Labour Party Conference 2026: What it means for Civil Society 

This year’s Labour Party Conference attracted considerable attention, as Andy Burnham addressed the party for the first time as leader, outlining his vision for Labour’s future direction. Following a leadership transition that attracted relatively little scrutiny, the conference represented a significant moment in assessing the ideological orientation, strategic priorities, and broader political trajectory of Burnham’s Labour.  

Under the banner of ‘Hope Again’, the conference carried a notably more optimistic mood, with the so-called ‘Burnham bounce’ helping to reinvigorate the party and its supporters. For civil society organisations, conference provided opportunities engage with decision-makers, contribute to policy discussions, and strengthen stakeholder relationships. Many of the government’s announcements and priorities appear encouraging for the sector and, moving forward, create avenues for charities to shape the policy agenda. 

Policy Priorities and Civil Society Impact 

Although Burnham made no direct reference to civil society in his conference speech, several of his policy announcements have important implications for the sector. These include an end to the pensions triple lock from 2030 to help fund a National Care Service. As social care reform becomes a long-term priority for this government, meaningful reform will require strong partnerships with frontline charities, including organisations supporting older people, carers charities, community groups, and faith-based organisations. These organisations have valuable expertise that can help shape effective care services and, in many cases, allow them to act as delivery partners.  

Similarly, Burnham’s commitment to expand public control of housing could particularly affect the sector. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner’s announcement that housing associations will no longer be able to refuse homeless families without good reason was widely welcomed by homelessness charities. If implemented effectively, these reforms would be a significant step towards ending rough sleeping, in turn reducing demand for charitable services. At the same time, the government must ensure sustained consultation with the sector in pursuit of this ambition. 

Central to the Prime Minister’s speech was the need to “rebuild resilience within our communities” and “devolve more power to places to put them in charge and decide their own destiny.” While stopping short of recognising the role of charities in this context, their role in strengthening communities makes them essential strategic partners for government. At a fringe event co-hosted by NCVO and More in Common, new research illustrated public recognition of charities’ ability to support people in crisis, reduce loneliness, and build community connections. During the discussion, Jess Phillips MP highlighted the need for more sustainable government support for charities, especially through long-term Treasury funding that would improve organisations’ financial security. This reflected a broader thread through conference – civil society must receive practical government support and be recognised as an essential partner in policy design and delivery, not as an afterthought. 

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s speech was also particularly noteworthy. He described the suffering of the people of Gaza as “a stain on the conscience of the world” and reaffirmed the government’s ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. He also labelled Sudan as “the worst humanitarian crisis there is” and pledged to use Britain’s diplomatic influence to help end the conflict. Miliband demonstrated a clear acknowledgement of the scale of both crises and the government’s commitment to political and diplomatic intervention on both issues. This was reinforced during a fringe event on Sudan organised by the International Rescue Committee, where International Development Minister Kirsty McNeill emphasised the importance of working closely with humanitarian organisations operating in the region to devise meaningful solutions – a welcome approach to putting the government’s stated commitment to partnership working into practice. 

New Ministers, New Opportunities 

Conference provided charities with an invaluable space to build relationships with ministers responsible for policy areas affecting the sector. Burnham’s summer cabinet reshuffle brought significant personnel changes across several government departments. McNeill brought her previous experience as Executive Policy Director at Save the Children to several fringe events on humanitarianism, development, and foreign affairs, demonstrating a clear understanding of many of the challenges facing the sector. 

Meanwhile, Vicky Foxcroft was appointed Minister for Youth, Gambling, Digital Inclusion, Civil Society & Loneliness, succeeding Stephanie Peacock. She also maintained a visible presence throughout conference, participating in discussions on issues including Pride in Place and devolution. These offered opportunities for charities to hear from her directly and engage on her priorities for the sector. 

Both ministers appeared to indicate a willingness to engage constructively with civil society. Conversations with both Foxcroft and McNeill brought a sense of cautious optimism that government engagement with civil society could improve in the years ahead, whether through implementation of the Civil Society Covenant or efforts to restore foreign aid spending to 0.7% of GNI. Moving ahead, civil society organisations should be proactive in strengthening these relationships and maintaining consistent communication with ministers to ensure they are able to shape policy decisions. 

Maintaining Engagement and Influence 

Labour Party Conference 2026 demonstrated that civil society has genuine opportunities to shape the Burnham government’s agenda across a range of policy areas, from social care and housing to devolution and international development. The party’s direction under his leadership indicates a strong emphasis on community empowerment and improving the lives of ordinary people. While devolution is central to this approach, important questions remain as to how it would be implemented in the longer term and whether the benefits would be shared across society. In this context, the voluntary sector has a vital role to play in delivering better outcomes for communities, while helping to alleviate the burden on organisations. 

At the same time, civil society cannot afford to be complacent. Charities must continue to engage strategically with government, parliament, and political parties, positioning themselves as partners throughout the policymaking process, from design to delivery. Labour Party Conference underscored that the avenues for influence exist, but that sustained, purposeful engagement by the sector is essential if these opportunities are to be fully realised.