YOUNG LABOUR (YL) warned that it is set to miss out on its traditional day at party conference this year as it accused Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership team of stonewalling the group.

YL chairwoman Jess Barnard said Labour told the group today that there is no capacity for due diligence checks on possible event speakers until September 20, just five days before the start of conference, potentially ruling out the YL day.

An annual YL meeting — which sees party members aged between 14 and 26 get together — is a requirement of Labour’s rulebook.

In a series of tweets, Ms Barnard also claimed that the party had said anyone from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), as well as former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, will be refused as speakers.

After being told that there would be no YL conference earlier this year, Ms Barnard said she held negotiations with party chairman David Evans, in which he allegedly committed to more YL resources at conference to make up for it.

She said that proposals for a potential YL day were submitted months ago “well within the deadline given,” but no response was forthcoming. 

YL has also had no contact from Sir Keir’s office since his election as leader last year, Ms Barnard said, tweeting: “No acknowledgement we exist, no reply to emails, nothing.

“[YL] committee members will now be working around the clock to pull together events with or without the help of the leadership.

“Young members have bought tickets, paid for travel and accommodation to be here. [We] will make sure any young member will not be let down. In solidarity!”

A Labour spokesperson claimed that YL will have a conference day, and that speakers would be announced in due course.

A PSC spokesperson said: “PSC is definitively not banned from the Labour Party conference. We have a stall and a fringe meeting as in previous years.

“We are seeking urgent clarification from the Labour leadership as to why [YL] were given the message that they were given and we will comment further once these conversations have taken place.”

Parliamentary reporter @TrinderMatt