Labour Conference 2026 by Rev Andy Fitchet, delegate for Christians on the Left

There is something quite unlike Labour Party Conference.

It is exhausting, obviously. By the end, your feet hurt, your voice is disappearing, and you have had approximately seventeen conversations while trying to walk across the conference centre, but it is also joyful.

For a few days, tens of thousands of people gather because, despite the frustrations and challenges of politics, we still believe things can be different and this year, the word I kept coming back to was hope. Indeed the Conference was entitled, Hope Again.

This isn’t a naïve hope which pretends everything is fine. There is still poverty and inequality at home, conflict and injustice around the world, and a political culture which too easily becomes angry and fearful. Our hope as CotL means looking that reality squarely in the face and refusing to believe that the way things are is the way things must always be.

One of the highlights for Christians on the Left was our Labour Party Conference Church Service, held in partnership with Church Urban Fund. There is something wonderfully counter-cultural about beginning conference in worship. Before the speeches, interviews, announcements and arguments, we pray, sing, hear scripture and remind ourselves why we are there.

Politics can easily become about winning elections, winning arguments, winning votes or wining the news cycle. The Gospel calls us back to something deeper: service, justice, mercy, solidarity and love of neighbour. Church Urban Fund’s work alongside communities experiencing poverty and inequality was a powerful reminder that these aren't simply political talking points, but realities affecting people's lives.

Our Labour Party Conference Church Service. This years theme was Hope in Every Heart.

That theme continued through our fringe events, including our conversation on Faith in Development alongside CAFOD, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief UK and Tearfund.

At a time when international development is under pressure, it was an important reminder that our responsibility to our neighbour doesn't end at Britain's borders. Faith organisations are often embedded in communities before crises begin and remain long after the cameras leave. A progressive politics must ask not only how Britain prospers, but what part Britain can play in building a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.

Our fringe panel event on Faith in International Development. Held in partnership with Cafod, Christian Aid, Tearfund and Islamic Relief. We were also joined by Katie White MP, Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Conference isn't only speeches and fringe events though. Some of its best moments happen in corridors, over coffee, at receptions and in conversations with people you haven't seen for a year.

Christians on the Left exists to campaign, pray and connect, and conference brings all three together. There is genuine joy in being among trade unionists, councillors, MPs, charities, socialist societies, campaigners and ordinary members who believe politics can still be a force for good.

I came away tired, certainly, but mostly hopeful.

Hope isn't, of course, the same as optimism. Optimism says things will probably get better. Christian hope says that, whatever happens, we keep working to make things better.

We challenge poverty because poverty is not inevitable. We pursue peace because war is not inevitable. We confront prejudice because hatred is not inevitable. And we engage in politics because injustice is not inevitable either.

Hope isn't pretending everything is okay. Hope is believing things can change. Hope is choosing to show up. And hope is getting to work.

That is what I will take away from Labour Conference 2026.
Rev Andy Fitchet