Progress and Promise in Tackling Women’s Issues and VAWG at Labour Party Annual Conference 2026

‘Hope Again’ was the highly visible logo at this autumn’s Labour Party Annual Conference (2026) in Liverpool where the government’s plans to pursue and promote improvements to daily life, albeit with no overnight ‘Miracle Question’ solution promised, were up for discourse. Westminster with its associates and interested parties descended and swirled in their thousands day and night for a few days in and around the city - predominantly on the Mersey Waterfront at Liverpool Experience Campus at King’s Dock; its venue for the fifth consecutive year, with a sixth confirmed for 2027.

Prime Minister since July this year, of course, Northerner Andy Burnham, originally from neighbouring Aintree - home of The Grand National, renowned Everton supporter and good friend of Liverpudlian, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, steered the helm as new leader of the Labour government with its ‘No.10 North’ devolution.

The government’s schedule seemed one of inclusive, current and pending, political steps being assimilated and taken to ease some of life’s pressures - including women’s issues. Domestic abuse remains an epidemic and national emergency. It is complex and rife – with the consensus being 1 in 3 women have experienced domestic abuse – which ultimately can go beyond belittling control or a black eye to murder.

1 in 3 women have experienced domestic abuse – which ultimately can go beyond belittling control or a black eye to murder

The ambitious landmark strategy: ‘Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ was published in December last year to tackle this head on. With a whole-of-society approach to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, measures are still being rolled out.

Reports cite the Strategy as having a focus on healthy relationships, consent, better protecting children from misogyny and abuse and a new relationship abuse helpline – whilst calling for co-ordinated action across public services, not only police and courts, in the prevention, protection and punishment of perpetrators, and more - with laws such as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Online Safety Act 2023 behind its implementation.

Set out this year, also under the 2024-2026 Starmer Labour government, as are several of the references in this article, was a new Victims’ Code open consultation seeking views, data and information for proposed updates to The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice wanted to consider and engage with victims and their families, those who support them and other experts, as well as consulting criminal justice partners, their agencies, the judiciary and a range of professionals who work with victims every day. The consultation was open for around three months until the end of April this year and is now in development.

For details on any of the above, and more – notably The Employment Rights Act 2025 and a new National Taskforce for Tackling Misogyny announced by Minister for Women and Equalities, Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP in the immediate run up to conference, please go to www.gov.uk.  A search on there, in fact a general internet search, of ‘Men and Boys’ might also be an eye-opener, including for the men and boys in your life. 

New National Taskforce for Tackling Misogyny announced by Minister for Women and Equalities, Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP in the immediate run up to conference

 Politicians are far from unaware of a manospheric zeitgeist and the harmful aspects of some male issues, such as ‘loneliness, isolation and social connection among boys and men’, men’s health, high suicide rates, and the impact of economic inactivity on all youngsters not in employment, education or training (NEETS) – are actively being mitigated.

The majority of men are decent and valued in multiple, even immeasurable, ways by women. But if their lives are out of sorts, chances are ours are too. Organizations like Movember, with a prominent profile at conference, and Andy’s Man Club – It’s Okay To Talk, also on the political radar, know this and offer men information and the space to open up.

Unfortunately, though, tragically, there are dangerous, violent men too. There might well be a grasp on the ‘motivation’ behind, say, so-called ‘Honour Killings’, yet a streetwise cultural gaze from the male perspective, revealing the bottom line on what moves grown men, of all class and clan, to harm women appears to elude us. Are they each troubled, pressured, ‘entitled’ or purely wicked? If only we knew.

To work towards fixing things, a plethora of fringe meetings at conference, held in various rooms and spaces outside the broadcasting Main Hall, were of direct interest to women - some bracing the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) issues that so dramatically disturb. They saw leading female Labour politicians tirelessly circulate, as speakers and panellists, throughout conference to bring everybody up to speed. 

Leading female Labour politicians tirelessly circulate, as speakers and panellists, throughout conference to bring everybody up to speed

Such showcase events include experts, campaigners and activists, leaders and CEOs of charities, professional bodies and the public and private sector - with contributors sharing updates and insights, too numerous to detail here but really good to know about, before lively Q&As with an informed cross-section of attendees equally passionate about women’s issues. There follows a flavour of who was there and what went on.

How such formidable female Ministers, MPs and even councillors – some household names - got to be where they are, can be a bit of a mystery: most of us would not know where to start. For some, the training and support of the Labour Women’s Network, (LWN), a grassroots, solidarity sisterhood which works to secure the election of more Labour women to public office at every level and then play a full part in the Party, has proved their unwavering supportive launch pad and linchpin.

At ‘Sisters Assemble: Your Feminist Fringe Is Here! (Labour Women’s Network)’, sponsored by booking.com, LWN alumna, Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government addressed the crowd. She has expressed her pride and gratitude at having such an affiliation with LWN as it campaigns for women’s equality in the Labour Party: ‘Any sister contemplating being involved in our Labour movement would find the LWN a huge support and advantage.’

Former Secretary of State for Education Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities and currently Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South followed, speaking warmly of two memorable, fellow North-East Labour women in particular who inspired and encouraged her - Vera Brydon who sadly passed away this year, aged ‘almost 100’ having supported many hundreds of Labour Party political women and local legend Marion Phillips (1881-1932) who, it was said, would be amazed to see that half of the Parliamentary Labour Party and Cabinet today are women. 

Marion Phillips (1881-1932) . . . would be amazed to see that half of the Parliamentary Labour Party and Cabinet today are women

Afterwards a ‘Reception: Delivering for Women & Girls: The Opportunities for Earlier Intervention (Fabian Society, Labour Women’s Network, National Women’s Justice Coalition, Centre for Young Lives and the JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls)’ set out to shine a light on the importance of ensuring earlier, more effective support for women and girls through sustained specialist services like Women’s Centres within the ecosystem of community support.

Women’s Centres provide holistic support in safe, specialist, women-only environments, often engaging with those who face barriers to accessing statutory services.  Meanwhile, the National Women’s Justice Coalitions mission is championing best practice and leading on justice policy.

Event speakers included Jake Richards MP, Minister for Sentencing, Human Rights and Technology, Dame Anneliese Dodds MP, Co-Chair of the Fabian Society, Baroness Dr Sara Hyde, Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities and Jess Phillips MP.

The emphasis was on early intervention and multi-agency collaboration and infrastructure - with too many girls and young women growing up with a range of gender-specific challenges and families struggling. These can be gender-based violence, exploitation and misogyny, harmful stereotypes and unequal expectations around caring and emotional labour – which can become entrenched or even lead to involvement with the criminal justice system.  Trusted, local relationships, and a holistic, person-centred response, it is suggested, are key – plus, as ever, investment – in order to reach vulnerable women and girls before they reach crisis point. 

For some, without the best start in life and proper intervention or support, can end up seriously falling by the wayside because of addiction and abuse

As Dame Anneliese Dodds MP was compere and told the room, with passion: “I wanted to be here this evening… because of how important this issue is. It is fundamental.  If we cannot change the system, if we cannot make sure those girls who are so vulnerable and being failed at the moment don’t have a better future, then what are we for as the Labour Party? … Oh, my goodness, we have got a problem. We’ve got a problem. Preparing for this, of course, I looked at the statistics. You know about them…there’s lots… There’s the percentage of women in Britain who are subject to a head injury often because of domestic abuse, up to around 80%; around a third of women in prison have had experience of the Care system. There’s the fact that we, as women, account for almost third of self-harm incidents in prison, but we are only 4 % of the prison population…’

She directed people to a New Briefing: ‘Women’s Centres; An essential part of the government’s early intervention infrastructure’ at the back of the room published during conference, for more statistics and solutions you can download a copy on The Jabbs Foundation for Women and Girls website here: www.jabbswomenandgirls.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WomensCentresBriefing

More of what is, and what some believe also needs to be, coming through the political pipeline for women – and everybody so it seemed – emerged as days passed at conference. Corporate and other lobbyists notwithstanding, everybody appeared to have a rightful seat at the conference table:  pregnant and new mums on maternity leave, pre-school and school age children, teens, young people, parents, the ‘working people’ cohort, business, the health and well-being of women of childbearing age and beyond, men and boys, minorities and marginalized such as BAME / LGBT+ and those in later life – the latter stirred, of course, with a contentious swizzle of the current State Pension Triple Lock and plans for a new National Care Service and no personal care charges announced in the Prime Minister’s Speech. 

Plans for a new National Care Service and no personal care charges announced in the Prime Minister’s Speech

Meanwhile, Downing Street asserted that findings indicate around three in four adults over 65 are expected to need care and support in later life, with one in seven facing costs of more than £100,000.

Many of us know of women who take on the role of family carer for elders: more often than not daughters. If they are caring for their own or others’ children as well as the older, ill or disabled adult, this is known as being a ‘sandwich carer’.  Let alone looking after themselves with a decent lunch, toss in paid employment, thousands are left running on empty, on their knees in the workplace, their own health deteriorating under the strain and many managing stinging and long-lasting mixed feelings, knowing their loved one’s one time inheritance aspirations are rapidly going down the toilet.

They, indeed, will be hoping it pans out well in practice and if the powers that be ‘get it’. To that end, Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, has asked Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock to chair an Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, which will provide recommendations. Baroness Casey has launched ‘The Big Conversation on Care’ and wants to hear the views of the public. Want to have your say? Please go to www.caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation/ to ‘help shape a fairer future’. 

Baroness Casey has launched ‘The Big Conversation on Care’ and wants to hear the views of the public

‘Women’s Rally (E.ON, 50:50 Parliament and Pregnant then Screwed)’ looked to bring together pioneering women and men from politics and the workplace to champion gender equality, representation and aspiration on how the Employment Rights Act can deliver meaningful change for women in practice: flexible hours comes to mind.

Sarah Russell MP, Co-Chair of the Women and Work APPG, (All-Party Parliamentary Group) was the Chair with around a dozen contributors from across the spectrum including Dame Anneliese Dodds MP – former Women and Equalities Minister, Dawn Butler, MP and Kelly Heaney, Social Impact Manager at sponsors, E.ON UK.

The first to address the large audience that are around 80% was contributor Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities: ‘Since 2024, we’ve not just delivered the Employment Rights Act that is going to make a huge difference to women across our country, we’re also taking more action on the gender pay gap, on action plans around menopause to make sure women in every stage of their life are well supported. That’s alongside the big expansion we’ve delivered in childcare and early years support and all the work we continue to do to make the workplace a brilliant place for women to go and to stay.’

She moved on to racism and misogyny. She said: ‘Andy Burnham, our Prime Minister, has asked me to lead the Taskforce on Tackling Misogyny tackling, at root cause, the most toxic, harmful attitudes that don’t just make us live smaller lives, or make different decisions, but also the end point, where that takes us, is the women who lose their lives to male violence every single day; the women whose lives are forever changed by sexual violence.’ 

Tackling, at root cause, the most toxic, harmful attitudes that don’t just make us live smaller lives, or make different decisions

‘Ending Violence Against Women & Girls: From Words to Action (Girls Who Talk Politics, Monzo and AXA Insurance)’ followed. The panel explored ‘bold solutions’ to domestic - and economic abuse – to strengthen prevention and drive lasting change – asserting violence against women and girls cannot be tackled by one sector alone.

Speakers included Farah Nazeer CEO Women’s Aid, Natalie Beddows Vulnerability, Access and Inclusion Lead at Monzo, Natalie Winters Head of Complaints at AXA and Georgia Richardson, Head of Communication and Partnership at Girls Who Talk Politics, Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities and Jess Phillips MP.

Discussions included domestic and economic abuse, housing and refuge, the police and courts, what financial companies like AXA and Monzo are doing, and more. Some points raised awareness of the means and language of abuse in everyday life because at one end abuse or coercive control might be subtle - a male partner removing a woman from their insurance plan or hiding paperwork, with its own awful bandwidth, at the other end, abuse might be brutal; fatal even.

On VAWG and implementing the comprehensive strategy to protect women and reduce it by half in a clock-ticking decade, Jess Phillips said: ‘Fundamentally, the thing that is actually going to change it, any of it, is going to take real political will and for each of the government departments that have responsibilities within it to actually do their bit and really, really pull their finger out - and for the centre to make sure that happens.’ 

To change it, any of it, is going to take real political will and for each of the government departments that have responsibilities within it to actually do their bit

There was also discussion of the necessity of aspects of tackling VAWG to be better joined up, such as between government departments. Jess Phillips added: ‘The biggest gaps were in Health and Education: 100%… Health and Education recognising that they have a responsibility in this space, I would say, were the biggest gaps and are the biggest things that we have to overcome because violence against women and girls – makes-you-sick – and, therefore, it’s not the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice to pay for your counselling. It is the responsibility of the Mental Health Trust, but you wouldn’t know it if you looked in our country.’

She added: ‘The amount of abuse and violence that schools in our country are having to deal with, the growing number or perpetrators who are teenagers is’ her emphatic voice pauses ‘…so the prevention work is massive in Education.’

The next day, Jess Phillips did her customary role of compering the keynote event: ‘The Rally Against Violence Towards Women & Girls (The House Magazine and Lloyds Banking Group)’ an atmospherically charged fixture on the night of the Prime Minister’s Speech. Here someone who has lost a loved one to male violence bravely shares their heartbreaking and horrifying story to truly bring home the human impact and importance of all this work and to call on authorities to respond more effectively when women report dangerous behaviour. This year there was Pauline Jones, Killed Women Family Member, who sadly lost her only child, 21-year-old Bethany Rae Fields in September 2019 when she was brutally killed in Huddersfield by her ex-partner while helping to set up a musical event for those with a disability. Voice choking, she said, ‘Our lives ended with hers – only our shell remains...’ 

Our lives ended with hers – only our shell remains

Around a handful of speakers contributed, including Rt Hon Yvette Cooper,

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care since July this year. She said:

 ‘Jess and Sarah Jones and I worked in opposition to come up with the mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade and we said then that it was going to be a cross government mission - and I meant it. 

Two years ago, as Home Secretary, I announced some of the things that we were going to do, including Raneem’s Law to put domestic abuse specialists into 999 control rooms to make sure that we could boost the police response to abuse and that is happening all over the country.

Then, last year as Foreign Secretary, I announced the work we would do to take much stronger action internationally to lead the debate on, particularly, sexual violence in conflict - highlighting the women in Sudan where sexual abuse and rape is being used as a weapon of war and yet, too often, is just not being seen or heard - and I’m hopeful that we will make violence against women and girls a central issue as part of the UK’s G20 leadership next year.’ 

We will make violence against women and girls a central issue as part of the UK’s G20 leadership next year

Echoing what Jess Phillips had been saying at the earlier event, Yvette Cooper added: ‘We’ve got to treat violence against women and girls as a health issue and for too long it hasn’t been. It’s just not been understood… We know that tens of thousands of women disclose abuse in maternity services alone, just pregnant women; but actually, still too often we know that, in all parts of the NHS, it is still not treated as the epidemic it really is. We will bring all parts of the NHS, to start working, together on prevention, on response and support, on referrals, on mental health support, on different kinds of support.’

Not long after, the annual conference dispersed for another year: Andy Burnham’s inaugural Prime Minister’s Annual Conference Speech done, the ‘Hope Again’ logo banners and balloons taken down, T-shirts and mugs packed. Thinking of attendees pondering over a cuppa now on what to make of it all, like me, The Shawshank Redemption - with its central theme and multiple references of Hope, and Freedom – somewhat topically - sprang to mind.

Is it a case of, like seasoned prisoner Red (Morgan Freeman) sizing up wrongly convicted newcomer, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins): ‘Yeah.  I think it would be fair to say… I liked Andy from the start’. Or a case of, as Red ruminates: ‘Hope can be a dangerous thing’. Or what more optimistic Andy believes: ‘Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.’ For all their differences, they forge an unlikely, life-enhancing friendship. Only time will tell if Labour’s promise of ‘Hope Again’ eventually becomes a denouement of ‘Better Now’.

By Susan Wallace ©

Journalist