At Labour conference, Reform was the real story

The government's second conference in power showed unity against the far right, but anxiety over delivery and messaging remains.

Nobody I spoke to in Liverpool seemed particularly cheery about Labour’s second party conference since coming to power.

Last year’s gathering was overshadowed by the freebies scandal – a foolish early mistake that set the tone for successive fumbles. This year, delegates carried a more terminal gloom. The government’s first year has been one of drift an…