Activists from Labour equality groups rallied outside Labour Party Conference today against the leadership’s attempts to downgrade their roles in local parties. Organised by Labour’s youth and disability affiliates, the rally was addressed by John McDonnell MP, Patron of Disability Labour, who pledged to fight tirelessly against the changes.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy joined Black activists demonstrating in support of Diane Abbott, demanding that she have the parliamentary whip reinstated. TUC President and FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack also spoke out against the leadership’s retrograde equality proposals.

Additional speakers included Mish Rahman, NEC member and the Labour trans rights grouping, who earlier rallied against the leadership’s failure on trans rights. Susan Matthews, a delegate speaking on behalf of Unite the Union, condemned Keir Starmer’s attempt to downgrade equality roles, asking: “Why is the party trying to turn back the clock on equal representation?”

The NEC recently passed proposals to remove key equality officer positions from local Party executives. The changes will be voted on at Labour Conference today. In the wake of the changes, Disability Labour slammed the Party for being “institutionally ableist” and creating an “unsafe space” for disabled members – just the latest of the leadership’s failings towards disabled people.