a variety of issues.

Researchers will then use the public and political exercise as a base from which to develop an academic study on the government.

Brian Farmer/BBC The outside of Anglia Ruskin University's Cambridge campus. On the building a huge sign reads "We are University of the Year" while a sign in the foreground reads "a.r.u" and "Welcome to Cambridge"Brian Farmer/BBC
The event will be held for the public at Anglia Ruskin University's Cambridge campus

Rohan McWilliam is a professor in modern British history at the university and the director of the Labour History Research Unit.

"This is a government that promised change in 2024 but its tone so far has proven to be one of caution," he said.

"Why is this, and what does it tell us about the challenges of governing in the mid-2020s?

"What is the new political landscape and how should the Starmer government seek to shape it?"

The event will be attended by several university professors, including former head of policy planning at Downing Street, Prof Patrick Diamond.

Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, who stood for Labour in Clacton in the 2024 general election but lost to Reform UK's Nigel Farage, is also due to join the discussion.

They will debate everything from the government's approach to the economy and the Ukraine war to issues such as gender, immigration, and the NHS.

Martin Suker Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, in a cream coloured suit with a shirt and tie on, standing next to - and looking at - Nigel Farage, who is wearing a navy coloured suit with a shirt and tie on.Martin Suker
Former Labour parliamentary candidate Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, who stood against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, will attend the conference

"This is the first conference to review the record of the new government and by the time of the event, Labour will have been in power for almost a year," said Prof McWilliam.

"However, the results of May's local elections show the political landscape of Britain has continued to shift significantly since last year's general election."

The Labour Party won a huge majority in the House of Commons last July by securing 412 seats, displacing the Conservative Party after 14 years in power.

Following the victory, Sir Keir said he was "ready to restore Britain to the service of working people".

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