Labour ready for real party!

Exclusive John Scheerhout

September 09, 2008

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Police examine the booze

Police examine the booze 1/4 Play Slideshow

IT looks like it will be quite a party when Gordon Brown comes to Manchester for the Labour party conference, despite the polls.

Eighteen pallets loaded with booze arrived at the Midland Hotel yesterday ahead of the conference, which starts a week on Sunday.

And police were taking no chances, with the hotel in the middle of a 'ring of steel' created to protect 15,000 delegates.

Our exclusive pictures show officers from the crack Tactical Aid Unit loading boxes of booze onto a mobile scanner to check for any explosives before the alcohol was taken down to the hotel cellar.

Beers such as Budweiser, Corona, Becks and Peroni were carried down to the cellar - but there was no sign of any real ale, the drink of choice for many old Labour stalwarts.

The spirits on view included Pimms, Jack Daniels and vodka.

And there were even a few cases of Red Bull, a caffeine-based drink, to ensure they can keep on partying into the early hours if they want to.

Security for the conference is extremely tight and will cost an estimated £6.5m.

Already a number of workers have been arrested or deported after they failed stringent background checks being carried on people who work inside the ring.

Preparations

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "GMP is currently undertaking its preparations for this year's Labour party conference.

"The conference will be held from 20-24 September and up to 15,000 delegates, global leaders and members of the national and international press are expected to attend.

"In order to successfully police the conference, Greater Manchester Police will be creating a secure environment so the delegates can enjoy the event safely. Fundamental to this is a ring of steel, known as the `island site', which will be created around the three major venues, Manchester Central and the Midland and Radisson hotels. "Before this site is built, officers involved in Operation Protector are currently undertaking thorough searches of all the venues, including drains and tunnels in the vicinity, to ensure they are safe.

"Greater Manchester Police would like to reassure members of the community that there is no reason to be alarmed. The increased police presence in the city centre over the next few weeks is in response to the need to create a safe and secure environment not just for the delegates but also for the people of Manchester.

"Extra officers are also currently on patrol in the area around the area to provide a visible and reassuring presence.

"Once the island site is built, no one will be allowed into the site unless they have been vetted and accredited by police to make sure they do no present a security threat."

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Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (09/09/2008 at 07:14)

A week of Labour politicians drinking and locking themselves in a bubble away from the real world.....just like any other week then.

Personally I wouldn't let them in until they promise to giva us our casino back.

Pentest 2, Hyde (09/09/2008 at 08:45)

Manchester would be much beter off inviting the Tartan army back for another football invasion.
I and many others will be glad to see the back of these NuLabour rip off parasites ...who haven't got a clue how to run the country, or sort the economy out.
No doubt the city council will treat them to a massive booze up ...at the local tax payers expense.

Dave Dave (09/09/2008 at 10:28)

Pentest 2 - Better having the 'tartan army' back. I assume you mean Rangers..

Do you think the conference attendees will be urinating and defecating on the streets, chanting racist songs at passer-bys, and storming into blocks of flats terrorising the residents?

umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT (09/09/2008 at 10:53)

Pentest 2, grow up mate, they come here every two years and Manchester makes millions out of this event, OK, we have to spend a bit for all the protest marches, but it livens up Manchester during the day.

Casino, we will never get that back, so forget about it, and move on.

The beer delivery could be just a normal delivery for the hotel and have nothing to do with the conference, there is still 12 days to go before they turn up and I am sure that the Midland Hotel has other business prior to the event.

Jay B, oldham (09/09/2008 at 10:55)

why do labour use manchester to hold their conference? because even though its now seen as englands second city its still cheaper than london.
not for much longer though if the con charge gets passed. they'll go and locate somewhere else. much like alot of businesses here.

A lone Cumbrian gazing through the mist (09/09/2008 at 11:11)

No, Manchester does not make a lot of money from it. Labour reclaim ALL expenses for their party conference, so in effect its net £0 for Manchesters economy and the taxpayer footing the bill for the extra policing etc.

Dave Dave (09/09/2008 at 11:49)

A lone Cumbrian gazing through the mist - that's just a lie - you think that party conferences are funded by the taxpayer?

Extra police presence might be, but aside from that all the money spent by delegates will that will go into the Manchester economy does not come from taxpayers.

If it did then I'd apply to attend, eat out a restaurants, and charge it back to you!

A lone Cumbrian gazing through the mist (09/09/2008 at 12:03)

Actually Dave Dave, yes they can and do. This applies to all parties annual conferences.

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (09/09/2008 at 12:35)

Beers such as Budweiser, Corona, Becks and Peroni were carried down to the cellar - but there was no sign of any real ale, the drink of choice for many old Labour stalwarts.

This is new labour, what has it got to do with old labour? There is no connection at all. This lot are just a bunch of namby pamby big girls blouses who are happy to exploit the tax payers for their own greed whenever they feel like

Sir Shaun of Bermuda, Manchester (09/09/2008 at 12:42)

Umpire 2 is absolutley spot on.
This story is a little mis-leading as it is perfectly normal for anything entering the hotel between now and the start of the conference to be checked out and they will also be checking everything already in the hotel (does this indicate that the Labour Party are also fans of tequila, alco-pops, sambuca, etc?!).

I recall Prince Phillip visiting the Lowry Hotel some years ago whilst I was an employee and they even went as far as to open and scrutinise every single cigar tube!!

Another curious demand was that only members of staff holding a British passport were allowed to work over the 2 days in question! Take from that what you will.

Dave Dave (09/09/2008 at 13:47)

A lone Cumbrian gazing through the mist - source?

A lone Cumbrian gazing through the mist (09/09/2008 at 14:10)

Any parties profit and loss accounts, plus FDD of Labour.

Chris Green, Chorlton-cum-Hardy (09/09/2008 at 15:00)

Red Bull to keep the delegates awake and the pimms and larger to drown their sorrows.

dave pickup (09/09/2008 at 15:13)

Hopefully it will be a farewell party!
Who is for a knighthood this time round,I wonder?

Guten Tag (09/09/2008 at 15:20)

I hope Mr Brown and delegates have a great time discussing those pain in the backside pensioners with their constant gripes about feeling cold & the so-called impending recession, whilst drink those cold beers and eating that fine hotel food before retiring to their comfortable room. Me, cynical?

PW, Manchester (09/09/2008 at 15:30)

Dave pickup, stop pinching my posts before I've written them.

I too was going to say they should have a good blow-out before they leave office. It would be a good cause for celebration to the population as a whole. I would suggest street parties, and I used to be a Labour voter.

cheeky chops, Manchester (09/09/2008 at 16:03)

A busy Manchester hotel getting a big beer delivery.... Now that's a story!!.... Or not.

It has been blown totally out of proportion, It's a busy hotel in the middle of the city centre, of course it's going to get a huge beer delivery, regardless to whether or not the Labour party are holding their annual party conference there.

Find a proper news story!

ronnell_uk (09/09/2008 at 17:02)

Nice to see Labour supporting the British brewing industry......

Rammylad (09/09/2008 at 17:13)

I think MCC and GMPTA have missed a trick with this conference. Why have they not set up a temporary congestion chrage for the inner inner ring (of steal). Surely that should be £50 a pop to get in there.

J.Hall, Tameside (09/09/2008 at 21:47)

All this booze will enable the Labour Politions to continue speaking rubbish from an orifice not intended for speech.
Why lumber Manchester we detest their closeness.

David,North M/C (10/09/2008 at 00:07)

Gordon Brown has chosen Manchester for his leaving party,let him get on with it and let us consentrate on who should run the country at the next election.

S P In exile, Tameside (11/09/2008 at 06:34)

I remember a story in the MEN about football clubs paying for the policing of matches, if football clubs have to pay for the cops then why do Labour party get away with security scot free, it’s not government business!!

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