Protesters Respond to Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham

Thousands of protesters gathered in Centenary Square on Sunday afternoon, as delegates arrived in Birmingham for the annual Conservative Party Conference. It was a day of two halves, with protesters sharing speeches and solidarity in Victoria Square, before marching towards the conference entrance at the ICC to form a picket line. It was an event which brought together a number of familiar campaign groups – including Extinction Rebellion, Stop the War and Black Lives Matter.

Before the formal protest, a number of policy issue campaigners were scattered in Centenary Square, including Steve Bray – also known as Stop Brexit Man – a prominent remain campaigner who is known for eye catching stunts during news bulletins. He had high hopes for the day. ‘I’d like to see thousands of protesters here from all over the country – because this affects all our lives’, he said, adding that ‘this government has taken all of our lives with them down the drain’.

There was a large, prominent protest group seeking to educate the government about violence in northern Ethiopia, where ‘there is a genocide, and the government is using drones to kill civilians’ one mother said. ‘People are starving’, the group chanted.

It was an event which brought together a number of familiar campaign groups – including Extinction Rebellion, Stop the War and Black Lives Matter.

A palpable pressure was building as the formal protest, organised by the People’s Assembly Protest Group, drew nearer – and more delegates continued to arrive.

Claire Mercer was joined by a group representing Smart Motorways Kill, and explained her husband ‘was killed on a smart motorway because the hard shoulder was removed’.

She saw the protest as a way to educate. ‘We have thousands of followers on social media, but you can’t beat being out here on the street – we’ve had so many new people approach us’.

Mercer was mid-sentence when she spotted someone the group were especially keen to talk to: ‘… sorry – that’s Huw Merriman [Chair of the Transport Committee], that’s Hew Merriman! Sorry, just bear with me. Tony, that’s Hew Merriman behind you!’

The number of stakeholders in the Centenary Square made for a frenzied atmosphere. Whilst Mercer was talking to Merriman, Therese Coffey [Health Secretary and Deputy PM] emerged from the ICC, prompting a flurry of protesters and journalists alike. Meanwhile, the People’s Assembly – the largest bloc of protesters – began speeches in Victoria Square.

Hundreds gathered peacefully as Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT union, rounded off proceedings which had seen speakers from Black Lives Matter and trade unions address crowds. The largest cheers were reserved for Lynch’s call for public ownership of the energy and transport industries. He described the cost of living crisis as a ‘class struggle’.

We have to show up, we’ve got to get our act together, and push back against them. Students – organise, fight, resist, occupy, strike, do whatever you can!

Amongst the crowd was Alice Matthews, an ex-Redbrick writer who had come with her family. ‘The Tories have contempt for working communities. We thought Boris was gone and the worst was over, and now they’ve gone and said ‘bring back fracking’’.

Environmental issues were at the fore, with a number of protesters raising alarm at the government’s plans to strip large amounts of environmental legislation from planning laws.

Alice had advice for students thinking of protesting: ‘When the Tories come here, we’ve gotta come big as well, we’ve gotta show them what we think of their policies and their government. Look around, they’re not welcome in Birmingham. We have to show up, we’ve got to get our act together, and push back against them. Students – organise, fight, resist, occupy, strike, do whatever you can!’

Indeed, many students had taken the opportunity to make their voices heard. These included Kirsty, Bronwen and Neffy – students from Coventry and Warwick.

They were ‘disgusted’ that the conference was in Birmingham. They said that the conservatives ‘don’t have a grip on reality, they don’t know what working people do. They’re heating swimming pools, we can’t heat our homes’.

They found it ‘powerful’ that there were so many different groups being represented at the protest – ‘our struggles are linked’.

Image by Lloyd Bickham

Bill, a photographer from Lancashire, was somewhat disappointed by the harmonious solidarity of the speeches. ‘People seem to be speaking with one voice. I usually like confrontation for photos of protest groups, but everyone is on the same side!’

Here, it’s been quite a lot more aggressive. And you understand the reasons why, and the situation’s not good at all, from any angle.

Bill’s disappointment soon faded as the march got underway.

As the speeches ended and the protesters began to march towards Centenary Square, tempers began to flare.

Some protesters began to confront attendees of the conference, whilst others tried to warn them against ‘ruining’ the peaceful protest.

Chris was with his wife, Jo. ‘I’ve just told [a delegate] to f*ck off, which I shouldn’t, but I’m angered by it. I’m amazed they have the bottle to just walk through town to be honest. They’re all complicit’, he said.

‘It’s not great to be rude, but we’re not threatening anyone. What do they expect, though? We live in one of the areas hardest hit by the tories’.

Police did have to step in to avoid protesters getting too close to Jacob Rees-Mogg, and delegates were hesitant to talk to journalists on the street.

I was only able to talk to one, Elias, who was unimpressed by Birmingham’s reception. ‘The conference was in Manchester last year, and it was actually quite pleasant. Here, it’s been quite a lot more aggressive. And you understand the reasons why, and the situation’s not good at all, from any angle. But, what I will say is that it’s not nice when someone comes up to you and calls you a tosser or a c*nt. We’re always up for conversation, but cursing doesn’t help’, he said.

Whilst these protesters were trying to catch MPs’ attention, few felt that they were being listened to. Yet, many did express hope that the party was embroiled in its own protests.

He had just received his conference pass in a building opposite the ICC, where a picket line of protesters had gathered after marching from the speeches in Victoria Square. Here, crowds shouted angrily at delegates walking through security towards the conference.

The issues raised along the picket line centred largely around the government’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis and ‘mini-budget’. Cries of ‘Tory scum’ and ‘tax the rich’ rang around the square. Whilst these protesters were trying to catch MPs attention, few felt that they were being listened to. Yet, many did express hope that the party was embroiled in its own protests.

James, a journalist covering the picket line disclosed that many MPs were showing dissent by not turning up to the conference. ‘I’ve talked to a number of MPs asking them to meet here for an interview, and they’re saying – we’re not actually there, sorry!’

For student Emma, however, this meant little. ‘It sucks having this so close to our city, it’s frustrating. It looks obnoxious, and it’s so blatant that they don’t care about the people here. They don’t think they’re going to get elected next time, so they’re having a free for all.’

‘They’re just ignoring us.’