Cambridge is set to become the focal point of national political reflection this June, as experts gather to assess the Labour government’s first year in power.
Anglia Ruskin University’s Labour History Research Unit will host Starmer: Year One on Saturday, 14 June. This landmark event is billed as the first academic conference dedicated to scrutinising Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government since it swept to power in July 2024 with a commanding 412-seat majority.
Chaired by Professor Rohan McWilliam, a leading authority on modern British history and director of the Labour History Research Unit, the conference promises a robust evaluation of Labour’s policies and performance to date.
“This is a government that promised change in 2024, but its tone so far has proven to be one of caution,” said Prof McWilliam. “Why is this, and what does it tell us about the challenges of governing in the mid-2020s?”
The event will feature a panel of distinguished academics and political insiders. Among them is Professor Patrick Diamond, a former head of policy planning at Downing Street, and Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, the Labour candidate who ran against Nigel Farage in Clacton.
Topics under discussion include economic strategy, foreign policy on Ukraine, NHS reform, gender and immigration policies, and Labour’s response to Britain’s evolving political mood.
Prof McWilliam noted that the conference will not only serve as a space for immediate analysis but also lay the groundwork for a deeper academic study of Labour’s administration.
“By the time of the event, Labour will have been in power for almost a year,” he said. “The results of May’s local elections show that the political landscape continues to shift—making this an ideal time to reflect on how the government is navigating these changes.”
Cambridge residents are encouraged to attend what promises to be a thoughtful and engaging look at a pivotal moment in modern British politics.
