What is happening to the annual political party conference season?

Ashley Cowburn runs down what the main parties will offer online as the virus rules out live events

Boris Johnson’s first Conservative conference as PM in 2019 (Getty)

Two weeks after the return of parliament following the long summer recess, MPs, journalists, party members and lobbyists usually decamp from Westminster and congregate in characterless conference halls in seaside towns and city centres across the UK.

But like many things in 2020 the “in person” political party conference season has been cancelled for the first time in recent history due to the coronavirus pandemic. It’s hardly comparable to Glastonbury being axed, but for leaders it’s an essential event in the political calendar to set out their stall for the coming year and hobnob with the party faithful alongside a selection of canapes and warm white wines.

Political obsessives fear not, however, as the vast majority of parties are planning to hold “virtual” events through everyone’s new favourite medium, Zoom.