Party conference season

{{Primary sources|date=October 2023}}

{{Needs table|date=August 2024}}{{Short description|Annual period in UK politics}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}

In the United Kingdom the party conference season is a period of three weeks during September and October of each year, whilst the House of Commons is in recess, in which the annual political party conferences are held.

The Conservative Party Conference, Labour Party Conference and the twice-per-year Liberal Democrat Conference, representing the three largest UK-wide political parties, in terms of seats held, hold their main annual conferences in the autumn. These occur in reverse order to this list, and remains the order regardless as to which party is in government.

In contrast to its main opponents' conferences,{{cite web|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/party-conferences|title=Party Conferences|work=Institute for Government|date=26 August 2020 |accessdate=3 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://Labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/rulebook-2020.pdf|title=Labour Party Rule Book 2020 (Chapter 3 - Party Conference — Clause III - Procedural rules for Party Conference)|work=The Labour Party|date=April 2020|accessdate=3 February 2023}} the Liberal Democrats grant all party members attending its conference, either in-person or online,{{cite web|url=https://events.libdems.org.uk/events/44017/spring-conference-online/|title=Liberal Democrats - Spring Conference Online|work=Liberal Democrats|accessdate=3 February 2023}} the right to vote on party policy, under a one member, one vote system.{{cite web|url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/policy_decisions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705161335/https://www.libdems.org.uk/policy_decisions |archive-date=5 July 2022|url-status=dead|title=How is policy decided?|work=Liberal Democrats|accessdate=3 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/pages/1983/attachments/original/1390838799/Standing_Orders.pdf?1390838799|title=Standing orders for Federal Conference - Glossary of terms|work=Liberal Democrats|access-date=3 February 2023}} Among the three largest UK-wide parties, the Liberal Democrat conference is also unique in providing a ring-fenced access fund,{{cite web|url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/access-fund|title=Conference Access Fund|work=Liberal Democrats|accessdate=3 February 2023}} which defrays travel and accommodation costs for both disabled and low-income attendees.{{cite web|url=https://www.libdemvoice.org/why-the-conference-access-fund-is-a-good-thing-53812.html|title=Why the Conference Access Fund is a good thing|work=Liberal Democrat Voice|accessdate=3 February 2023}}

UK-wide political party conferences have traditionally taken place in seaside resorts, at places such as the Empress Ballroom at Winter Gardens in Blackpool, the Brighton Centre in Brighton and the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, largely due to there being plenty of cheap accommodation available in such towns at the end of the summer holiday season. However, for the two largest parties, they are increasingly taking place in major cities with modern, purpose-built conference centres, such as the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, the Central Convention Complex in Manchester and the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) in Liverpool.{{cite news |url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/can-blackpool-ever-win-back-major-political-conferences-1-6109168 |title=Can Blackpool ever win back major political conferences? |newspaper=Blackpool Gazette |date=3 October 2013 |accessdate=12 November 2016}}

Conferences for the devolved Scottish and Welsh parties of the UK-wide Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties are held in March, while the Scottish Green Party holds two conferences each year – a one-day policy event alongside the devolved conferences in March and a two or three day main conference during the main conference season.

There is an unofficial agreement between the parties that they will stagger the timing of their conferences such that media attention be undivided, though smaller parties do not always abide by this rule firmly. In 2012, for example, there was an overlap between the Liberal Democrat and United Kingdom Independence Party annual conferences, with the latter concluding on the opening day of the former, and in 2013 the Liberal Democrat and Green Party of England and Wales conferences overlapped by three days.

Television coverage

Until the second half of the 1980s, with the exception of a mid-morning break for Play School, BBC television had broadcast live, uninterrupted coverage of all of the party conferences, as well as the Trades Union Congress and the CBI conference. However, the commencement of daytime television in October 1986, and with it an extended children's programming clock, meant that the mid-morning interruption extended to 40 minutes from 1987 onwards, with further coverage breaks for hourly news summaries, with the notable exception of the Trades Union Congress which was shown on BBC2 due to it taking place before the commencement of the new term's schools broadcasts. Subsequent years saw coverage on BBC TV continue to be gradually reduced.

1992 saw the launch of The Parliamentary Channel and live, uninterrupted coverage of the three main party conferences was broadcast, without commentary or interviews. This continued after BBC Parliament took over the service in 1998. However, cutbacks at BBC Parliament saw it drop all of its political programming with the channel reduced to nothing other than live and recorded coverage from Westminster and the devolved chambers{{cite news |last=Payne |first=Sebastian |date=14 July 2021 |title=BBC's political channel facing cuts as broadcaster makes savings |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0aaed16c-436d-42c1-88d9-60b8650c045b |url-access=subscription |work=Financial Times |location=London |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210809143321/https://www.ft.com/content/0aaed16c-436d-42c1-88d9-60b8650c045b |archive-date=9 August 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Green |first=Alex |date=14 July 2021 |title=BBC announces replacement coverage after cuts to Parliament channel |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/bbc-announces-replacement-coverage-after-cuts-to-parliament-channel-40653560.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |agency=Press Association}} and 2019 was the final time that BBC Parliament aired coverage of the coverage of the party conferences. This now means that linear television no longer provides significant coverage, with live coverage on BBC Two restricted to the party leaders’ speeches of the three main political parties.

Until the early 1980s, ITV, and then, for a short while, Channel 4, also showed coverage. ITV and Channel 4's coverage is now restricted to its scheduled news bulletins.

On radio, coverage was restricted to clips in scheduled news bulletins. However, the launch of BBC Radio 5 Live saw the launch of live radio coverage, which includes the live broadcast of the leaders' speeches.

2025 conference season

The dates for the 2025 conferences are as follows:

class="wikitable sortable"

|+

!Party

!Venue

!City/Town

!Country

!Date

Liberal Democrats (UK)

|Bournemouth International Centre

|Bournemouth

|England

|20 - 23 September

Labour Party (UK)

|ACC Liverpool

|Liverpool

|England

|27 September - 1 October

Green Party of England and Wales

|Bournemouth International Centre

|Bournemouth

|England

|3 - 5 October

Conservative Party (UK)

|Manchester Central Convention Complex

|Manchester

|England

|5 - 8 October

2024 conference season

The dates for the 2024 conferences are as follows:

class="wikitable sortable"

|+

!Party

!Venue

!City/Town

!Country

!Date

Scottish National Party

|Edinburgh International Conference Centre

|Edinburgh

|Scotland

|30 August - 1 September

Green Party of England and Wales

|Manchester Central Convention Complex

|Manchester

|England

|6 - 8 September

Trades Union Congress

|Brighton Centre

|Brighton

|England

|8 - 11 September

Liberal Democrats (UK)

|Brighton Centre

|Brighton

|England

|14 - 17 September

Reform Party (UK)

|NEC Birmingham

|Marston Green

|England

|20 - 21 September

Labour Party (UK)

|ACC Liverpool

|Liverpool

|England

|22 - 25 September

Conservative Party (UK)

|International Convention Centre, Birmingham

|Birmingham

|England

|29 September - 2 October

Plaid Cymru

|Principality Stadium

|Cardiff

|Wales

|11 - 12 October

Scottish Green Party

|Beacon Arts Centre

|Greenock

|Scotland

|26 - 27 October

2023 conference season

After 2022’s cancellation of the Liberal Democrats Party Conference in Brighton due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the 2023 edition of the Liberal Democrats Party Conference returned to Bournemouth for the first time, with the dates for the 2023 conferences as follows:

class="wikitable sortable"

|+

!Party

!Venue

!City/Town

!Country

!Date

!Ref

Trades Union Congress

|ACC Liverpool

|Liverpool

|England

|10 - 13 September

|{{Cite web |title=TUC Congress 2023 |url=https://www.tuc.org.uk/Congress2023 |access-date=2023-09-28}}

Liberal Democrats

|Bournemouth International Centre

|Bournemouth

|England

|23 - 26 September

|{{Cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=Major political party to hold conference in Bournemouth |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23521253.liberal-democrats-hold-conference-bournemouth/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}

Conservatives

|Manchester Central Convention Complex

|Manchester

|England

|1 - 4 October

|{{Cite news |date=2023-06-20 |title=Tory conference: foreign media groups say accreditation fee undermines press freedom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/20/tory-conference-foreign-media-groups-say-accreditation-fee-undermines-press-freedom |access-date=2023-06-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Plaid Cymru

|Aberystwyth Arts Centre

|Aberystwyth

|Wales

|6 - 7 October

|{{Cite web |title=Conference |url=https://www.partyof.wales/conference |access-date=2023-09-28}}

Green Party of England and Wales

|Brighton Centre

|Brighton

|England

|6 - 8 October

|{{Cite web |title=Green Party Autumn Conference 2023 |url=https://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Green Party |language=en-GB}}

Reform UK

|Hilton London Metropole

|London

|England

|7 October

|{{Cite web |title=Reform UK Conference 2023 |url=https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reform-uk-conference-2023-tickets-693180189607 |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=eventbrite |language=en}}

Labour

|ACC Liverpool

|Liverpool

|England

|8 - 11 October

|{{Cite web |title=Annual Conference 2023 |url=https://labour.org.uk/conference/annual-conference-2023/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Labour Party |language=en}}

Scottish National Party

|P&J Live

|Aberdeen

|Scotland

|15 - 17 October

|{{Cite web |title=SNP 89th Annual National Conference 2023 |date=12 July 2023 |url=https://www.snp.org/events/snp-89th-annual-national-conference-2023/ |access-date=2023-09-28}}

Scottish Green Party

|Carnegie Conference Centre

|Dunfermline

|Scotland

|28 - 29 October

|{{Cite web |title=Scottish Greens Conference |url=https://greens.scot/conference |accessdate=2023-09-28}}

2022 conference season

Following the Death of Elizabeth II, the Liberal Democrats cancelled their planned conference whilst Trades Union Congress rescheduled theirs, both as a mark of respect to the Queen. The dates and locations for the 2022 conferences were as follows:

2021 conference season

The Party conferences largely reverted back to physical attendance following their cancellation the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but some parties opted to keep their conferences online and some opted for a mix of both, with the dates and locations as follows:

2020 conference season

The dates and locations of the 2020 conferences were planned to be as follows:

  • Labour – Saturday 19 September to Wednesday 23 September at the ACC Liverpool{{Cite web|url=https://labour.org.uk/conference/|title=The Labour Party's Annual Conference|website=The Labour Party|access-date=2020-01-24}}
  • Liberal Democrats – Saturday 26 September to Tuesday 29 September at the Brighton Centre{{Cite web|url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/autumn-conference|title=Autumn Conference|date=2013-12-25|website=Liberal Democrats|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}
  • Green Party of England and Wales – Friday 2 to Sunday 11 October online at https://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference/
  • Conservatives – Sunday 4 October to Wednesday 7 October at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham{{Cite web|url=https://conservativepartyconference.com/index|title=The Conservative Party Conference, Manchester Central Convention Complex, Sunday 29th September - Wednesday 2nd October|website=conservativepartyconference.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}

However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic all the physical party conferences were moved online. The Labour conference was replaced by an online event called "Labour Connected" from 19 to 22 September,{{cite web|url=https://labour.org.uk/labour-connected/|title=Connected - The Labour Party|accessdate=16 September 2020}} the Liberal Democrat conference was rescheduled for 25 to 28 September{{cite web|url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/autumn-conference|title=Autumn Conference - Liberal Democrats|accessdate=16 September 2020}} and the Conservative conference for 3 to 6 October.{{cite web|url=https://www.conservatives.com/conference|title=Conservative Party Conference|accessdate=16 September 2020}} The Scottish National Party conference was the last major party conference of the season, held online from 28 to 30 November.{{cite web|url=https://www.snp.org/conference-opportunities/|title=Conference Opportunities|accessdate=2020-12-04}}

2019 conference season

The dates and locations of the Autumn 2019 conferences were as follows:

class="wikitable sortable"
PartyStart dateEnd dateVenueNotes
*Trades Union Congress -Sunday 8 September 2019Wednesday 11 September 2019The Brighton Centre{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuc.org.uk/Congress2019|title=TUC Congress 2019}}
Liberal DemocratsSaturday 14 September 2019Tuesday 17 September 2019Bournemouth International Centre
LabourSaturday 21 September 2019Wednesday 25 September 2019The Brighton Centre
ConservativesSunday 29 September 2019Wednesday 2 October 2019Manchester Central Convention Complex
Green Party of England and WalesFriday 4 October 2019Sunday 6 October 2019International Convention Centre Wales{{cite web |title=Green Party Autumn Conference 2019 |url=https://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference |website=www.greenparty.org.uk |accessdate=7 July 2019}}
Plaid Cymru

|Friday 4 October 2019

|Sunday 6 October 2019

|Swansea Grand Theatre

|

Scottish National PartySunday 13 October 2019Tuesday 15 October 2019The Event Complex Aberdeen{{cite web |title=Scottish National Party Annual Conference 2019 |url=https://www.snp.org/events/snp-annual-national-conference-2019 |website=www.snp.org |date=5 June 2019 |accessdate=10 September 2019}}
Scottish Green Party

|Saturday 12 October 2019

|Sunday 13 October 2019

|Eden Court Inverness

|{{cite web | title=Conference|url=https://greens.scot/conf|website=greens.scot|accessdate = 26 September 2019}}

As a result of the defeat for the Government in Miller/Cherry, the September prorogation of Parliament was declared void, and Parliament sat from 25 September. This meant that the Labour conference was cut short and – after failing to win a vote for a recess – that the Conservative conference clashed with the sitting of Parliament for the first time.{{cite news|url=https://talkradio.co.uk/news/labour-conference-cut-short-after-speaker-recalls-parliament-19092432218|title=Labour conference cut short after Speaker recalls Parliament|date=24 September 2019|accessdate=26 September 2019|website=TalkRadio}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-brexit-boris-johnson-deadline-deal-latest-a9098481.html|title=Brexit: Boris Johnson loses second attempt to trigger early general election|last=|first=|date=9 September 2019|website=Independent.co.uk|access-date=}}

The dates and locations of other 2019 conferences are as follows:

class="wikitable sortable"
PartyStart dateEnd dateVenueNotes
Scottish Liberal DemocratsFriday 22 FebruarySaturday 23 FebruaryThe Hamilton Townhouse{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/conference|title=Conference|website=Scottish Liberal Democrats|access-date=2019-02-18}}
Scottish LabourFriday 8 MarchSunday 10 MarchCaird Hall, Dundee{{Cite web|url=https://scottishlabour.org.uk/conference2019/|title=Annual Conference 2019|website=Scottish Labour|language=en|access-date=2019-02-18}}
Liberal Democrats

|Friday 15 March

|Sunday 17 March

|Barbican Centre, York

|{{Cite web|url=https://www.markpack.org.uk/tag/2019-york-conference/|title=2019 Liberal Democrat Spring Federal Conference, York|website=Mark Pack|date=19 March 2019 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-02}}

Plaid CymruFriday 22 MarchSaturday 23 MarchPontio Centre, Bangor{{Cite web|url=https://www.partyof.wales/digwyddiadau_events|title=Events|website=The Party of Wales|language=en|access-date=2019-02-18}}
Welsh Liberal DemocratsSaturday 6 AprilSunday 7 AprilMarriott Hotel, Cardiff{{Cite web|url=https://www.welshlibdems.wales/spring_conference_2019|title=Spring Conference 2019|website=Welsh Liberal Democrats|access-date=2019-02-18}}
Scottish National PartySaturday 27 AprilSunday 28 AprilEdinburgh International Conference Centre{{Cite web|url=https://www.snp.org/conference-opportunities/|title=Conference Opportunities|website=Scottish National Party|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-18}}
Scottish ConservativesFriday 3 MaySaturday 4 MayAberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishconservatives.com/c2019/|title=Conference 2019|website=Scottish Conservatives|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-18}}
Green Party of England and WalesFriday 7 JuneMonday 10 JuneThe Spa, Scarborough{{cite web |title=Green Party Spring Conference 2019 - Non Member Registration |url=https://my.greenparty.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=365 |website=Green Party Members' Website |accessdate=7 July 2019 |language=en}}

2018 conference season

The dates and locations of the 2018 conferences were as follows:

class="wikitable sortable"
PartyStart dateEnd dateVenueNotes
Trades Union CongressSunday 9 SeptemberWednesday 12 SeptemberManchester Central{{cite web |date= |title=Congress 2018 |url=https://www.tuc.org.uk/tuc-congress-2018 |accessdate=2018-09-16 |publisher=TUC}}
Liberal Democrats

|Saturday 15 September

|Tuesday 18 September

|Brighton Centre

|

Labour

|Sunday 23 September

|Wednesday 26 September

|ACC Liverpool

|

Conservatives

|Sunday 30 September

|Wednesday 3 October

|ICC, Birmingham

|

Scottish Conservatives

|Friday 2 March

|Saturday 3 March

|Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (cancelled)

|

Scottish National Party

|Friday 8 June

|Saturday 9 June

|Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre

|

UKIP

|Friday 21 September

|Saturday 22 September

|ICC, Birmingham

|

Plaid Cymru

|5 October

|6 October

|Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan

|

Green Party of England and Wale

|Friday 5 October

|Sunday 7 October

|City Hall, Bristol

|

Libertarian Party UK

|Saturday 6 October

|Saturday 6 October

|MK Conferencing, Milton Keynes

|{{cite web |title=Join the Debate Liberty Rising Conference – Libertarian Party |url=https://libertarianparty.co.uk/conference/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922192958/https://libertarianparty.co.uk/conference/ |archive-date=2018-09-22}}

Scottish National Party

|Sunday 7 October

|Tuesday 9 October

|The SEC Centre, Glasgow

|{{Cite web |title=Conference Opportunities |url=https://www.snp.org/conference}}

Cooperative Party

|Friday 12 October

|Sunday 14 October

|Mercure Grand Hotel, Bristol

|{{cite web |date= |title=Unleashed: Co-operative Party Annual Conference 2018 – The Co-operative Party |url=https://party.coop/event/co-operative-party-annual-conference-2018 |accessdate=2018-09-16 |publisher=Party.coop}}

Scottish Green Party

|20 October

|21 October

|University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow

|

Women's Equality Party

|Friday 7 September

|Sunday 9 September

|[http://ketteringconference.co.uk Kettering Conference Centre]

|

2017 conference season

The dates and locations of the 2017 conferences were as follows:

class="wikitable sortable"
PartyStart dateEnd dateVenueNotes
Liberal DemocratsSaturday 16 SeptemberTuesday 19 SeptemberBournemouth International Centre{{Cite web |title=Register for Conference |url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/autumn-conference}}
Labour

|Sunday 24 September

|Wednesday 27 September

|Brighton Centre

|{{cite web |author=The Labour Party |date= |title=Annual Conference - The Labour Party |url=http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/annual-conference-2017 |accessdate=2018-09-16 |publisher=Labour.org.uk}}

UKIP

|Friday 29 September

|Saturday 30 September

|Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay

|{{cite web |title=Torquay - UKIP |url=http://www.ukip.org/torquay |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614213419/http://www.ukip.org/torquay |archive-date=2017-06-14}}

Conservatives

|Sunday 1 October

|Wednesday 4 October

|Manchester Central Convention Complex

|{{cite web |date= |title=The Conservative Party Conference, Birmingham ICC, 30th September - 3rd October 2018 |url=https://conservativepartyconference.com/index |accessdate=2018-09-16 |publisher=Conservativepartyconference.com}}

Green Party of England and Wales

|Saturday 7 October

|Tuesday 10 October

|Harrogate International Centre

|{{cite web |date= |title=Green Party Autumn Conference 2018: 5-7 October, Bristol City Hall |url=https://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference/ |accessdate=2018-09-16 |publisher=Greenparty.org.uk}}

Scottish National Party

|Sunday 8 October

|Tuesday 10 October

|The SEC Centre, Glasgow

|{{Cite web |title=Conference Opportunities |url=https://www.snp.org/conference}}

Plaid Cymru

|Friday 20 October

|Saturday 21 October

|Galeri, Caernarfon

|{{cite web |title=2017 Annual Conference - The Party of Wales |url=http://www2.partyof.wales/cynhadledd17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813194433/http://www2.partyof.wales/cynhadledd17 |archive-date=2017-08-13}}

Scottish Green Party

|Saturday 21 October

|Sunday 22 October

|Edinburgh Napier University Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh

|{{cite web |author=Home Volunteer Exhibitors Submit a Motion Register |date=20 July 2017 |title=Conference - Scottish Greens |url=https://greens.scot/conf |accessdate=2018-09-16 |publisher=Greens.scot}}

2016 conference season

File:2016 Labour Party Conference, exit hall.jpg at ACC Liverpool]]

The dates and locations of the 2016 conferences were as follows:

  • Green Party of England and Wales – Friday 2 September to Sunday 4 September 2016 at the University of Birmingham{{cite web|url= https://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference/|title=Autumn Conference 2016|publisher=greenparty.org.uk|accessdate= 12 July 2016}}
  • UKIP – Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 September at the Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth{{cite web|url=http://www.ukip.org/bournemouth|title=Bournemouth – UKIP|publisher=ukip.org|accessdate= 31 July 2016}}
  • Liberal Democrats – Saturday 17 September to Tuesday 20 September at the Brighton Centre, Brighton{{cite web|url=http://www.libdems.org.uk/autumn_conference|title=Autumn Conference|publisher=libdems.org.uk|accessdate= 12 January 2016}}
  • Labour – Sunday 25 September to Wednesday 28 September 2016 at the ACC Liverpool, Liverpool{{cite web|url=http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/annual-conference-2016|title=Welcome to Annual Conference|publisher=labour.org.uk|accessdate=12 January 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119030738/http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/annual-conference-2016|archivedate=19 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}
  • Conservatives – Sunday 2 to Wednesday 5 October at International Convention Centre, Birmingham{{cite web|url=https://conservativepartyconference.com/index/|title=The Conservative Party Conference 2016|publisher=conservatives.com|accessdate= 12 January 2016}}
  • Scottish National Party – Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 October at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow{{cite web|url=http://www.snp.org/national_conference_2016|title=SNP Conference 2016|publisher=snp.org|accessdate= 12 July 2016}}
  • Plaid Cymru – Friday 21 to Saturday 22 October at the Pavilion, Llangollen{{Cite web |url=https://www.partyof.wales/events/2016/10/21/annual-conference-2016/ |title=Annual Conference 2016 |access-date=6 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916034831/https://www.partyof.wales/events/2016/10/21/annual-conference-2016/ |archive-date=16 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}
  • Scottish Green Party – Friday 21 to Sunday 23 October at Perth Concert Hall and the Royal George Hotel, Perth{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/1767806513503979/|title=Scottish Green Party Autumn Conference 2016|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-02}}

2015 conference season

File:Manchester during the conservative party conference 2015 02.JPG]]

The dates and locations of the 2015 conferences were as follows:

  • Liberal Democrats – Saturday 19 to Wednesday 23 September at the Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth{{cite web|url=http://www.libdems.org.uk/autumn_conference|title=Autumn Conference|publisher=libdems.org.uk|accessdate= 31 August 2015}}
  • UKIP – Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September at Doncaster Racecourse, Doncaster{{cite web|url=http://www.ukip.org/doncaster|title=Doncaster – UKIP|publisher=ukip.org|accessdate=18 September 2015}}
  • Green Party – Friday 25 to Monday 28 September at the Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth{{cite web|url=https://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference|title=Conference|publisher=greenparty.org.uk|accessdate= 31 August 2015}}
  • Labour – Sunday 27 to Wednesday 30 September at the Brighton Centre, Brighton{{cite web|url=http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/annual-conference-2015|title=Annual Conference|publisher=labour.org.uk|accessdate=31 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827022049/http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/annual-conference-2015|archive-date=27 August 2015|url-status=dead}}
  • Conservatives – Sunday 4 to Wednesday 7 October at Manchester Central, Manchester{{cite web|url=https://conservativepartyconference.com/index|title=The Conservative Party Conference 2015, Manchester 4-7 October 2015|publisher=conservatives.com|accessdate= 31 August 2015}}
  • Scottish Green Party - Saturday 10 to Sunday 11 October at the Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow.{{Cite news|url=https://greens.scot/news/rent-scottish-greens-conference-to-debate-controls|title=RENT: SCOTTISH GREENS CONFERENCE TO DEBATE CONTROLS|date=2015-08-30|work=Scottish Greens|access-date=2018-03-02|language=en}} It was the party's most well attended conference so far.
  • Scottish National Party – Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 October at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen{{cite web|url=http://www.snp.org/conference/snp-national-conference-15-17-october-2015|title=SNP National Conference|publisher=snp.org|accessdate=31 August 2015|archive-date=9 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909193021/http://www.snp.org/conference/snp-national-conference-15-17-october-2015|url-status=dead}}
  • Plaid Cymru – Friday 23 – Saturday 24 October at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth{{cite web|url=https://www.partyof.wales/events/2015/10/23/2015-conference/|title=2015 Conference|publisher=plaid.cymru|accessdate=31 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130212806/https://www.partyof.wales/events/2015/10/23/2015-conference/|archive-date=30 November 2015|url-status=dead}}

2014 conference season

The dates of the 2014 conferences were as follows:

  • Green Party of England and Wales – 5 to 8 September, at Aston University, Birmingham{{cite web|url=http://greenparty.org.uk/conference.html|title=Conference|publisher=Greenparty.org.uk|accessdate=23 August 2015}}
  • Trades Union Congress – 7 to 10 September, in Liverpool{{cite web|url=http://www.tuc.org.uk/events/tuc-congress-2014|title=Trades Union Congress - TUC Congress 2014|work=TUC.org.uk|accessdate=23 August 2015}}
  • Labour – 21 to 24 September, in Manchester[http://www.labour.org.uk/annual-conference-2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123620/http://www.labour.org.uk/annual-conference-2014|date=13 April 2014}}
  • UKIP – 26 to 27 September, in Doncaster{{cite web|url=http://www.ukip.org/ukip_to_hold_it_s_biggest_ever_annual_conference_at_doncaster_racecourse|title=UKIP to hold its biggest ever Annual Conference at Doncaster Racecourse – as the Party goes from strength to strength in South Yorkshire|work=UKIP|accessdate=23 August 2015|archive-date=15 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715013118/http://www.ukip.org/ukip_to_hold_it_s_biggest_ever_annual_conference_at_doncaster_racecourse|url-status=dead}}
  • Official Monster Raving Loony Party – 26th, 27th & 28th Sept, in Llandrindod Wells, Powys
  • Conservatives – 28 September to 1 October, in Birmingham[http://www.conservativepartyconference.org.uk/Home.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401205836/http://www.conservativepartyconference.org.uk/Home.aspx|date=1 April 2014}}
  • Liberal Democrats – 4 to 8 October, in Glasgow{{cite web|url=http://www.libdems.org.uk/autumn_conference|title=Autumn Conference|work=Liberal Democrats|accessdate=23 August 2015}}
  • Scottish Green Party – 11 to 12 October, in Edinburgh{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/conference-2014|title= Conference 2014 Scottish Greens|publisher=Scottishgreens.org.uk|accessdate=23 August 2015}}
  • Plaid Cymru – 24 to 25 October, in Aberystwyth{{cite web|url=http://www.partyofwales.org/events/?force=1|title=Plaid Cymru|publisher=Partyofwales.org|accessdate=23 August 2015}}
  • Scottish National Party – 13 to 15 November, in Perth[http://www.snp.org/conference/snp-national-conference-13-15-november-2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701195237/http://www.snp.org/conference/snp-national-conference-13-15-november-2014|date=1 July 2014}}

At their annual conference, the Scottish National Party held a leadership election following Alex Salmond's announcement of resignation. Nicola Sturgeon, formerly Salmond's deputy, was elected as their new leader.

2013 conference season

The dates of the 2013 conferences were as follows:

2012 conference season

The dates of the 2012 conferences were as follows:

See also

References